Finance

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed other major benchmarks with a 1.2% daily increase, establishing a new intraday high. Driven primarily by a resilient technology sector and artificial intelligence stocks, the Nasdaq managed to secure its third consecutive weekly gain even as the Dow Jones and S&P 500 concluded the week with modest net losses.

Crude oil prices fell by more than 1.5% over the week despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East. The decline was accelerated after G-7 and European leaders reached an agreement to immediately release 100 million barrels of crude and diesel from emergency stockpiles.

Bitcoin generated optimistic technical signals by charting a long-term golden cross pattern, utilizing its 30-day and 365-day moving averages. While the digital currency experienced a broader cyclical downturn from its previous peaks, institutional accumulation has persisted as traders look ahead to fourth-quarter regulatory and macroeconomic catalysts.