With cryptocurrency markets are choppy on Monday as traders weigh potentially easing geopolitical risks in the Middle East against another stronger-than-expected US economic data release, which has pushed traders further downsize bets on near-term rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve, crypto investors are turning to the altcoin market as they hunt for the best crypto to buy now.
Bitcoin was last trading just above $64,000. That leaves it down over 2% on the day, with sell pressure rising following robust US retail sales data.
US Retail Sales Advance (M/M) Mar: 0.7% (est 0.4%; prev 0.6%)
– Retail Sales Ex Auto(M/M) Mar: 1.1% (est 0.5%; prev 0.3%)
– Retail Sales Ex Auto And Gas Mar: 1.0% (est 0.3%; prev 0.3%)
– Retail Sales Control Group Mar: 1.1% (est 0.4%; prev 0.0%)
— LiveSquawk (@LiveSquawk) April 15, 2024
But Bitcoin remains close to 5% up versus its Saturday lows around $61,000. The market saw big downside over the weekend after Iran launched a historic direct attack against Israel.
But Sunday saw an impressive recovery, as fears about an Israeli retaliation that could further escalate the situation eased.
ISRAEL'S OBJECTIVE IS TO HURT IRAN WITHOUT CAUSING ALL-OUT WAR, ISRAEL'S CHANNEL 12 NEWS REPORTS AFTER WAR CABINET MEETING
CHANNEL 12: ISRAEL WANTS TO EMBARK ON ACTION AGAINST IRAN COORDINATED WITH UNITED STATES
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) April 15, 2024
Assuming Middle Eastern geopolitics remain out of the headlines for now, macro will be the big focus this week.
All eyes will be on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks on Tuesday. Expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates in 2024 has been a major tailwind to crypto in recent months.
But that narrative has taken a blow in wake of recent strong data. Prior to today’s
Read more on cryptonews.com