Finance

Intel's stock price surged nearly 24% on Friday, reaching its highest level since 2000 after reporting first-quarter results that significantly exceeded analyst expectations. The company's optimistic outlook on AI-driven demand sparked a broader rally across the semiconductor industry, with Nvidia and AMD gaining 4.3% and 14% respectively. This chipmaker strength was the primary driver behind the record-breaking day for tech-heavy benchmarks.

Market participants remain focused on potential peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which helped offset some economic uncertainty despite ongoing Middle East tensions. While West Texas Intermediate crude futures hovered around $95 to $98 per barrel, experts warn that prolonged disruptions in the Gulf could continue to fuel inflation concerns and impact global supply chains. Some analysts suggest that further market gains may depend on a decisive breakthrough in these diplomatic efforts.

U.S. Treasury yields saw a slight decline after the Department of Justice ended its investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The 10-year Treasury note yield eased to 4.31%, while the 2-year yield dropped to 3.78% as the resolution cleared political hurdles for future Fed leadership confirmations. Despite this immediate dip, yields finished the week higher overall due to resilient economic data and persistent energy-led inflation concerns.

Bitcoin traded near $78,300 on April 24, 2026, positioning itself for its strongest monthly performance in a year with a gain of over 13% in April. The digital asset's recovery is being attributed to maturing institutional momentum and increased liquidity from a rise in stablecoin supply. Investors are closely monitoring the $79,000 resistance level as cryptocurrencies become more integrated into broader financial infrastructure discussions.