Nasdaq at Peak, Bitcoin Above $85,000, and Oil in Turmoil: Market Analysis for September 22
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026 (data as of 09:30 GMT), the global market was led by a powerful rally impulse: renewed demand for AI infrastructure lifted Nasdaq by 2.3% to another all-time high. Meanwhile, oil prices declined for the fourth consecutive session amid diplomatic expectations around Iran.
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026 (data as of 09:30 GMT), the global market was led by a powerful rally impulse: renewed demand for AI infrastructure lifted Nasdaq by 2.3% to another all-time high. Meanwhile, oil prices declined for the fourth consecutive session amid diplomatic expectations around Iran. However, the Fed speakers' hawkish rhetoric has pushed the dollar up for the fifth consecutive day, keeping gold under pressure.
Stocks: Nasdaq at record high thanks to AI sector
USA: Monday closed with strong gains: Nasdaq added +2.3% (27,122.09) — the 21st record in 2026. The S&P 500 rose to 7,764.70 (+1.5%), and the Dow Jones to 52,048.83 (+0.7%). The main drivers were chip manufacturers and AI infrastructure.
Europe: The STOXX 600 index rose 1.0% (641.93) — the highest since July 2. Banking and IT sectors gained 1.7% each (ASML +2.5%, Infineon +4.3%). On Tuesday, markets opened near flat.
Asia: Growth was modest. KOSPI held just above 7,000 (+0.2%), Hang Seng +0.2%. Tokyo exchanges are closed September 22–24 for holidays.
Rates and currencies: Dollar rises on Fed's hawkish statements
Regulator rhetoric: Fed representatives Goolsbee and Musalem allowed for further rate hikes. Investors are pricing in another increase by year-end (median 4.1% after recent rise to 3.75–4.00%). The dollar has strengthened for the fifth consecutive session.
Currency pairs: EUR/USD fell to 1.1447 (−0.2%) — lows since late July. The yen weakened to USD/JPY 157.77 (+0.3%), despite the recent Bank of Japan rate hike to 1.25%.
US government debt: The 10-year Treasuries yield retreated to 4.95% (−4 bps), 30-year to 5.29%, while 2-year remained at 4.75%.
Commodities: Oil pullback on diplomacy and pressure on gold
Oil factor: After falling below $100, Brent rebounded on Tuesday to $101.2 (+0.9%), WTI to $96.7 (+1.0%). The market is pricing in Trump's rejection of strikes on Yemen and his readiness for talks with Iran at the UN General Assembly. Saudi oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz is at 2.9 million barrels per day.
Metals: Gold slipped to $4,319 per ounce (−0.6%), pressured by a strong dollar and hawkish Fed, although geopolitics and central bank purchases continue to provide support. Copper remains near multi-year highs ($14,730/ton).
Cryptocurrencies: Explosive Bitcoin surge to $85,613
Short liquidations: Bitcoin jumped +5.2% in 24 hours, reaching $85,613. The move was driven by a short squeeze — approximately $648 million in short positions were liquidated.
Bullish signal: BTC returned above the 50-week moving average for the first time in 10 months, historically signaling the end of the bear cycle. The CD20 index rose +4.1%.
Key events calendar for the week
During the release of major macroeconomic data, a blackout period applies (±3 minutes). Opening, closing, and editing order parameters during this time are unavailable.
| Day | Event / Release |
|---|---|
| Wednesday (09/23) | Preliminary PMI: USA (forecast 55.2 vs 56.0), Eurozone (forecast 51.7 vs 52.0). |
| Thursday (09/24) | Trump and Xi Jinping meeting (tariffs, AI, rare metals); rate decisions by SNB and Banxico. |
| Friday (09/25) | US PCE inflation — the main indicator for the Fed's rate decision on October 28. |
Summary: This material is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. The main volatility of the week is expected on Thursday and Friday (US-China summit and PCE data).