Global Markets Tumble Amid Inflation Fears and Rising Bond Yields

Global shares plummeted on Friday as the excitement over tech stocks waned, replaced by concerns about inflation. This shift sent bond yields soaring and elevated expectations for interest rate hikes this year, reflected in a 0.35% dip in MSCI's main world stocks index. Europe's STOXX 600 saw a 1.37% decrease, following two sessions of gains.

The downturn extended to futures markets, with Nasdaq futures falling 1.32% and S&P 500 futures slipping 0.9% despite Wall Street reaching fresh highs, driven by a 4% rise in AI-heavyweight Nvidia. In Asia, MSCI's broad Asia-Pacific shares index outside Japan dropped 2.54%, while the Nikkei in Japan fell 1.99% amid accelerating wholesale inflation.

Oil prices, meanwhile, climbed amid uncertainty around a Middle East peace deal and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures increased 2.3% to $108.14 a barrel, aiming for a weekly gain of 6.7%. Yields on bonds rose across the globe, reflecting heightened inflation risks and market pressures, while the dollar and political turmoil further affected global financial stability.

(With inputs from agencies.)