Finance

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady in the 3.5%–3.75% range for a third consecutive meeting, with several policymakers suggesting further hikes may be necessary if inflation stays above the 2% target. Market participants now anticipate that rate cuts are unlikely until late 2026, as recent data shows core inflation remains elevated at 3.2% while economic growth continues to be resilient.

Artificial intelligence continues to drive market leadership, highlighted by a significant surge in Dell Technologies shares after robust demand for AI-powered servers boosted its guidance. Other key players like Microsoft and Snowflake have also seen gains following new investment rounds and multi-billion dollar infrastructure deals, though new U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips to certain international subsidiaries may introduce fresh volatility.

Bitcoin is currently trading near $77,000, with analysts identifying historical summer seasonality that could keep prices rangebound in the short term. Meanwhile, Ethereum is attracting attention ahead of its Glamsterdam upgrade scheduled for June, which aims to significantly improve scaling and throughput as institutional demand remains steady through spot ETFs.