Bitcoin fell to its lowest level since the post election rally before recovering after U.S. lawmakers approved a short term government funding package, easing immediate shutdown risk but leaving markets cautious. Bitcoin dipped to about $72,900 before rebounding as the U.S. House narrowly passed a $1.2 trillion funding bill that ended a partial government shutdown, according to market commentary published Tuesday by QCP Capital. The move reduced near term political uncertainty and helped stabilize prices ...

Core Insights - A significant decline in US bond-market volatility is anticipated, marking the largest annual drop since the financial crisis, attributed to the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cuts which have mitigated economic downturn risks [1] Group 1: Bond Market Volatility - The ICE BofA MOVE Index, which measures expected bond-market volatility, decreased to approximately 59, the lowest since October 2021, down from around 99 at the end of 2024, indicating one of the steepest annual declines since 1988, second only to the slump in 2009 [1] - Volatility across bonds, currencies, and stocks has been trending lower since a spike in April due to President Trump's global tariffs, aided by positive economic data, including the strongest third-quarter GDP growth in two years [2] Group 2: Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve has implemented three consecutive interest rate cuts since September as the labor market has cooled, with bond traders anticipating two additional quarter-point cuts in 2026, the first expected by the June meeting [3] - The Fed's easing trajectory is well communicated, with Wall Street consensus focusing on lower policy rates in 2026 and a modestly steeper yield curve, which can coexist with subdued volatility despite ongoing debates about inflation and fiscal risks [4] Group 3: Market Activity and Expectations - The lack of significant market-moving data during the holiday season has led to reduced trading activity and a calmer market environment [5] - Expectations for low volatility are likely to persist until the new year, although January may bring unexpected market movements or challenge prevailing consensus views [6][7]