Markets on Thursday were shaped by a surge in crude prices, fresh U.S. inflation data, and a stream of corporate developments spanning consumer hardware, semiconductors, defense, and enterprise software.

Crude Oil Blasts Through $100

Crude oil markets crossed a symbolic threshold on Thursday, with Brent crude climbing more than 5% to roughly $106.60 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate pushing above the $101 mark. The sharp rally followed tanker attacks and diminished shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries a substantial share of the world's seaborne crude, while Houthi operations in the Red Sea deepened supply disruption concerns. Brent has now appreciated more than 30% since reaching its early-August bottom, and because energy costs flow quickly into transport, utility, and manufacturing expenses, the move keeps cost pressures squarely on the agenda for households and policymakers alike.

Persistent Inflation Keeps September Rate Hike on the Table

Elevated crude prices feed directly into inflationary pressure. The U.S. Producer Price Index for August advanced 0.4% on the month and 5.4% year over year, with energy costs surging 4.2% during the month. Financial markets now assign a meaningful probability to another Federal Reserve interest rate increase at the September policy meeting. Such an outcome would create headwinds for technology and growth-oriented equities, which typically decline during rate tightening cycles. The convergence of climbing oil prices, resilient inflation, and potential rate increases stands out as one of the clearest immediate-term challenges confronting market participants, and the Fed's September decision now looms as the near-term checkpoint for how the tightening debate is resolved.

Apple Makes Foldable Smartphone Debut

Apple introduced the iPhone Duo on Thursday, marking its inaugural entry into the foldable smartphone segment. The $1,999 device features a 7.6-inch internal display paired with a 5.4-inch external screen, powered by Apple's latest A20 Pro processor. Samsung currently dominates the foldable category with approximately 38% market share, and industry observers project Apple could capture roughly one-quarter of the segment. Apple stock advanced between 1% and 2% during Thursday's session, demonstrating relative strength compared with the broader technology sector. The debut also sets up the category's most direct test yet of Samsung's long-standing grip on the form factor.

TSMC Posts 53% Revenue Growth Despite Share Decline

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported August sales of NT$514.8 billion, equivalent to approximately $16.3 billion. The figure represents 53% annual growth and establishes a new company milestone. TSMC manufactures semiconductors for Nvidia, Apple, and AMD, and its performance is closely scrutinized as a barometer for artificial intelligence chip demand. Notwithstanding the record numbers, U.S.-traded shares declined roughly 2%. The reaction underscores the elevated expectations embedded in the AI semiconductor industry, where even extraordinary growth fails to ensure positive stock movement, and it keeps TSMC's monthly sales releases among the most closely watched gauges of whether AI demand momentum holds.

AeroVironment Climbs 7% on Record Revenue and Backlog

AeroVironment emerged as one of Thursday's top performers, ascending approximately 7%. The defense contractor disclosed record fiscal first-quarter sales of $480.5 million alongside new orders totaling roughly $683 million. The company's secured backlog reached an unprecedented $1.5 billion, representing 37% year-over-year growth. Demand for unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous defense platforms remains robust as national governments prioritize military modernization investments. Management maintained full-year revenue guidance of $2.125 billion to $2.225 billion. With new orders outpacing quarterly sales, the record backlog provides the company a substantial cushion of booked work heading into the rest of its fiscal year.

Nvidia and Palantir Broaden AI Collaboration

Palantir disclosed expanded projects with Nvidia focused on sovereign artificial intelligence and AI-enhanced supply chain optimization. The collaboration integrates Nvidia's Nemotron models with Palantir's analytical platforms. Neither company's stock benefited from the announcement: both Nvidia and Palantir declined on Thursday as rising crude prices, inflation anxieties, and increasing bond yields pressured technology valuations. The expanded alliance highlights Nvidia's ongoing strategic evolution beyond semiconductor sales toward software solutions and enterprise artificial intelligence applications — and Thursday's session showed how company-specific news can be eclipsed when macro forces dominate the tape.

Source: Blockonomi