Investors shrug off US sanctions plan for Iran, bitcoin powers on

Global financial markets experienced a sense of relief on Tuesday as investors dismissed the prospect of expanded US sanctions on Iran. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, had cautioned countries against financial ties with Iran, but the Treasury Department held back from implementing penalties. This announcement alleviated concerns, leading to a modest drop in oil prices and government bond yields.

European stocks opened 0.3% higher, buoyed by the perceived less severe US move, though defense firms benefited from the potential for ongoing conflict. The dollar showed a slight upward trend against the euro and Japanese yen, but traders were more interested in the contrast with bond yields. Michael Metcalfe, a strategist at State Street Global Markets, noted that the recent yield surge and dollar weakness signaled a potential shift in the dollar's negative bias.

Bitcoin surged past the $80,000 mark, marking the highest level since mid-May, driven by a 2% increase in the last 10 days, bringing its 10-day gain over 30%. Gold dipped slightly to $4,624 per ounce, but it too reached its May high, up 15% for the month. The tech sector, particularly Nvidia, awaited crucial results, with analysts forecasting significant revenue and earnings growth.