Record $3.2 billion inflows into Bitcoin funds signal new safe-haven status

Cryptocurrency

Summary:

Bitcoin funds saw record $3.2 billion inflows last week, signaling rising demand for crypto as a safe haven amid dollar weakness and economic fears, while Ethereum and other altcoins also attracted investments.

Crypto-related investment products recorded $3.4 billion in inflows last week, marking the most significant weekly inflow since mid-December 2024 and the third-highest on record, according to CoinShares‘ latest report.

James Butterfill, Head of Research at CoinShares, linked the surge to growing concerns about the weakening US dollar and fears over tariff-related impacts on corporate earnings.

He noted that this inflow shows investors increasingly turn to digital assets as safe-haven options amid global economic uncertainty.

US Bitcoin products pull over $3 billion in inflow

According to CoinShares, Bitcoin investment products accounted for nearly 94% of last week’s total inflows.

This is evidenced by the fact that US-based spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) products registered their strongest week since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.

Collectively, Bitcoin ETFs attracted over $3 billion in inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading the way by securing more than half of the new funds.

Record $3.2 billion inflows into Bitcoin funds signal new safe-haven status_1

Crypto Investment Products Flows

Meanwhile, the wave of new investments pushed the total assets under management for Bitcoin-relayed products to $132 billion, a milestone not seen since February 2025.

Market analysts suggest that the inflow reflects Bitcoin’s growing independence from traditional risk assets like US equities, and gold has strengthened its appeal as a safe-haven asset.

Reflecting this momentum, Bitcoin’s price surged by over 8% last week to reach $94,682 at press time, according to data from CryptoSlate.

Ethereum reverses negative trend

Ethereum also reversed its recent trend of outflows, attracting $183 million in new investments. This marks the end of an eight-week streak of negative sentiment that significantly impacted the second-largest crypto asset by market cap.

Despite this new capital inflow, Ethereum’s price remains below the critical $2,000 threshold. ETH is trading at around $1,806 as of press time, up 10% over the past week.

Record $3.2 billion inflows into Bitcoin funds signal new safe-haven status_2

Crypto Investment Flows

Other altcoins recorded smaller yet notable inflows. XRP and Sui saw $31.6 million and $20.7 million in new investments, respectively.

However, not all assets benefited from the positive market momentum. Solana was the only major altcoin to experience an outflow, losing $5.7 million in investments during the period.

Nonetheless, the broader inflow trend reflects strengthening investor confidence in digital assets, even as traditional markets face uncertainty.

Source: cryptoslate

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Fiona Harper

Cryptocurrency

Economic

As of the time this article was prepared, Bitcoin's value had declined to $94,200, initiating a selling wave with the opening of the U.S. market. For Bitcoin to continue its upward trend, it must maintain a support level around $93,200. What are the latest predictions from crypto experts? What can enthusiasts expect?

Bitcoin (BTC) Insights

Sherpa noted in today's assessment that Bitcoin is preparing for a new attempt at $109,800. Following a prolonged accumulation phase, BTC experienced a bullish breakout but has not yet returned to the anticipated peak region. After testing its all-time high, analysts expect a local peak and a setback to $100,000, anticipating that this will pave the way for even higher peaks.

However, as May approaches, the traditional “sell in May and go away” mentality could dominate the market. This suggests that buyers may become less enthusiastic, leading to lackluster movements due to weakened trading volumes.

Should there be an exception, the expectations for continued interest rate cuts by the Fed in June could inject vigor into the crypto market.

TraderSZ recently shared a graph suggesting that by the end of the year, BTC prices should peak around $144,221 according to technical indicators.

Fartcoin and PEPE Predictions

Altcoin investors are still facing challenges. The inability of Bitcoin to surpass the pivotal six-figure zone above $94,000 remains discouraging. While recent tariff-related statements have softened, tangible agreements are necessary, and conflicting reports about discussions with China need to cease.

The Treasury Secretary stated that we would see the first trade agreement by next week. If this occurs, the anticipated support for cryptocurrencies could materialize. Analyst Sherpa, known for his insights on altcoins, shared a graph for his favored altcoin, Fartcoin, noting potential fluctuations.

“It wouldn't be surprising to see some pullback here, but remember that the warming weather will lead prices up. There are three scenarios, all largely depending on BTC. I believe this is simply ongoing.”

