Quick Summary
- President Trump announced a 10-day extension on halting strikes targeting Iran’s energy facilities, setting an April 6 deadline for compliance.
- Bitcoin experienced a 3%+ decline Thursday before staging a partial recovery, hovering just above the $69,000 mark.
- Tech-heavy Nasdaq declined 2.4% Thursday, marking approximately 10% losses from its January high.
- Treasury yields on 10-year U.S. bonds spiked to 4.43%, fueling speculation about potential Fed rate increases instead of cuts.
- Brent crude oil climbed above $103 as Middle East tensions raised Strait of Hormuz disruption fears.
Financial markets experienced renewed volatility Thursday following President Trump’s announcement that he would delay U.S. military operations targeting Iran’s energy sector. The decision provided temporary relief to investors who had witnessed significant losses throughout the trading session.
Posting on Truth Social, the President stated: “As per Iranian Government request… I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days.” Trump noted that diplomatic negotiations are “ongoing” and “going very well.”
Tehran has been given until April 6 to meet Washington’s conditions before potential strikes on power facilities would recommence.
BREAKING: President Trump says he is PAUSING the "period of energy plant destruction" in Iran by 10 days, until April 6th.
For the second time, within minutes of our call for bond market "intervention" and the 10Y Note Yield crossing 4.40%, Trump has delayed strikes.
Keep… https://t.co/ccQ91LLH3g pic.twitter.com/x0kGndNTyc
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 26, 2026
Bitcoin experienced intraday losses exceeding 3% before Trump’s announcement. Following the news, the cryptocurrency rebounded approximately 1% from session lows, stabilizing around $69,000.
Alternative digital assets similarly recovered from their lowest levels. Ether, XRP, Solana, and Cardano each posted modest gains from session bottoms, though all remained down 3% to 5% across the 24-hour period.
Equity Markets Face Continued Selling Pressure
Thursday’s session saw the Nasdaq composite tumble 2.4%. The technology-focused index has now surrendered roughly 10% from its late January record.
Friday’s pre-market activity showed modest improvement. Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 futures contracts advanced approximately 0.2% each, with Dow futures posting a 0.1% increase.
Nevertheless, optimism remained muted. Market participants stayed on edge as skepticism regarding sustainable diplomatic progress maintained elevated uncertainty levels.
Treasury Yields Surge While Crude Rallies
Thursday witnessed the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climb as high as 4.43%, a notable increase from sub-4% levels observed just weeks prior. The yield moderated slightly to 4.41% before session close.
This dramatic upward movement has virtually eliminated market pricing for Federal Reserve interest rate reductions. Several traders now anticipate the central bank may implement rate hikes rather than easing. Comparable trends are emerging throughout Western European fixed-income markets.
Oil prices pushed higher as well. Brent crude surpassed $103 per barrel while West Texas Intermediate approached $96. Both benchmarks advanced amid ongoing Middle Eastern hostilities and mounting concerns about potential interruptions to Strait of Hormuz maritime routes.
Market observers are monitoring whether the regional conflict might persist well beyond the April deadline.
Emerging reports indicate Iranian officials remain hesitant to engage in face-to-face negotiations with American counterparts, despite reportedly examining Washington’s diplomatic proposal. This persistent ambiguity continues pressuring global markets as the weekend approaches.
