The bitcoin network mining difficulty, the relative computing challenge of adding a new block to the decentralized blockchain ledger, fell slightly to 146.4 trillion, in the first difficulty adjustment of 2026. Difficulty reached new all-time highs in 2025.
The S&P 500 ended lower, pulled down by declines in JPMorgan, Blackstone and other financials, while Nvidia and Alphabet lifted the Nasdaq as investors shifted toward AI-related stocks.
Gold prices fell more than 1% as investors booked profits after a recent rally, though it pared some losses after weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data bolstered bets of Federal Reserve rate cuts.
U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil said in a regulatory filing that changes in crude oil prices could lower its fourth-quarter upstream earnings by about $800 million to $1.2 billion. Oil prices declined 9.2% during the three months ended December 31, as concerns about oversupply and tariffs outweighed geopolitical risks.
Wall Street’s main indexes extended their rally, with the Dow at a record high on a boost from healthcare and technology stocks, while investors positioned for the week’s key jobs report to gauge the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
Gold extended gains, buoyed by safe-haven demand after the U.S. capture of Venezuela’s president fueled global tensions, while investors awaited U.S. payroll data for insights into the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.
