U.S. equities are mixed: the S&P 500 -0.02% at 7,704, the Nasdaq +0.01% at 26,939, the Dow -0.31% at 51,350. The VIX sits at 15.5 (+1.9% today), inside its normal range.
The 10-year Treasury yield is climbing at 5.16% — the number behind mortgage rates and Washington's interest bill. The dollar index is at 101.2 (+0.1%). Elsewhere: gold down 0.2% at $4,309/oz; WTI crude up 3.2% at $95.08/bbl; Bitcoin at $84,347 (-0.0%).
Among big names, META leads gainers at +4.50%, while ORCL lags at -3.49%. Rate moves and energy prices feed straight into the political fight over inflation — match this against the headlines above.