Finance

Despite recent losses in the broader sector, Nasdaq 100 futures rallied by 0.5% on Friday morning following a massive 19% jump in Intel shares during extended trading. The rally was fueled by Intel's strong earnings outlook and comments from Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggesting a potential $3 billion capital expenditure with the chipmaker.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose for four consecutive sessions, reaching approximately 4.32% as of late April 2026. This upward move reflects investor concern over a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and a shift in Fed expectations, with markets now pricing in a significantly lower chance of interest rate cuts before year-end.

While the broader U.S. market has seen significant technology-led fluctuations, the energy sector remains up roughly 24% for 2026. Although crude prices saw a slight retreat in late April, tight global supplies and the shipment of the first cargo from the Golden Pass LNG terminal continue to support the sector's performance.

The cryptocurrency market cap has reached a stable $2.5 trillion era, with Bitcoin maintaining a position near $75,000 to $78,000. Market participants are increasingly focused on institutional cash flows and ETF inflows, which have helped digital assets decouple from mere speculation and align more closely with broader technology sector trends.

Gold prices fell to $4,672 per ounce on April 24, 2026, marking a decline from all-time highs reached earlier in the year. The non-yielding asset is currently pressured by expectations that central banks will maintain elevated interest rates to combat energy-driven inflation risks stemming from the ongoing Iran conflict.