In the analysis of PEPE Coin, the expert indicates that the long period of BTC suppressing altcoins is nearing its end, signaling that the time has come for a shift.

Source: CryptoSlate

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Adam

Economic

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and other major stock indexes traded mixed Monday, as Wall Street was in danger of snapping a four-day winning streak. In stocks, Tesla (TSLA) looked to continue its rally, while Nvidia (NVDA) fell sharply on reports of a new artificial intelligence chip out of China.

After the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5%. The S&P 500 moved up 0.3%, as the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gained 0.2% in morning trading.

The 10-year Treasury yield ticked higher to 4.29% early Monday. Meanwhile, oil prices dropped, as West Texas Intermediate futures traded near $62.90 per barrel.

Among exchange traded funds, the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) inched up, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) moved up 0.3% after the open.

Tesla stock climbed another 2.4% in early action Monday, on pace extend last week's sharp gains. Shares bullishly climbed above their 50-day moving average line Friday, and are now within striking distance of their 200-day line, the next resistance level to watch. The Elon-Musk led-company remains nearly 42% off its record high of 488.54, reached on Dec. 18.

Nvidia stock declined 1.6% in morning action Monday after the Wall Street Journal reported that China's Huawei is developing a new AI chip that could replace some of Nvidia's high-end semiconductors. Shares of the AI giant rallied sharply for a fourth-straight session Friday, headed toward their 50-day line, an important area to watch.

Stock Market Today: GDP, Inflation, Payroll Reports Loom

On the economic front this week are the releases of GDP and inflation reports from the U.S. Commerce Department, along with monthly payrolls data from the Labor Department.

Forecasts say first-quarter GDP, out Wednesday, will show growth slowing to a 0.9% annualized rate from 2.4% in the fourth quarter, according to FactSet. The personal income and outlays report will include the core Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, the Fed's primary inflation measure. Economists expect a 0.1% rise, lowering the 12-month inflation rate to 2.6%.

In stocks, Domino's Pizza (DPZ) declined 0.8% Monday after the pizza joint reported earnings early. Shares remain near a 500.55 buy point.

First-quarter earnings season heats up this week, with results from Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), Caterpillar (CAT), Pfizer (PFE) and Eli Lilly (LLY).

Dow Jones Extends Rally

On Friday, blue chips on the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed less than 0.1%, or 20 points. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite advanced 1.3%.

Due to current market volatility, now is an important time to read IBD's The Big Picture column for how to handle the current market and to track the updated exposure level.

Among the best companies to watch in the current stock market are CrowdStrike (CRWD), MercadoLibre (MELI), Penumbra (PEN), Spotify (SPOT) and TJX (TJX).

Along with Apple and Nvidia, Dow Jones components making notable moves this week were Amazon.com, Microsoft (MSFT) and McDonald's (MCD).

Check out IBD MarketSurge's "Breaking Out Today" list for top growth stocks that are moving above correct buy points. Investor also can find potential breakouts on the "Near Pivot" list. To find additional stock ideas, check IBD Stock Lists like IBD 50, Big Cap 20 and Stocks Near A Buy Zone.

Dow Jones Stocks: McDonald's Nears Buy Point

Shares of Dow Jones component McDonald's edged higher Monday after briefly rallying above an early entry at 319.72 Friday. The stock is forming a flat base with a 326.32 buy point, according to MarketSurge chart analysis.

Outside the Dow, cybersecurity leader and new IBD Leaderboard stock CrowdStrike is adding to breakout gains past a 400.02 buy point in a cup with handle, according to IBD MarketSurge chart analysis. Shares lost 0.2% Monday morning.

E-commerce giant MercadoLibre is just above a 2,202 buy point in a double bottom, according to IBD MarketSurge. MercadoLibre stock dropped 0.3% Monday.

Penumbra also broke out last week, topping a 288.57 double-bottom entry. Its relative strength line is at new highs, triggering the blue dot on the IBD MarketSurge chart. That's a bullish indicator of market leadership. Shares inched up 0.1% early Monday.

Music streaming leader Spotify has topped a double-bottom's 621.20 buy point. Spotify stock was down 1.9% Monday.

Finally, Guidewire is rapidly nearing a 201 buy point in a double bottom, finishing Friday just below the buy trigger. Guidewire stock moved up 1.2% in early morning trades.

