Today's market was dominated by central bank actions! The Fed delivered a widely anticipated 25 basis point rate cut, mirroring the Bank of Canada's earlier move. While a majority of Fed officials now project at least 3 cuts this year and the dot plot hints at up to 150 bps easing, Chair Powell's cautious remarks about "inflation rising," "slowed consumer spending," and a "not solid labor market" tempered immediate market euphoria. $SPY dropped during his speech, reflecting this nuanced reaction. ๐ฆ๐
In crypto, Bitcoin continues its strong run. The Bitcoin Bull Run Index climbed to 76, and BTC Dominance rose to 54.98%, signaling continued strength over alts. Institutional interest remains high, with BlackRock acquiring $209M in BTC and yesterday's $292.3M BTC ETF flow. Even as over $105M in crypto was liquidated post-Fed news, BTC price saw a recovery to $116,080. Meanwhile, Forward Industries' massive $4B share sale for Solana ($SOL) is a huge bullish sign, and Chainlink secured a partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank. ๐๐ฐ
Ethereum ($ETH) experienced volatility around the Fed announcement, with BlackRock divesting some holdings. The Alt Coin Season Index remains at 43, reinforcing BTC's lead.
Traditional markets showed a mixed picture. The Dow Jones rose, but the S&P and NASDAQ were flat to slightly down. The housing market faces a surge in new home inventory (highest since pre-Great Recession), and 54% of Americans are unwilling to sell their homes. However, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate falling to a 3-year low of 6.13% offers some relief. Powell's comments on the labor market also add to economic uncertainty. ๐ก๐
The tech sector saw Nvidia ($NVDA) drop nearly 3% after China officially banned its chips, a significant geopolitical hit. Opendoor ($OPEN) also fell 6%, likely following earlier negative comments about its workforce.
Commodities like Gold and Silver pulled back today after yesterday's strong rally (Gold hit an ATH of $3,700), suggesting some market participants may be rotating back into riskier assets after the Fed clarity, despite Powell's caution. Oil and gas prices were also down. ๐กโช
Overall, it's a risk-on environment for Bitcoin and specific altcoins like Solana due to strong institutional signals, but traditional markets are navigating the dovish Fed with caution, especially concerning economic health and geopolitical tech tensions.
Key Takeaways:
- Fed & BOC cut rates, but Powell's caution tempers sentiment. ๐ฃ๏ธ
- Bitcoin shows strong bullish signals (Bull Run Index 76, high ETF flows). ๐
- Solana ($SOL) sees massive institutional investment. ๐ฐ
- Nvidia ($NVDA) hit by China chip ban. ๐จ๐ณ๐ซ
- Housing market mixed signals; Gold/Silver pull back. ๐ก๐
Fed Cuts Rates: BTC Rallies, Equities Mixed
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Market Flicker
Market Flicker