Goldman Sachs predicts an upgrade of South Africa's credit rating - South Africa's fiscal performance for the 2025/26 financial year will likely trigger positive ratings from major rating agencies,
Morgan Stanley expects the Fed to hold rates in 2026 - Morgan Stanley has changed its outlook on US monetary policy, now expecting the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady through the end of 2026.
Bitcoin recovered on Thursday, climbing back above the $77,000 mark after a recent decline, as improved global risk appetite boosted demand for cryptocurrencies alongside equities.
The world's largest cryptocurrency was trading 1.8% higher at $77,143 by 10:27 (06:27 GMT) after a pullback earlier this week to lows around $75,000.
Bitcoin jumped 12% in April on optimism from a temporary US-Iran truce and record highs on Wall Street.
Bitcoin rose above the $79,000 level earlier in April on optimism about potential de-escalation in the Middle East and strong institutional inflows.
The key short-term obstacle for Bitcoin remains the $80,000 resistance level, which has repeatedly limited the rally over the past month.
Cryptocurrencies follow Wall Street record highs
Investor sentiment was supported by resilient stock markets, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq repeatedly hit historic highs in recent sessions, increasing appetite for riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Investor sentiment was further supported by positive results from Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), bolstering confidence in the tech sector. Strong demand for iPhones and record revenue from services were key drivers.
Analysts have noted that Bitcoin is increasingly trading in line with macroeconomic risk trends, behaving similarly to stocks during periods of increased liquidity and optimism.
However, Bitcoin's growth has remained limited as geopolitical risks persist.
Reports on Thursday indicated that US President Donald Trump was expected to receive a briefing on potential military options against Iran, fueling concerns of further escalation.
Iran has warned that any new US attack would result in "long-lasting and painful blows" to American positions in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed. Brent crude soared to more than $126 per barrel earlier on Thursday before retreating later in the day.
Cryptocurrency prices today: Altcoins rise in range-bound trading
The world's second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, rose 1.6% to $2,284.74.
The world's third-largest cryptocurrency, XRP, gained 0.6% to $1.38.
Solana increased by 1.6%, while Cardano gained 1.3%, while Polygon rose slightly by 0.6%.
Among meme tokens, Dogecoin jumped by 2.4%.