Finance

In his final press conference as chairman, Jerome Powell cautioned that the economic outlook remains highly uncertain, primarily due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While the market has recently rallied on ceasefire hopes, policymakers may pivot back toward rate hikes if inflation and oil prices do not stabilize.

Bitcoin recently held steady above the $78,000 threshold, supported by increased institutional demand through spot ETFs and the introduction of the CLARITY Act. Market sentiment has turned cautiously optimistic as new regulatory frameworks in the U.S. aim to provide a more secure environment for traditional financial firms to integrate crypto assets.

The 10-year Treasury yield recently dipped to approximately 4.38% as oil prices cooled slightly from their recent peaks. However, analysts suggest that yields may remain pressured toward the 4.5% level if personal consumption expenditures and global supply disruptions continue to drive inflationary risks.