Market sentiment today was dominated by a sharp repricing of the retail sector, led by Walmart’s worst performance since 2022 as slowing U.S. consumer spending and specific health-and-wellness headwinds caused a rare earnings miss. This retail weakness coincided with a broader semiconductor sell-off triggered by regional declines in the KOSPI index, even as firms like Micron attempted to bolster long-term outlooks with a new $10 billion AI memory research initiative in Boise. While equity indices faced pressure, the cryptocurrency sector decoupled, with Bitcoin surging past $72,000 on the back of record short liquidations and a newly unveiled SEC digital asset framework that provides clearer compliance pathways. Economic indicators presented a mixed, cautious picture, as weekly jobless claims surprisingly dipped to 206,000 and the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index rose 0.2%, suggesting continued, albeit tempered, labor market stability. Geopolitical risk returned to the forefront as North Korea launched a barrage of 10 short-range ballistic missiles, signaling continued friction following recent U.S. military overtures. Meanwhile, governance and regulatory activity remained intense: federal agents reportedly seized electronic devices from former representative Eric Swalwell amid a sexual misconduct investigation, the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Slaughter further defined presidential authority regarding removal powers, and Meta Platforms faced new allegations of green card fraud in a lawsuit filed by a former manager.