Bitcoin fell below $74,000. The Canadian dollar dropped to a six‑week low

On Wednesday, the US stock market showed restrained dynamics. By the end of the day, the Dow Jones Index (US30) rose by 0.36%. The S&P 500 Index (US500) increased by 0.02%. The Technology‑heavy NASDAQ Index (US100) closed lower by 0.09%. Performance in the technology sector was mixed. Semiconductor manufacturers maintained upward momentum – Micron shares gained another 2% following yesterday’s 19% rally triggered by UBS analysts tripling the company’s target price. At the same time, major software and cloud solution developers came under moderate selling pressure: Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet fell by more than 1%.

Bitcoin fell below $74,000, hitting a five‑week low amid a clear cooling of institutional demand. The main bearish factor was the reversal in the US spot Bitcoin ETF sector: after two months of steady inflows, net outflows from the funds exceeded $1 billion in May. Declining speculative interest and overall trader passivity also pushed BTC implied volatility to a nine‑month low, sharply reducing demand for put options used to hedge against market declines.

The Canadian dollar (“loonie”) weakened to below 1.382 per US dollar, marking a six‑week low. The decline of the national currency was triggered by a combination of weak domestic macroeconomic data and a strong contrast in monetary policy rhetoric between Canada and the United States. The Bank of Canada’s (BoC) preferred core inflation indicators fell more than analysts expected, reaching their lowest levels in the past five years. This confirms the Canadian regulator’s view that inflationary pressure outside the energy sector is fading, while the current spike in fuel prices is temporary. According to preliminary estimates, Canada’s GDP growth for the first quarter of 2026 will be at zero, indicating serious risks to economic growth and effectively removing incentives for the Bank of Canada to continue raising interest rates.

European stock indices closed in the green, showing a moderate recovery after large‑scale sell‑offs the day before. By the end of the day, Germany’s DAX (DE40) fell by 0.03%, France’s CAC 40 (FR40) closed up 0.43%, Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) rose by 0.49%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) closed in the green at 0.13%. A positive driver for Eurozone equities and sovereign bonds was a noticeable decline in energy prices. The cyclical luxury and high‑end consumer goods sector delivered a strong session. Amid hopes for slowing inflation, shares of LVMH, Hermes, Adidas, and L’Oreal surged between 2.5% and 5.5%. The banking sector also closed higher, led by Santander and Intesa Sanpaolo (+1.5%).

Prices for US WTI crude oil plunged more than 4%, falling below the psychological level of $90 per barrel. Quotes approached a five‑week low amid a sharp surge of optimism around a potential peace agreement between Washington and Tehran. State television of the Islamic Republic reported the preparation of an unofficial draft interim agreement intended to end the three‑month war and fully unblock the Strait of Hormuz (which accounts for about 20% of global oil and LNG shipments). Later, Iranian officials confirmed that indirect contacts with Washington were ongoing. The White House quickly denied Tehran’s statements, calling the news of a completed draft “pure fiction,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio again warned that several more days may pass before a final deal is reached.

In Asia on Tuesday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) fell by 0.01%, China’s FTSE China A50 closed lower by 0.44%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) declined by 1.06%, and Australia’s ASX 200 (AU200) rose by 0.69%.

The Australian dollar (AUD) fell to a six‑week low near 0.71 USD amid a sharp 1.1% drop in household spending in April. Consumers, discouraged by expensive fuel and geopolitical instability, began cutting back heavily on food, clothing, and travel, signaling effective demand cooling under the Reserve Bank of Australia’s tight policy.