US stocks are breaking records, while Bitcoin is hovering just below its peak. Optimism remains in the markets, but concerns about trade wars and the unclear direction of monetary policy could bring unexpected twists. Which assets are winning this year, and is Bitcoin ready for its final rocket launch?
US stocks and commodities on the rise
The US S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices continue to grow, gaining 5.2% and 7.3% since the beginning of the year. Gold and silver are also doing well, with both commodities up around 25%, outperforming even bitcoin, which has gained only 13% since the beginning of the year. However, the biggest surprise is gold miners – the GDX ETF rose by more than 49%, making it the investment driver of the year.
On the international markets, China’s Hang Seng stands out with growth of 23.5% and Germany’s DAX with 18.4%. The European EU50 gained 8.4%. In contrast, Bitcoin has not yet shown the typical parabolic growth that would correspond to the peaks of previous cycles.
Bitcoin: calm before the storm or the end of growth?
Bitcoin is holding close to historic highs, but its price momentum is weakening. The charts do not indicate a continuation of the manic phase that would normally precede a significant price jump. Nevertheless, big players continue to accumulate BTC, which is keeping the market afloat.
The weekly chart shows stagnation – bitcoin closed where it opened and hovered around the $108,000 mark. Periods of low volatility can be deceptive – the market can surprise at any time. Now is the time to prepare, because once the market takes off, there will be no room for thinking – only for action.
