Buyer interest has returned to stock indices. Bitcoin has returned to the $70,000 mark

On Friday, trading on the US stock market ended with a sharp rally. By the end of Friday, the Dow Jones (US30) surged by 2.47% (+2.74% for the week), hitting a new all-time high amid a broad recovery following the sharp correction earlier in the week. The S&P 500 (US500) gained 1.97% (+0.23% for the week), while the tech-heavy Nasdaq (US100) closed higher by 2.15% (-1.63% for the week). Diminishing concerns over short-term risks in the AI sector and easing pressure from forced deleveraging brought buyers back to the market, as many actively used the dip as an entry point. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also rose firmly, bolstered by a sharp reversal in the semiconductor segment and a recovery among key industry leaders.

On Monday, Bitcoin (BTC) held above the $70,000 mark, stabilizing after sharp fluctuations late last week. Market sentiment moderately improved following significant inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs, indicating renewed interest from institutional and tactical investors who took advantage of the recent dip. Nevertheless, market participants remain cautious. Analysts note that it is not yet certain if the correction is fully over, and the current recovery could be technical in nature. Last week, Bitcoin lost all gains accumulated since the election of US President Donald Trump, dropping to $60,000 – its lowest level since October 2024.

European equity markets mostly rose on Friday. The German DAX (DE40) climbed 0.94% (+1.35% for the week), the French CAC 40 (FR40) closed up 0.43% (+2.34% for the week), the Spanish IBEX 35 (ES35) rose by 1.11% (+0.75% for the week), and the British FTSE 100 (UK100) closed up 0.59% (+1.43% for the week). The British Index continued its steady climb, recording its second consecutive positive weekly result. The main contributors were the banking sector and oil and gas giants, which benefited from a general lift in commodity markets, from oil to industrial and precious metals. Additional support for sentiment came from the Bank of England’s “dovish” hold: although rates remained unchanged, an unexpectedly narrow vote split intensified expectations for an earlier start to the easing cycle, with the market now pricing in a nearly 70% probability of a rate cut in March.

On Monday, silver (XAG) rose by approximately 5% to $82 per ounce, continuing a strong recovery following a nearly 10% jump on Friday. Traders have been actively buying the metal after a historic collapse in which prices lost nearly half their value. Simultaneously, market focus is shifting to key US employment and inflation data to be released this week, which could set the direction for Fed policy expectations.

WTI crude oil price saw volatile trading on Friday: prices initially declined due to easing geopolitical risks in the Middle East, but later recovered to rise over 0.5%, reaching the $63.7 per barrel area. Pressure on the quotes came from positive signals from US-Iran nuclear program talks in Oman, which the Iranian side described as a “good start” with intentions to continue dialogue. This reduced fears of supply disruptions from a region accounting for about a third of global oil production. A negative factor was Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut official selling prices for its flagship crude to Asia to the lowest level since late 2020, highlighting a comfortable supply situation. However, the less aggressive-than-expected price cut indicates ongoing confidence in demand resilience.

On Monday, US natural gas (XNG) prices plummeted by 6.2% to approximately $3.20 per MMBtu, extending the previous session’s sell-off and hitting a more than three-week low. The primary downward factor was updated weather prognoses indicating sustained warming across much of the US. Milder temperatures are expected to reduce demand for heating and electricity generation, directly lowering natural gas consumption.

Asian markets traded without a single trend last week. The Japanese Nikkei 225 (JP225) rose by 1.27% over the trading week, the FTSE China A50 (CHA50) increased by 0.18%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) fell by 1.98%, and the Australian ASX 200 (AU200) posted a negative 5-day result of 1.27%.

The Australian dollar (AUD) strengthened to 0.70 USD on Monday, continuing last week’s gains amid cautiously hawkish rhetoric from the Reserve Bank of Australia. Speaking before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, RBA Governor Michele Bullock emphasized that interest rates must remain high to curb persistent inflation. She also pointed to labor market resilience, which complicates the timing for any potential policy easing.