Oil Prices Surge Above $100 as Global Markets Face Inflation Fears

The global financial markets are experiencing a challenging period as oil prices and bond yields continue to rise. This has led to increased pressure on risk assets, including growth stocks in the Nasdaq 100 index. The Brent crude oil price has broken above the $100 barrier, driven by concerns over the conflict in the Middle East.

The rising energy costs are causing inflation concerns, which may lead central banks like the ECB and Fed to increase interest rates. This would create a headwind for equities, particularly growth stocks.

This week's key events include the ECB's interest-rate decision on Thursday, US CPI on Friday, and developments in crude oil prices. A cautious Nasdaq 100 forecast is maintained ahead of these events as rising bond yields undermine the appetite for low-yielding assets.