Headline: Risk-Off Wave Lifts Tether as Crypto Slides; Asia Faces Outflows, China Risks
Introduction: A sharp risk-off turn gripped global markets, sending crypto traders into stablecoins and sparking renewed pressure across Asian equities and credit. Concerns over the Federal Reserve’s rate path and China’s weakening momentum compounded the flight to safety.
Crypto markets led the retreat as Bitcoin sank below $98,000, with Ethereum dropping 8% and more than $1 billion in leveraged long positions wiped out. Tether’s market dominance climbed to its strongest level since April, underscoring the demand for stable value amid elevated crypto volatility. XRP fell 7.3% after an ETF debut, breaking $2.30 support on heavy volume as sellers targeted the $2.00 area.
Equities were mixed, with TECH down 15.7% over the past year after a first-quarter sales miss. Even so, analyst sentiment remains constructive, maintaining a Strong Buy outlook and a $70 price target. Across Asia, investors pulled an estimated $4.6 billion from AI-focused stocks as rich valuations triggered profit-taking, while fading confidence in imminent Fed rate cuts curbed risk appetite.
Macro headwinds intensified in China. Asian banks face more than $1 billion in potential loan stress tied to the country’s property downturn as repayment extensions lose effectiveness. China’s fourth-quarter investment fell 1.7%, industrial output cooled to 4.9%, and retail sales slipped, prompting traders to monitor the policy backdrop for signs of additional stimulus.
Key Points: – Tether dominance hit its highest level since April as traders sought stability. – Bitcoin fell below $98,000; Ethereum slid 8% with $1B+ in long liquidations. – XRP dropped 7.3% after an ETF launch, breaching $2.30 support on strong volume. – TECH shares are down 15.7% year over year; analysts still rate the stock a Strong Buy with a $70 target. – Asia saw $4.6B in outflows from AI stocks amid profit-taking and rate-cut uncertainty. – China’s slowdown deepened, adding credit stress for Asian banks and raising expectations for policy support.
