On Thursday, oil stayed close to recent highs as traders weighed the risk of a longer Iran blockade, gold pushed higher, stocks stayed mixed, and crypto held a small gain despite weaker ETF demand.
Crypto
Crypto was little changed, with market value at $2.55 trillion, down 0.22%, Fear and Greed Index standing at 40, Altcoin Season Index pointing to 39, and average RSI Index holding at 46.65, leaving Bitcoin in charge while the rest of the market stayed cautious.
Bitcoin traded at $76K, up 0.81 percent, holding better than most major tokens, while Ethereum rose to $2K, up 1.09 percent, Solana gained to $83, up 1.04 percent, and BNB moved up to $620, up 0.47 percent.
Spot Bitcoin ETF flows weakened over the past three sessions, with $263 million leaving the group on April 27, followed by $90 million on April 28 and $83 million on April 29.
Commodities
Oil still carries a war premium, with U.S. crude at $107.21, down 1.19 percent, and Brent at $116.52, down 1.37 percent, easing on the day but staying elevated as traders weigh the risk of a longer blockade and tighter Middle East supply.
Gold trades at $4,579.75, up 0.78 percent, supported by safe-haven demand and concern that high energy prices could keep inflation pressure alive for longer, while silver rises 2.14 percent to $72.886.
Stock Market Indices
U.S. stocks are mixed, with the S&P 500 at 7,135.96, down 0.04 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average at 48,861.81, down 0.57 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite at 24,673.24, up 0.04 percent. Energy remains the natural hedge as oil stays high, while investors stay selective in technology ahead of major earnings and after the Fed kept rates unchanged.
In global markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 falls 1.27 percent to 59,260, hit by a broader risk-off tone in Asia, while the FTSE 100 gains 0.22 percent to 10,222, helped by energy and defensive names.
Geopolitics & Market Sentiment
On the diplomatic front, markets remain focused on the U.S.–Iran standoff after Washington discussed ways to manage a possible months-long blockade of Iranian ports, keeping traders alert to any sign of supply disruption or a break in talks.
A second concern is the harder line inside Tehran, where security figures now appear to hold more influence over war strategy and negotiations, making a quick settlement harder to price.
On the economic front, the Fed held rates steady, but the divided vote showed how much higher oil has complicated the inflation outlook, leaving investors less confident about rate cuts and more sensitive to the next inflation and jobs data.
