Finance

Shares of Intel skyrocketed 23.6% on Friday, recording their best daily performance since 1987. The surge followed a quarterly report that significantly exceeded analyst expectations and provided a strong outlook for AI-driven demand, pushing the stock to its first record high since 2000.

The Department of Justice officially closed its investigation into outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, clearing a potential hurdle for the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as his successor. Following this news, the 10-year Treasury yield settled near 4.31% while the 2-year yield dipped slightly to 3.78%.

While tech stocks thrived, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, ending its three-week winning streak as cyclical and financial sectors lagged. Ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran continued to create volatility in the energy markets, although oil prices cooled late in the week on hopes of renewed peace talks.

The cryptocurrency market has seen a decline in risk appetite, with Bitcoin trading around $78,126 as of April 24, 2026. Analysts note that open interest has been steadily decreasing since earlier in the week, reflecting investor caution due to a lack of clear progress in Middle Eastern diplomatic negotiations.