Bitcoin Edges Higher, ETH Rebounds Above $4k as Sentiment Slips Into 'Fear' Territory

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Crypto markets modestly bounced connected Friday with bitcoin (BTC) backmost supra $110,000. Ethereum's ether (ETH) outperformed with a 3.8% summation to transverse $4,000, portion dogecoin (DOGE) roseate 3.4% and Solana (SOL) added 2.5%.

The cautious bid came arsenic caller ostentation information landed squarely successful enactment with forecasts. The Fed’s preferred measurement of prices, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, roseate 2.7% year-over-year successful August, portion halfway PCE excluding nutrient and vigor climbed 2.9%.

The information study reinforced the Fed’s communicative of gradually easing terms pressures, said Fabian Dori, CIO astatine Sygnum Bank, but it besides leaves policymakers balancing sticky ostentation with a softer labour marketplace backdrop.

"For investors, the implications are twofold: if ostentation trends lower, hazard assets whitethorn find enactment from assurance successful the Fed’s easing cycle," helium said. "But immoderate upside surprises successful coming information could propulsion backmost short-term complaint chopped expectations, weighing connected equities and boosting the U.S. dollar."

Crypto sentiment turns fearful

Meanwhile, sentiment successful crypto remained fragile. The Fear & Greed Index, a well-followed sentiment indicator, plummeted to 28 connected Friday, its astir depressed level since mid-April signaling "fear" among traders. That reflected caller volatility aft Thursday's $1.1 cardinal liquidation question wiped retired leveraged agelong positions.

Crypto Fear & Greed Index (Alternative.me)

"In caller days, astir $3 cardinal of levered longs person been liquidated," noted Matt Mena, strategist astatine integer plus manager 21Shares. With excess leverage mostly flushed out, helium said positioning has swung to an utmost bearish, Mena noted: fashionable tokens specified arsenic BTC, SOL, and DOGE present amusement a long-to-short ratio of conscionable one-to-nine.

That, combined with the Fear & Greed Index astatine adjacent extremes lows, "sets the signifier for a imaginable abbreviated squeeze," Mena argued.

Paul Howard, elder manager astatine trading steadfast Wincent, didn't stock to affirmative outlook and warned that the marketplace could drift little earlier stabilizing. He pointed to BTC dipping beneath its 100-day moving mean nether $110,000 and the full crypto marketplace headdress sliding nether $4 trillion arsenic signs of weakness.

"The marketplace is successful a steadfast correction without panic oregon important uptick successful volatility," helium said. "It is apt that we grind little the coming weeks,” adding helium is opening to question whether crypto revisits grounds highs successful 2025.

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