Markets Today: Brent Hits $110, Rate-Hike Fears Hit Stocks, Gold

Market Overview - U.S. equities fell to their lowest level since November, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly 1% and the 10-year Treasury yield reaching its highest point since July 2025 [1][2] - The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) increased by 5.8% to 25.46, indicating heightened market stress [4] Energy Sector - WTI crude oil surged past $97 per barrel and Brent crude reached $110, marking a 50% increase since the onset of the Middle East conflict [2] - The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) was the only sector to gain, increasing by 1.5% as crude and LNG prices rose [5] Treasury Yields - The 10-year Treasury yield rose by 12 basis points to 4.38%, while the 2-year note increased by 9 basis points to 3.89%, and the 30-year yield climbed to 4.95% [2][3] Equity Market Performance - The S&P 500 fell 0.8% to 6,554 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 165 points (0.4%) to 45,855, and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1% to 24,100 [3] - The small-cap Russell 2000 underperformed, declining by 1.35% to 2,460 [3] Company Highlights - Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL) saw a gain of 5.8% to $165.90, reflecting resilient demand in logistics despite macroeconomic challenges [5]