US equities face AI earnings and political tests while the yen stays in focus; crypto withdrawals resume after a massive hack.

Global markets closed mixed on Wednesday as investors balanced a flurry of corporate earnings, political headlines and lingering concerns over the yen’s trajectory. US stocks were weighed down by the prospect of AI‑driven earnings volatility and the upcoming midterm elections, while the currency market kept a close eye on the Bank of Japan’s rate outlook. In the crypto arena, Binance’s phased resumption of withdrawals after a $6.3 billion hack added a note of relief to an otherwise cautious tone.

Currencies and central banks

The yen remained range‑bound as USD/JPY hovered around the 155 level, reflecting market uncertainty about the Bank of Japan’s next move. Analysts note that persistent inflation could keep another rate hike on the table, putting pressure on the yen against the dollar, the euro and the pound. EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY tested technical support zones, suggesting that any surprise from the BOJ could trigger broader moves across the JPY cross pairs.

Gold and commodities

Oil prices stayed steady after OPEC+ signalled it would maintain current output targets, limiting upside risk for crude. The lack of a production cut kept the market in a holding pattern, while gold stayed near its recent highs, supported by safe‑haven demand amid equity market uncertainty.

Crypto

Binance announced the first phase of withdrawals, starting with Bitcoin, after the FBI attributed a record $6.3 billion hack to North Korean actors. The exchange also confirmed that it has covered about 90 % of the lost user assets, easing pressure on the broader crypto market and restoring some confidence among traders.

Stocks

The US equity market entered a critical week as AI‑heavy names such as Alphabet, Amazon and Intel saw mixed results, while Apple and AMD awaited their earnings releases. Analysts highlighted that AI‑related revenue growth is beginning to materialise for companies like Santander and Novartis, but the broader market remains cautious ahead of the October jobs report and the midterm election outcomes.

Key calendar events (next 24 hours)

Related news

• Binance launches phase one withdrawals after $6.3bn hack
• Ethereum enters technical buy zone after Binance hack scare
• Bitcoin white paper marks 18 years, small firms still foot bailouts
• FBI confirms north korea's role in $6 billion binance hack, asks defi community to block btc, eth, sol addresses

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This article is compiled from international market news for information only. It is not investment advice.