Finance

Intel Corporation shares soared more than 23% in a single session, marking the stock's best performance since 1987 and surpassing its previous dot-com era peak. This surge followed a quarterly report that exceeded analyst expectations and provided a positive outlook on demand driven by artificial intelligence, which also bolstered competitors like AMD and Nvidia.

Investors are bracing for the busiest earnings week of the quarter, with five of the 'Magnificent Seven' companies scheduled to report results. Major reports from Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Apple will serve as a critical test for market sentiment as participants evaluate whether massive AI spending continues to justify premium valuations.

Bitcoin remained stable near the $78,000 to $79,000 range through late April 2026, supported by steady inflows into U.S. spot ETFs. While the primary cryptocurrency has rallied approximately 13% this month, some analysts have noted a weakening correlation between Bitcoin and certain altcoins, suggesting a more fragmented digital asset market.

Market optimism has been partially driven by expectations of renewed diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran, which could potentially resolve ongoing energy market disruptions. Although oil prices have remained volatile due to the conflict, signs of progress in negotiations have occasionally eased investor fears, even as consumer inflation expectations jumped to a multi-year high of 4.7%.

The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly dropped its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding building renovation cost overruns. This move is seen by market observers as clearing a potential path for future leadership transitions just ahead of the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee meeting, where interest rates are widely expected to remain unchanged.