Finance

Bitcoin momentarily surpassed the $80,000 threshold on Monday for the first time since January before settling back near $79,000. Analysts noted a strong inverse correlation between the digital asset and crude oil prices during the current conflict, with brief dips in energy prices providing the momentum for crypto's temporary breakout.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark federal funds rate target range steady at 3.50% to 3.75%, marking the third consecutive pause in 2026. While the central bank maintains a long-term bias toward cutting rates, several regional presidents have signaled opposition to immediate easing due to sticky inflation and a higher-than-expected neutral rate.

Despite broad market declines, corporate profits have remained a bright spot, with roughly 80% of S&P 500 companies surpassing analyst expectations. High-profile gains from Apple and Estée Lauder, alongside narrower-than-expected losses for consumer brands like Newell, have helped prevent a more severe selloff as investors focus on resilient AI infrastructure spending.