Markets Spooked by AI and Oil
Global equity markets retreated as investors weighed twin threats. The administration's ban on AI firm Anthropic created tech sector uncertainty, while escalating U.S.-Iran tensions drove oil prices up, stoking inflation fears.
The ban on Anthropic, announced by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, stems from the company's refusal to permit its AI model, Claude, to be used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons systems. The Pentagon had given Anthropic a deadline to allow its technology to be used "for all lawful purposes," a demand the company rejected. Following the president's order, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic a "supply chain risk." This designation, historically used for foreign adversaries like Huawei, effectively blacklists Anthropic from working with the U.S. military or any of its contractors. Anthropic, which had a Pentagon contract worth up to $200 million, has stated it will challenge the ban in court. The spike in oil prices saw Brent crude, the global benchmark, surge past $73 per barrel, a 3.32% jump on Friday and its highest level in six months. Analysts attribute a "geopolitical risk premium" of between $4 and $10 per barrel directly to the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. These tensions flared after the most recent round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva ended without a breakthrough. The United States has been increasing its military presence in the Middle East, with President Trump expressing that he is "not happy" with the progress of the talks.
