U.S. equities struggled to make headway, as optimism surrounding large-cap technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks was largely overwhelmed by concerns over accelerating inflation, rising Treasury yields, elevated oil prices and lingering geopolitical uncertainty. The S&P 500 managed only the narrowest of advances, edging up 0.13%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.17% and 0.07%, respectively. In fixed income, U.S. Treasury yields climbed to their highest level in over a year, driven by hotter- than-expected inflation data and persistent pressure from elevated energy prices. Across the Atlantic, the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 fell 0.85% as geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on sentiment, with Germany’s DAX closing 1.59% lower, France’s CAC 40 declining 1.97%, Italy’s FTSE MIB slipping 0.35% and the UK’s FTSE 100 losing 0.37%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 2.08% as rising JGB yields unsettled domestic equities, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.63% amid continued caution toward Chinese internet and export-sensitive names. Looking ahead, investors are looking at a packed calendar — from Nvidia earnings to a G-7 finance ministers' meeting and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Europe — will the AI enthusiasm help markets regain their footing?