Dow Declines by 119 Points, Nasdaq Posts Modest Gains, Bitcoin Steadies at $103K Amid China Rumors

U.S. stocks concluded the week with varied outcomes as investor confidence remained cautious ahead of the anticipated trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a minor increase of 0.0043%, and the S&P 500 hovered near the flatline, decreasing by 0.07%.

This trading activity follows a preliminary U.S.-U.K. trade agreement; however, ongoing tariff discussions have left the markets unsettled. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned an “80% Tariff on China” on Truth Social, a reduction from the existing 145%, yet still higher than the anticipated sub-60% estimates noted earlier in the week.

“This week’s developments were promising, but we are still navigating the fluctuations of the news cycle,” remarked Mark Hackett from Nationwide. “We should expect a phase of sideways volatility until we receive definitive outcomes.”

Bitcoin’s Rally

In the meantime, Bitcoin (BTC) surged above $104,000 on Friday morning, driven by strong institutional investments and ETF performance. According to Bloomberg data, spot Bitcoin ETFs achieved a new all-time high in cumulative flows at $40.33 billion. The largest cryptocurrency by market cap pulled back slightly, trading around $103,000 after Wall Street closed.

Additionally, Wells Fargo reported that only 13 companies have retracted their earnings guidance this season, fewer than anticipated, which they categorize as a “positive surprise.” Stocks such as Ford, Delta, and Snap were among those adjusting their forecasts.