📝 Executive Summary
U.S. equity markets closed sharply lower on Tuesday as Brent crude neared $100 a barrel, stoking fears of persistent inflation and potential Federal Reserve rate hikes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led the decline, dropping 1.2% as investors also grappled with an escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada. Rising Treasury yields and uncertainty ahead of key inflation reports further pressured sentiment across major indices.