Live BTC/USD Chart
BTC/USD
Apple, Amazon, Mastercard, and Shell headline Thursday’s earnings calendar, with results from these global giants expected to influence sentiment across the technology, consumer, payments, and energy sectors.
Fed Holds Rates Steady as Markets React to Less Policy Guidance
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, matching market expectations. However, the biggest focus for investors was Chair Kevin Warsh’s message that the Fed is moving further away from providing forward guidance. Instead of signaling the likely direction of future policy, Warsh emphasized that economic data, inflation trends, and bond market conditions will determine the path of interest rates.
Treasury Yields Jump on Policy Uncertainty
Markets responded by pushing Treasury yields sharply higher as investors adjusted to a Federal Reserve that appears less willing to guide expectations. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed 8.1 basis points to 4.685%, while the 30-year yield rose nearly 12 basis points to 5.211%. The 2-year yield increased just over one basis point to 4.264%, reflecting continued uncertainty over when the next interest rate move may occur.
Stocks Retreat as Higher Yields Weigh on Valuations
U.S. equities closed near their session lows as rising bond yields pressured valuations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.19%, while the Nasdaq 100 dropped 2.06%. The S&P 500 declined 1.52%, the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.74%, and the Russell 2000 slipped 1.61%. Technology stocks remained under pressure as higher long-term yields reduced investor appetite for growth shares.
Commodities Climb While Bitcoin Slips
The U.S. dollar ended the session mostly lower. Meanwhile, crude oil surged $5.30 to $84.63 amid renewed geopolitical concerns. Gold gained nearly 1%, reflecting continued demand for safe-haven assets, while silver also advanced. Bitcoin bucked the trend, falling 0.5% during the session.
Earnings Calendar Highlight Thursday
Thursday’s earnings calendar features several of the world’s largest companies, spanning technology, e-commerce, digital payments, and energy. With Apple and Amazon reporting after the closing bell, market volatility could increase late in the session and extend into Friday. Meanwhile, results from Mastercard and Shell before the opening bell may provide early clues about global consumer spending, business activity, and energy market conditions, making it one of the most closely watched earnings days of the week.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)
- Event: Q3 2026 Earnings Announcement
- Release Time: After Market Close (AMC)
- Consensus EPS: $1.89
- Market Capitalization: $4.97 trillion
- Investors will closely monitor iPhone demand, services revenue, AI-related investments, and management’s outlook for the remainder of the year.
- Any updates on product margins, capital spending, and consumer demand could drive significant volatility in both Apple shares and the broader technology sector.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN)
- Event: Q2 2026 Earnings Announcement
- Release Time: After Market Close (AMC)
- Consensus EPS: $1.82
- Market Capitalization: $2.44 trillion
- Markets will focus on AWS cloud revenue, retail profitability, advertising growth, and spending on AI infrastructure.
- Investors will also look for guidance on operating margins and whether heavy investment in data centers is translating into stronger revenue growth.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA)
- Event: Q2 2026 Earnings Announcement
- Release Time: Before Market Open (BMO)
- Consensus EPS: $4.78
- Market Capitalization: $497.74 billion
- Key areas of interest include global payment volumes, cross-border transaction growth, consumer spending trends, and operating margins.
- Results could provide valuable insight into the health of consumer spending and international travel activity.
Shell plc (NYSE: SHEL)
- Event: Q2 2026 Earnings Announcement
- Release Time: Before Market Open (BMO)
- Consensus EPS: $3.18
- Market Capitalization: $244.42 billion
- Investors will watch for updates on oil and natural gas earnings, cash flow generation, shareholder returns, and capital expenditure plans.
- Commentary on energy prices, production levels, and future investment strategy could influence sentiment across the broader energy sector.
Gold Returns to the $4,000 Level
Gold prices experienced a volatile trading week, ultimately finishing significantly lower after an initially strong rally lost momentum. The precious metal climbed above $4,300 early in the week but later reversed sharply, ending nearly $100 below its recent highs as investors reassessed the outlook for interest rates and global risk sentiment.
The decline was largely driven by a stronger U.S. dollar, rising Treasury yields, and reduced demand for defensive assets following positive geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Despite the weakness, gold remains above the critical $4,000 support zone, which continues to define the longer-term bullish trend but it is under attack.
MAs Keeping USD/JPY Supported
Foreign exchange markets saw sharp swings. Early in the week, U.S. yield differentials and Japanese capital outflows pushed the dollar above ¥150, but disappointing U.S. jobs data triggered profit-taking, causing the USD/JPY to slide by four yen from its peak. However, the new BOJ governor the JPY has weakened and USD/JPY soared to 154 and we decided to close our buy signal for more than 80 pips as the pair found support at the 20 daily SMA (gray) and has rebounded more than 200 pips off that MA but reversed after the 25 bps rate cut from the FED. The price approached $160 but reversed after the BOJ meeting and fell 8 cents but found support at $152 at the 100 daily SMA (red) and rebounded above 156 but have reversed down again this week after the Japanese elections.
USD/JPY – Daily Chart
Cryptocurrency Update
Bitcoin Tries to Resume Uptrend
Cryptocurrencies remained highly active over the summer. Bitcoin (BTC) climbed to fresh highs of $123,000 and $124,000 in July and August, supported by institutional inflows and technical strength. However, remarks from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ruling out U.S. increases to BTC reserves triggered a steep pullback, sending the coin down to $80K before finding support at the 100 weekly SMA (green). A rebound followed, sending BTC near $100 is the first major text for Bitcoin buyers. However BTC returned lower and fell below $80K, breaking below the but the 100 weekly SMA (green) but the decline stopped at the $60K support where the 200 weekly SMA (purple) stands and rebounded above $76K but returned below $70K again.
BTC/USD – Daily Chart
Ethereum Returns Toward $2,000
Ethereum (ETH) has been similarly strong, surging toward $4,800, its highest since 2021 and near its all-time peak of $4,860. Despite a dip last week, ETH found support at the 20-day SMA, with retail enthusiasm and renewed institutional participation driving fresh upside momentum. Last week we saw a dive below $2,000 but buyers returned and pushed the price above $2K again.
ETH/USD – Weekly Chart
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst.
Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank’s local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.
www.fxleaders.com