Macroeconomic and fiscal tensions took center stage as the U.S. national debt surpassed $40 trillion, drawing sharp criticism from billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, who argued that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s $4 billion bond buyback plan represents a policy error that removes vital checks on government borrowing. This fiscal backdrop and a weakening dollar catalyzed a broader debasement trade, propelling Bitcoin past $80,000 amid a seven-day streak of spot ETF inflows and President Donald J. Trump's push for the CLARITY Act, while gold hovered near record highs around $4,696. Despite new U.S. sanctions targeting Iran announced by Bessent, energy markets largely shrugged off the move, sending Brent crude below $90 a barrel, even as Norway’s Supreme Court commenced high-stakes hearings over North Sea oilfield development permits for projects like Breidablikk, Yggdrasil, and Tyrving involving operators Equinor and Aker BP. Across corporate markets, Vistry shares surged 10% after securing a £350 million government housing grant that unlocked over 3,000 homes, Lego reported record first-half revenue spanning high-end and value pricing tiers alongside World Cup product launches, and CD Projekt shares tumbled following a 2028 release target announcement for Witcher 4.