Dow Jones Leaders: Amazon, Apple, Microsoft

Magnificent Seven stocks are rebounding from lows as Wall Street reacts to the fallout of President Donald Trump's tariffs. One of them, Dow Jones component Amazon, fell 0.2% early Monday, still leaving the stock squarely below its 200-day line.

IPhone maker Apple moved down a fraction Monday morning. Shares closed Friday at their highest level since early April.

Finally, software giant Microsoft dropped 0.8% Monday. Shares are above their 50-day line for the first time since late January.

Source : investors

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Gerik

Commodity

Technical Fragility Near Key Support Levels

Crude oil prices fell more than 2% last week, driven by a combination of oversupply concerns, weakening demand prospects, and a strengthening U.S. dollar. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is currently oscillating around $63.06 per barrel, a critical Fibonacci retracement level. Earlier attempts to rebound toward the 50-day Exponential Moving Average at $66.18 were short-lived due to a lack of reinforcing factors, causing prices to retreat. Technical analysis suggests that if current market conditions persist without supportive news, oil prices may slip further, testing the next significant support at $59.67 per barrel.

The close alignment between technical levels and investor sentiment highlights that price movements are closely correlated with confidence shifts. However, a direct cause-effect linkage between technical breakdowns and macroeconomic factors requires broader confirmation through demand-supply data trends.

Oversupply Fears Dominate Market Psychology

Investor sentiment this week remains notably bearish. According to LSEG analysis, the anticipation that OPEC+ could soon increase production—possibly beginning in June—has fueled concerns about market oversupply. A stronger U.S. dollar, which typically makes commodities priced in dollars more expensive for non-U.S. buyers, compounds the downward pressure.

This dynamic reflects a clear relationship where the prospect of expanded production correlates with declining oil prices. While OPEC+ decisions do not immediately alter physical supply, market expectations react swiftly, reinforcing a strong forward-looking correlation between policy announcements and price behavior.

Trade Tensions Resurface, Dampening Demand Outlook

Hopes for an improvement in U.S.-China trade relations were dashed when China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed reports of ongoing tariff negotiations. Although China continues to exempt some U.S. imports from tariffs, the broader market narrative has shifted toward skepticism about global demand resilience.

The reemergence of trade friction influences oil demand expectations by signaling potential slowdowns in global economic activity. Thus, the relationship between trade disputes and crude oil demand projections remains significantly correlated, although other variables such as domestic stimulus policies could moderate this effect.

Potential Russian Supply Increases Add to Market Strain

Another layer of pressure stems from potential changes in Russian oil supply. Recent progress in U.S.-Russia diplomatic dialogues regarding the Ukraine conflict has raised speculation that sanctions on Russian oil exports could be eased. If realized, this development would inject additional supply into an already fragile market.

Given Russia’s status as a major player within OPEC+, any incremental Russian output would alter global supply balances, likely accelerating downward pressure on prices. This anticipated increase in supply offers a textbook example of an expected causal link: geopolitical relaxation directly leading to increased production and downward price pressure.

Short-Term Outlook: Continued Vulnerability

Absent new supportive catalysts, the short-term outlook for oil prices remains biased toward further declines. The looming increase in OPEC+ output, unresolved trade tensions, and potential easing of sanctions on Russia collectively create a heavy burden on market sentiment. In such a scenario, a retest of the $59.67 support level appears highly probable.

Unless geopolitical developments reverse or demand indicators show unexpected resilience, the downward trend is poised to persist. Short-term fluctuations aside, the structural imbalance between expected supply expansion and fragile demand will likely define price trajectories for the coming months.

Global oil prices are caught in a web of negative pressures stemming from anticipated supply growth, weakened demand forecasts, and a stronger dollar. While technical rebounds are possible, the underlying fundamental forces suggest a continued bearish bias unless market dynamics shift dramatically. Investors and policymakers alike will need to monitor both geopolitical signals and physical market data closely as the second half of 2025 approaches.

Source: AFP

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Damon

Economic

Stocks

Wall Street stocks showed little conviction on Monday and gold eased as market participants watched for signs of progress in tariff negotiations at the top of an eventful week of corporate earnings and economic data.

Weakness in the tech sectorheld the Nasdaq back, but gold lost ground and benchmark U.S. Treasury yields oscillated.

