Nasdaq

The Nasdaq Composite closed 0.5% lower at 25,358.60 amid diverging technology movements. Micron Technology surged nearly 16% following exceptionally strong earnings and robust forward guidance driven by artificial intelligence chip demand. Conversely, Apple tumbled over 6% after raising MacBook and iPad prices by up to 20% due to surging memory costs. Market activity was also shaped by the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures index, which reached a three-year high of 4.1% year-over-year, keeping domestic inflation metrics in focus.

DAX

Germany’s DAX index posted a mixed performance, advancing 1.0% to approach the 25,000 level following earlier declines in the defense sector. The Frankfurt market saw cautious trading as investors digested global inflation data and shifting geopolitical dynamics. Broadly, regional sentiment was significantly bolstered by plunging global energy prices, providing immediate and substantial operational cost relief to Germany’s energy-intensive industrial and manufacturing sectors.

Nikkei

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index recorded a massive rally, surging 4.6% in a single session to push toward the 72,800 mark. The benchmark benefited immensely from the overnight surge in global semiconductor equities, with domestic technology shares closely tracking Wall Street’s upward momentum. Additionally, the sharp drop in international oil prices provided major economic relief for the import-dependent nation, drastically easing long-standing investor concerns regarding imported inflation.

Brent Crude Oil

Brent crude oil futures experienced a steep sell-off, dropping nearly 4% to fall below $75 per barrel. The sharp price decline was directly triggered by the resumption of commercial maritime traffic through the previously closed Strait of Hormuz. Following successful diplomatic progress, hundreds of oil tankers are now openly transiting the vital waterway with active satellite signals. This restored shipping flow effectively ended severe physical supply constraints and erased the geopolitical risk premium