Financial Turmoil: First Republic Bank's Plan to Raise Cash Amidst Fallout and Interest Payments.

The U.S. financial markets experienced a tumultuous week, with the sudden collapse of three banks and concerns about weakness in the banking sector. The selloff in bank stocks pulled down the broader stock market, leaving the S&P 500 with a 2.1% decline since March 9. Gold prices surged 8.1% in the past seven trading days, finishing at their highest levels in 11 months on Friday. Bitcoin rallied over 20% in the past nine sessions, to trade at $26,750.50 on Friday. The bond market also had a week of extremes, with the yield on the 2-year Treasury note dropping 74 basis points, the biggest weekly decline since October 1987.