Global markets mixed as AI stocks slide and oil prices jump

World shares were mixed on Friday while oil prices hovered at their highest levels since May on worries about the war with Iran. Brent crude gained 0.8 per cent to US$114.02 per barrel, and U.S. benchmark crude added 1.1 per cent to $100.60. European indexes declined, with Germany's DAX losing 0.4 per cent and Paris's CAC 40 shedding 0.6 per cent, while some Asian markets bounced back from early losses. On Thursday, the S&P 500 fell 1.2 per cent and the Nasdaq tumbled 2.6 per cent, driven by AI-related stock weakness. AI stocks have been swinging on worries their boom may be under threat due to expensive borrowing costs for data centers and AI chips. Meta Platforms lost 7 per cent, Tesla fell 3.1 per cent, and Nvidia dropped 4.4 per cent, while higher oil prices and government debt concerns also weighed on markets.