US markets and global assets moved sharply on Friday as investors reacted to a flurry of geopolitical and market developments, including fresh optimism around a potential US-Iran deal, a surge in Bitcoin, a steep drop in crude oil prices, and continued strength in Nvidia shares.
Trump signals Iran nuclear halt as deal optimism builds
Sentiment improved after US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, raising hopes that a broader agreement to end the war could be within reach. He described the potential moratorium as “unlimited” and indicated that talks over a lasting deal could take place as soon as this weekend.
“Most of the main points are finalized. It’ll go pretty quickly,” Trump said.
Iran has yet to confirm the claims, and key details remain unclear, particularly around its long-standing stance on uranium enrichment.
Still, momentum toward de-escalation appeared to build through the day, with Tehran confirming that the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial shipping following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The developments helped fuel a rally in global equities while easing concerns over prolonged disruption to energy supplies.
Bitcoin rallies as risk appetite returns
Bitcoin surged alongside broader risk assets, climbing above the $77,000 level and briefly approaching $78,000 as geopolitical tensions eased.
The move marked a significant recovery from earlier losses and pushed the cryptocurrency past a key resistance zone around $76,000.
The rally was driven in part by improving investor sentiment as fears of a prolonged conflict subsided.
A reopening of the Strait of Hormuz also contributed to the shift, reducing uncertainty in global markets and encouraging a return to riskier assets.
The broader crypto market followed suit, with total market capitalization rising sharply and sentiment indicators moving into “Greed” territory.
Analysts noted that a sustained move above current levels could pave the way for further gains, with the $80,000 mark emerging as the next psychological target.
Oil prices slide on easing supply concerns
Oil prices fell sharply, with Brent crude dropping more than 10% to below $90 per barrel as hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran gained traction.
The decline erased much of the gains recorded since the onset of the conflict and reflected expectations of improved supply flows.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments, played a central role in the price movement. The route accounts for roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade, making any disruption highly impactful.
Despite the sharp drop, analysts cautioned that risks remain, including unresolved geopolitical tensions and underlying supply constraints. Inventory data and OPEC production levels also suggest that the market could face a supply deficit in the near term.
Nvidia extends rally amid bullish outlook
Nvidia shares continued their upward momentum, rising about 1.4% to move back above the $200 level as investor confidence in the company’s long-term growth prospects remained strong.
While the stock has lagged some semiconductor peers in recent weeks, analysts remain broadly bullish. Oppenheimer reiterated an Outperform rating, highlighting Nvidia’s technological lead in AI hardware.
“[Nvidia’s] Best-in-class Blackwell Ultra (GB300) NVL racks lead the market by two generations, in our view,” said analyst Rick Schafer.
Bernstein analysts also maintained a positive stance, pointing to the company’s upcoming Vera Rubin platform.
“The AI castle on a hill boasts best performance/watt training and inference.”
Despite competition from rivals such as AMD and Intel, Nvidia’s valuation is still seen as attractive relative to its growth trajectory, with analysts pointing to strong earnings potential through 2027.
https://invezz.com/news/2026/04/17/evening-digest-oil-plunges-bitcoin-jumps-on-iran-deal-hopes/
