Global Stocks Slide as Oil and Bond Yields Weigh on Risk Appetite

World equity markets declined on Wednesday and early Thursday as higher oil prices and rising government bond yields dampened investor demand for riskier assets. Samsung Electronics reported a nearly ninefold increase in quarterly profit, around $80 billion, but its shares still fell about 1.5%. Wolfspeed jumped 27% after obtaining a $1.5 billion conditional loan tied to defense work, while several large AI infrastructure financing deals remained in focus.

Equities weakened across Asia, Europe, and the Americas as climbing crude prices and government bond yields reduced appetite for risk. In the UK, 30-year gilt yields approached 6%, pressuring banks and miners. Samsung’s projected quarterly profit of about $80 billion, a near ninefold rise, still left its shares down 1.5%, while SK Hynix also slipped despite strong results.

Wolfspeed gained roughly 27% after a conditional $1.5 billion U.S. defense loan. AI infrastructure financing stayed prominent, with Broadcom, Oracle, and SpaceX seeking large debt deals. Other drags included a Dutch ruling against Merck’s Keytruda, Valneva’s UK authorization loss, and Allist’s collapsed U.S. licensing deal.