Finance

Shares of Intel soared 23.6% in a single session, marking its best performance since 1987 and breaking a valuation ceiling that had stood since the dot-com era. The breakout was attributed to a blowout profit report and optimistic projections regarding AI-driven demand.

The cryptocurrency market showed resilience as Bitcoin traded near $78,100, supported by consistent ETF inflows and institutional demand. Despite a slight decline in short-term risk appetite due to geopolitical caution, the digital asset maintains a solid recovery trend moving into the final week of April.

Oil prices remained volatile with Brent crude hovering around $104 per barrel as investors monitored stalled peace negotiations in the Middle East. While a ceasefire remains in place, the lack of a definitive diplomatic breakthrough has kept energy markets on edge and constrained performance in cyclical stocks.

The 10-year Treasury yield dipped to 4.30% following news that the U.S. Justice Department ended its probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This development is expected to clear the confirmation path for new Fed nominees and has increased market bets on potential interest rate cuts later this year.

Investors are shifting focus toward a critical week of earnings for companies representing a quarter of the S&P 500's market capitalization, including Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon. These upcoming reports are viewed as a 'make-or-break' moment to determine if recent record-breaking valuations are fundamentally supported.