Global Markets Stabilize Ahead of US-China Trade Discussions, Bitcoin Reaches $103,000

World stocks closed the week with minimal change as investors assessed a new tariff agreement between the U.S. and the U.K., along with an important meeting scheduled between officials from Washington and Beijing this weekend.

Markets remain stagnant amid tariff uncertainty

The MSCI global equity index increased slightly by 0.11% to reach 846.80, reducing a weekly decline of 0.3%. The STOXX 600 in Europe rose by 0.44%, while Germany’s DAX achieved another record close.

On Wall Street, the Dow decreased by 0.29%, the S&P 500 dipped by 0.07%, and the Nasdaq recorded a marginal gain. Weekly results were generally negative, reflecting broader caution as traders anticipated new tariff developments.

Dollar weakens as Treasury yields stabilize

The U.S. Dollar Index fell by 0.28% to 100.37, continuing its weekly gains against the yen, euro, and Swiss franc. The 10-year Treasury yield edged up to 4.386%, while the yield on the 2-year note decreased to 3.887%.

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Bitcoin and Ethereum prices increase

Investor interest shifted towards digital currencies, with Bitcoin rising by 0.58% to $103,224—its highest level since January—marking a fourth consecutive daily increase. Ether surged by 6.7% to $2,493, as traders noted ongoing uncertainty in traditional markets and optimism regarding future interest rate cuts.

For a broader view, recent projections on Bitcoin prices extending to 2025 may shed light on future trends.

Oil and gold see a rise

• WTI crude settled at $61.02 (+1.85%)
• Brent closed at $63.91 (+1.7%)
• Spot gold increased by 0.67% to $3,327.53 per ounce

Both commodities gained from a weaker dollar and optimism that a resolution in trade conflicts could enhance demand.

Future outlook

Attention now shifts to the Geneva summit on Saturday, featuring discussions between the U.S. Treasury Secretary and China’s Vice-Premier. While experts are skeptical about a significant breakthrough, any small signs of advancement could influence global risk assets—and potentially cryptocurrencies—in the lead-up to next week’s U.S. CPI report and the Federal Reserve meeting minutes due mid-May.