Finance

Intel's stock soared over 25% in pre-market trading following a significant quarterly beat on both revenue and earnings. The company's optimistic outlook is being fueled by massive investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure and strong momentum in the data center market.

Oil prices remain elevated with Brent crude trading near $100 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz effectively remains closed to international maritime traffic. While a ceasefire was extended between Israel and Lebanon, the continued deadlock in U.S.-Iran negotiations has kept global energy markets on edge.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield held steady around 4.31% as investors balanced cooling inflationary signals against persistent geopolitical risks. While recent producer price data suggested some easing in inflation, the U.S. dollar is on track for its first weekly gain in three weeks due to its status as a safe-haven asset.

The cryptocurrency market continues to show resilience with Bitcoin trading around the $75,000 to $77,000 range. Despite a broader long-term downtrend, increased institutional interest and neutral technical indicators suggest that the current price level is serving as a critical support zone for April.

U.S. retail sales surged 1.7% in recent reports, significantly exceeding market expectations despite rising fuel costs. While higher gasoline prices contributed to the top-line increase, core spending across categories like electronics and furniture remains robust, supported by strong tax refunds and a stable labor market.