QCP Market: Water and Energy Costs and Fed's Hawkish Stance Squeeze Risk Assets, BTC Consolidates Narrowly

Odaily Planet Daily reported that QCP Market noted that global market sentiment has turned risk-averse due to tensions in the Middle East and the Federal Reserve's hawkish bias. After the US imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports, crude oil prices strengthened, with Brent crude returning above $85 per barrel and posting a weekly gain of over 10%. In the US stock market, the semiconductor sector led the decline, with funds rotating out of high-beta AI tech stocks and into defensive and energy sectors. BTC is consolidating narrowly within the $63,000 to $65,000 range, while ETH continues to underperform. Following a net outflow of approximately $8 billion, Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows for four consecutive days. Implied volatility for options is under pressure, and demand for upside BTC options ahead of the FOMC meeting at the end of the month has positioned market makers with short gamma on the upside.