S&P 500-0.01%▼: 7,357.49, essentially flat in pre-market. Nasdaq-0.46%▼: 25,358.60, lagging as Technology shows weakness. Russell 2000+0.71%▲: 3,007.86, small-cap futures are firmer overnight. Dow+0.14%▲: 51,920.62, modest gains driven by select cyclicals. VIX+1.40%▲: 18.89, elevated relative to recent lows. Crypto: BTC near $59.8k and ETH around $1.57k, with both assets softer after a multi-week bout of selling and large options expiries this week. What's driving the market this week Payments fintech Airwallex announced a $320 million funding round at an $11 billion valuation, highlighting fresh capital flowing into AI-native financial infrastructure and renewed focus on fintech deal activity. Oil prices have extended a recent slide as tanker transits through the Strait of Hormuz have increased and reports point to improving short-term supply flows, pressuring energy-linked sentiment. A record heatwave across Western Europe was assessed as highly unlikely without human-caused warming, a development cited in region-specific reports that has implications for power demand and near-term commodity and infrastructure planning. (Word count: 188)