Major U.S. stock indexes fell on Thursday as rising government bond yields weighed on sentiment, while Walmart’s quarterly sales miss added to worries about softer consumer demand. The S&P 500 consumer staples index dropped 1.6%. Amazon and Tesla declined, while Nvidia and Apple rose and offered partial support. Investors also watched the outlook for Federal Reserve rates and inflation pressures linked to higher oil prices.

London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.2% to 10,723.02 in intraday trading on Thursday, while the midcap FTSE 250 slid 0.3%. Sentiment in retail stocks weakened after JD Sports issued a downbeat forecast. A rebound in government bond yields added further pressure on the market.

The U.S. dollar weakened against major currencies on Wednesday as the Treasury selloff eased. Investors awaited minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting for policy clues, while tensions in the Middle East resurfaced. The euro rose 0.31% to 1.1611, and the yen gained 0.35% against the dollar. A Middle East standoff lifted oil to three-week highs, keeping inflation risks in focus.

India’s gold market is showing renewed momentum ahead of the festive season, with jewellery demand and inventory restocking picking up, according to the World Gold Council. In the first half of August, international gold prices rose 9% to USD 4,391 per ounce. Domestic prices climbed almost 7% over the same period. Gold futures trading has also become more active.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Tuesday, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq contracts under pressure as geopolitical strains flared after U.S.-Iran peace hopes faded. Brent crude climbed to a three-week high and the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield touched its highest level since 2007, weighing on growth shares. Technology stocks led declines, with Tesla and Nvidia among the biggest laggards, while the VIX jumped, reflecting elevated investor anxiety.

U.S. stocks fell on Monday after an unexpected drop in retail sales undercut expectations that the economy remains resilient. Treasury yields climbed to their highest levels since 2007. Investors are awaiting earnings from major retailers including Home Depot and Walmart, while oil rose more than $2 on geopolitical concerns tied to the unresolved Iran conflict.

The dollar fell on Monday after investors reassessed the outlook for near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes following softer U.S. economic data. U.S. retail sales posted their first decline in nine months, alongside unexpected job losses and mild inflation. The euro rose to a two-month high against the dollar, while the yen recovered some ground after historic intervention efforts. Markets are now looking to next week’s Jackson Hole symposium for guidance on how policymakers view the latest data.

U.S. tech stocks rose on Monday, pushing Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures higher after AI company Anthropic issued an upbeat revenue outlook tied to its IPO plans. Anthropic is projecting revenue of $190 billion to $200 billion by 2028, boosting premarket gains in megacaps such as Amazon and Alphabet. Chipmakers also advanced, with Micron Technology and Broadcom higher. Investors are weighing the outlook for Federal Reserve rate hikes and Middle East geopolitical risks while confidence in AI investment improves.

The dollar index fell to a two-month low after softer U.S. economic data led markets to scale back expectations for further Federal Reserve rate hikes. The euro rose to a two-month high of about $1.1614 against the dollar. The yen also edged firmer to around 159.15 per dollar, reflecting a repricing of the rate outlook.