Finance

Major equity indices logged notable single-day gains following the softer labor data, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbing 1.2% to achieve new intraday highs. Mega-cap semiconductor firms anchored the upswing, highlighted by Nvidia surging to a fresh all-time record and Micron Technology delivering robust quarterly performance metrics. Despite the weekend rally, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 finished the overall trading week in negative territory.

Crude oil futures fell over the week as leaders from the G7 nations and European allies finalized an agreement to immediately deploy 100 million barrels of crude and diesel from their emergency stockpiles. This concerted international intervention successfully countered upward price pressures stoked by escalating geopolitical tensions and a diplomatic impasse in the Middle East. The influx of energy supply offered crucial breathing room to global logistics, agricultural, and industrial sectors.

The cryptocurrency market observed renewed upward momentum, pushing Bitcoin above the $86,000 threshold and enabling Ethereum to reclaim the critical $2,700 level. Digital asset sentiments were bolstered by Citigroup lifting its 12-month price forecast for Bitcoin to $113,000, citing sustained long-term institutional engagement. However, underlying market liquidity remains somewhat constrained due to a sluggish recovery in overall stablecoin supply and heightened regulatory scrutiny surrounding asset custody.