Peace Talks Hit an Impasse Again, U.S. Stocks Retreat from Highs, Can Bitcoin Hold the $80,000 Level?
Peace Talks Stalemate Sinks Stocks, Tests Bitcoin's $80K Support
Optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal, which briefly propelled the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record highs, evaporated within 24 hours. Iran dismissed key U.S. proposals regarding uranium enrichment and Strait of Hormuz access, reversing market sentiment. U.S. stocks fell, led by semiconductors and small caps, while oil prices whipsawed violently.
The core narrative is a binary market bet on war or peace, creating extreme volatility. The probability of a deal by mid-May dropped to 20%. Oil (Brent) briefly crashed 12% before recovering to around $100, but a shift in its market structure hinted at ample physical supply despite geopolitical risk.
Bitcoin fell roughly 1.56%, finding support near $80,000. The pullback was considered structurally healthy, backed by strong institutional inflows into U.S. ETFs and rising long-term holder conviction. Ethereum gained on positive U.S. crypto regulation hopes.
In equities, major indices declined with the Russell 2000 hit hardest. The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks were a rare bright spot, but the semiconductor sector sold off sharply. Notably, high-beta momentum stocks suffered dramatically worse losses than the broader market.
Upcoming U.S. non-farm payrolls data is the next key catalyst. Treasury yields rose with oil, the dollar was steady, and gold/silver gained on a mix of inflation and safe-haven demand. European markets also fell. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved, keeping markets on edge.
marsbit05/09 03:43