GLOBAL energy markets experienced a significant shift as Brent crude futures slid below US$75 per barrel, marking the first time prices have breached this floor since the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran in late February.
Market experts suggest the downward trajectory for crude may persist.
Chris Beauchamp, the chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, stated that he expects the fall in oil prices will continue on the assumption that the oil industry is capable of filling the gap after being disrupted for several months.
This retreat in energy costs coincided with a broader cooling trend in commodities, where expectations of prolonged high American interest rates dragged gold prices below US$4,000 for the first time since November.
In equity markets, investor sentiment remained divided as technology counters faced sustained pressure.
On Wall Street, the Nasdaq index closed lower for the third consecutive session, driven by growing market scepticism surrounding the high valuations of semiconductor firms and companies tied to the artificial intelligence boom, though the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to buck the trend with a 0.4 per cent gain.
Asian markets staged a mixed recovery following recent volatility.
Seoul's Kospi index rallied by over 3 per cent, staging a sharp rebound after a 10 per cent plunge on Tuesday, while trading floors in Hong Kong and Shanghai also posted gains despite Tokyo closing lower once again.
Meanwhile, the US dollar maintained its upward momentum following last week's Federal Reserve meeting, with currency traders locking their sights on upcoming US inflation data on Thursday to gauge the future trajectory of interest rates. - June 25, 2026