"The news has evened out," Thomas Martin, Senior Portfolio Manager at GLOBALT in Atlanta. "There's not really any news today that’s market-moving."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said many of the top U.S. trading partners have made "very good" tariff proposals, adding that China's recent moves to exempt certain U.S. goods from its retaliatory tariffs showed a willingness to de-escalate trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

"We just keep on trying to dial into what the trade negotiations are going to be like," Martin added. "And it's this combination of public statements versus what's really going on behind the scenes."

Despite hopes for progress, economists polled by Reuters say the risk of global recession is high as a result of Trump's tariffs; the same group of economists expected the world economy to grow at a healthy clip a mere three months ago.

First quarter earnings season heats up this week, with Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Appleand Amazon.comamong the high-profile results on the docket.

While Monday was quiet with respect to U.S. economic data, the week is back-end loaded with closely watched indicators such as Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), the Institute for Supply Management's purchasing managers' index (PMI), an advance take on U.S. GDP and the April employment report.

The Dow Jones Industrial Averagerose 146.72 points, or 0.40%, to 40,275.27, the S&P 500rose 6.25 points, or 0.11%, to 5,531.38 and the Nasdaq Compositefell 15.79 points, or 0.09%, to 17,367.15.

European shares gained ground on trade negotiation optimism.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globeEURONEXT:IACWIrose 3.46 points, or 0.42%, to 828.20.

The pan-European STOXX 600index rose 0.74%, while Europe's broad FTSEurofirst 300 indexrose 14.58 points, or 0.71%.

Emerging market stocksCBOE:EFSrose 6.24 points, or 0.57%, to 1,103.34. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) closed higher by 0.58%, to 573.95, while Japan's Nikkeirose 134.25 points, or 0.38%, to 35,839.99.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notesfell 2.1 basis points to 4.245%, from 4.266% late on Friday. The 30-year bond (US30YT=RR) yield fell 2.8 basis points to 4.7099% from 4.738% late on Friday.

The 2-year note (US2YT=RR) yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations for the Federal Reserve, fell 2.6 basis points to 3.736%, from 3.762% late on Friday.

The dollar edged lower as investors awaited further trade talks progress and girded themselves for an eventful week.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, fell 0.59% to 99.16, with the euroup 0.33% at $1.1398.

Against the Japanese yen, the dollar weakened 0.68% to 142.69.

Sterlingstrengthened 0.76% to $1.3415. The Mexican pesoweakened 0.09% versus the dollar at 19.555.

The Canadian dollarstrengthened 0.21% versus the greenback to C$1.38 per dollar. Canadians are going to the polls on Monday after an election campaign in which U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and musings about annexing Canada became the central issue.

Crude oil softened as investors weighed a potential supply increase from OPEC+ amid ongoing trade uncertainties.

U.S. crudefell 0.94% to $62.43 a barrel and Brentfell to $66.17 per barrel, down 1.05% on the day.

Gold prices advanced in opposition to the easing greenback.

Spot goldrose 0.27% to $3,327.19 an ounce. U.S. gold futures (GCc1) rose 0.06% to $3,284.50 an ounce.

Source: TradingView

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Grace Montgomery

Central Bank

Economic

(April 28): European Central Bank (ECB) Vice President Luis de Guindos said that volatile financial markets must be watched closely amid the risk of declines spiralling out of control.

Speaking to European Parliament lawmakers in Brussels on Monday, he warned that despite a resilient banking system in the region, officials can't take anything for granted.

“The recent trade policy upheaval has triggered the most significant financial market turmoil since the pandemic,” Guindos said. “These developments warrant careful monitoring. Sharp adjustments in financial markets could become disorderly, particularly if they are amplified by the growing size and influence of non-bank financial institutions.”

The ECB's No 2 official spoke in the same week that Donald Trump will mark 100 days in the White House, a period of turmoil for stocks that has put the S&P 500 Index on track for its worst run during a US president's first 100 days since Gerald Ford in 1974.

“While euro area banks’ valuations have also been affected, their fundamentals remain robust and they are well-positioned to withstand potential shocks thanks to their sizeable capital and liquidity buffers,” said Guindos, who is the Executive Board member in charge of financial stability.

Even so, he said there are lingering threats officials need to take in account aside from financial-market stress.

“Trade conflicts could pose challenges for both households and corporates, translating into rising credit risk for banks and non-banks alike,” he said. “A combination of weaker growth and heightened spending needs could increase pressures on government finances.”

Speaking separately, Governing Council member Olli Rehn struck a similar note, saying that officials are watching the situation intently.

