Market Wrap: Bitcoin Slides, Stocks Tread Water on Trump China Comments

Bitcoin declined for the first time in three days as traders in digital-asset markets and more traditional stocks considered the implications of U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest broadsides against China on the coronavirus and Hong Kong. 

Bitcoin (BTC) was changing hands around $9,400 as of 20:00 UTC (4 p.m. ET), slipping less than a percent over the previous 24 hours after a two-day rally when it rose to $9,600 on Thursday from $8,800 early Wednesday. ” data-reactid=”20″Bitcoin (BTC) was changing hands around $9,400 as of 20:00 UTC (4 p.m. ET), slipping less than a percent over the previous 24 hours after a two-day rally when it rose to $9,600 on Thursday from $8,800 early Wednesday. 

draconian actions against China

that could lead to a deeper rift (giving traders the jitters earlier Friday). That didn’t happen, however. While he announced new, targeted sanctions against Chinese officials and directed his administration to revoke special trade exemptions for Hong Kong, he said he would keep a “phase one” trade deal with China intact.” data-reactid=”21″Some analysts had warned Trump’s White House press conference might include announcement of draconian actions against China that could lead to a deeper rift (giving traders the jitters earlier Friday). That didn’t happen, however. While he announced new, targeted sanctions against Chinese officials and directed his administration to revoke special trade exemptions for Hong Kong, he said he would keep a “phase one” trade deal with China intact.

Bitcoin News Roundup for May 29, 2020” data-reactid=”22″Related: Bitcoin News Roundup for May 29, 2020

Stocks fell as Trump started speaking Friday afternoon and recovered as he wrapped up his comments and stepped away from the microphone.  

Slipping Chinese Yuan May Boost Bitcoin Price, Past Data Suggests” data-reactid=”24″Read more: Slipping Chinese Yuan May Boost Bitcoin Price, Past Data Suggests

“The U.S. has plenty to lose from a severing of economic ties with Hong Kong given that [the U.S.] $297 billion trade surplus during 2009-2018 was the biggest among all trading partners,” Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at investment platform IG, wrote in a market update Friday. 

In the United States, the S&P 500 index was up by less than a percent. 

Bitcoin Rally Falters as Stocks Drop Ahead of Trump’s China Speech” data-reactid=”27″Related: Bitcoin Rally Falters as Stocks Drop Ahead of Trump’s China Speech

Bitcoin’s price is holding above its 10-day and 50-day moving averages. Traders studying price charts saw the resilience as bullish, but the anemic trading action could ultimately damp sentiment.  

In Europe, the FTSE Eurotop 100 index of the largest stocks by market capitalization ended down 1.7%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index was little changed.

Henrik Kugelberg, an independent Swedish crypto trader, said heightened U.S.-China tensions might not be all bad for bitcoin because some Chinese…