Upbeat Markets: Inflation Cools, Tech Leads the Way

Equity Markets Rise on Softer Inflation Data

Markets found relief midweek as fresh inflation data showed price pressures cooling in April. The S&P 500 advanced by 0.7% on Tuesday, while the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 1.6% gain, fueled by renewed strength in the technology sector. The data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve may remain on hold longer, giving risk assets room to rally.

Tech Sector Split: Nvidia Rallies, Alphabet Tumbles

Within the tech space, Nvidia rose 2.6% following reports that the Trump administration could lift certain chip export restrictions, a move seen as potentially boosting demand for U.S. semiconductor firms.

Meanwhile, Alphabet suffered a steep decline of 8.4%. The drop came after news that Apple may integrate an AI-powered search engine directly into its Safari browser, challenging Google’s dominant position in web search and triggering investor concern about future ad revenue growth.

Commodities Mixed Amid Macro Flows

Gold prices slipped, with the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) closing at $299.46, down 0.4%. The decline reflected a stronger U.S. dollar and a slight easing in geopolitical tensions, which dampened safe-haven demand.

Oil prices posted modest gains. Brent crude settled at $64.99 per barrel and WTI at $61.96, supported by supply-side factors and ongoing reassessments of global demand outlooks.

Bitcoin Surges Past $100K

Bitcoin made headlines once again, breaking above the $100,000 mark and reaching $104,107. The rally was driven by deepening institutional flows and a broader appetite for alternative assets amid global monetary rebalancing. The move further solidified Bitcoin’s role as a macro-sensitive asset class.

Investor Outlook

With inflation showing signs of moderation and the Fed staying sidelined, investors are cautiously optimistic. The rally in equities—especially tech—suggests that markets are eager to price in stability. However, geopolitical risks and sector-specific disruptions remain wildcards. The next few weeks will test whether this bullish momentum can hold.

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