“While markets have been able to weather the recent volatility and are functioning well, we of course monitor the events closely and stand ready to use all instruments that are necessary in order to preserve price stability and financial stability,” he said.

Answering a question on the economic and fiscal implications of higher German spending, Guindos suggested he's more focused on any risk stemming from US Treasuries.

“I could be much more concerned about the increase in yields and the potential implications from an increase in yields in the US, because I think that the full decoupling is not easy,” he said. “I think that, at the end, is going to depend mainly on fiscal policy in the US.”

In his remarks to lawmakers on the ECB's 2024 annual report, Guindos also reiterated the central bank's stance that it is data dependent, will take decisions on a meeting-by-meeting basis and won’t commit to a particular path for interest rates.

Source: Theedgemarkets

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Warren Takunda

Economic

Global markets rebounded last week on a broad-based rally amid signs of de-escalation in the US-China trade war. Investors will continue to monitor major economic data this week, including the eurozone’s monthly inflation figures and the United States’ jobs report.

Additionally, major US technology companies, including Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple, are set to report their quarterly earnings. The market will particularly focus on Apple, as the company may face challenges stemming from the trade war.

What to watch in Europe

The eurozone is scheduled to release its flash Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April this Friday. Annual inflation in the Eurozone fell to 2.2% in March, easing from 2.3% in the previous month and marking the lowest level since November 2024. Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, also cooled to 2.4% from 2.6% in February, the slowest pace since October 2021. Consumer prices declined across most major European economies, including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium. However, inflation remained steady in France and accelerated in Italy in March. Major economies, including Spain, Germany, France, and Italy, will also release preliminary inflation and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for the first quarter. The GDP growth data will be critical for gauging the eurozone’s economic trajectory.

Consensus suggests that eurozone inflation may continue retreating to 2.1% in April, although core CPI is expected to rise slightly to 2.5%. Nonetheless, consumer prices appear on track to return to the European Central Bank (ECB)’s 2% target.

ECB President Christine Lagarde recently stated that the disinflation process in the eurozone is nearly complete and the bank will continue its “data-dependent” approach regarding interest rate decisions. However, US tariffs have deteriorated the region’s economic outlook, requiring the ECB to adopt a more accommodative monetary policy stance. Officials at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted last week that the negative impact of US tariffs on the eurozone’s economic outlook is more significant than the positive effect of the bloc’s fiscal reforms.

The ECB has cut interest rates seven times since June last year, bringing the key deposit rate down to 2.25%. Analysts expect the bank to reduce the rate once more in June and maintain it at 2% for the remainder of the year.

What to watch in the United States

In the US, first-quarter GDP figures and April’s non-farm payrolls will be the focal points for financial markets. The American economy added 228,000 jobs in March, far exceeding expectations, although the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% from 4.1% due to a higher participation rate. Stronger-than-expected job growth eased concerns that the US was falling into recession earlier in April. However, with tariffs now taking effect—albeit at a lower rate for most countries—the economic impact could become more pronounced, making the latest job data critical for market sentiment. Consensus estimates suggest 129,000 jobs were added to the labour force in April, with the unemployment rate expected to remain at 4.2%.

The US will also release its advance GDP estimate for the first quarter, with economists forecasting a sharp slowdown as tariff-driven economic uncertainty bites. Expectations are for the economy to have grown by only 0.3%, compared with 2.4% in the final quarter of last year. Furthermore, the US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) data, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, will also be closely watched.

As for Apple’s fiscal second-quarter earnings, the company is expected to report 4% year-on-year revenue growth and a 5% annual increase in earnings. Sales may have been bolstered ahead of tariffs taking effect, especially as Trump exempted electronic products from the 125% tariffs on China. However, Apple still faces 20% import duties on goods manufactured in China, where it produces most of its products. The company reportedly plans to shift all US-sold iPhone production to India by the end of 2026.

What to watch in the Asia-Pacific region

In the Asia-Pacific region, attention will centre on the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) rate decision this week. The BOJ is expected to keep interest rates steady amid mounting economic concerns linked to US tariffs. Governor Kazuo Ueda stated last week that the bank would continue raising rates if underlying inflation moves towards its 2% target. However, he noted that tariffs would likely impact the stability of consumer prices and weigh on economic growth.

Elsewhere, investors will closely watch China’s manufacturing and services Purchasing Managers’ Indices (PMIs) for April and Australia’s first-quarter CPI, both due for release on Wednesday.