Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report discusses the global financial markets, focusing on the impact of US-China trade tensions on various asset classes, particularly equities and commodities [1][7]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Market Sentiment Shift**: There has been a notable return to 'risk-off' sentiment due to escalating trade tensions, leading to a decline in global equities, with the S&P 500 experiencing its worst daily performance (-2.7%) since April 2025 [7][8]. - **Equity Performance**: Major indices such as the Russell 2000 and MSCI China saw significant losses of -3.3%, while only the Topix index managed a gain of +2.2% [73]. - **Treasury Yields**: Yields on 10-year US Treasuries approached 4.0%, with expectations that they may drop below this level due to the ongoing government shutdown and trade tensions [7][11]. - **Precious Metals Rally**: Gold prices surpassed $4,000, and silver closed above $50 for the first time, driven by strong physical demand and lower interest rates [7][16]. - **Increased Volatility**: The VIX index spiked to levels not seen since June 2025, indicating heightened market volatility in response to geopolitical tensions [7][19]. Additional Important Insights - **Sector Performance**: Among global equity sectors, only utilities (+1.0%) and consumer staples (+0.1%) showed gains, while consumer discretionary lagged with a decline of -3.5% [73]. - **Credit Market Dynamics**: Credit spreads widened, with US and EUR high-yield spreads increasing by 35 basis points and 36 basis points, respectively [73]. - **Currency Movements**: Most G10 currencies depreciated against the US dollar, contributing to a 1.3% rally in the DXY index [73]. - **Commodity Performance**: While gold outperformed with a +2.5% increase, copper underperformed with a -4.2% decline [73]. Forecasts and Projections - **Morgan Stanley's Forecasts**: The report includes forecasts for various asset classes for Q2 2026, indicating potential returns and volatility levels across equities, bonds, and commodities [3][15]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights and data points from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current market dynamics and future expectations.

Core Insights - Crypto-linked stocks experienced significant declines as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP continued to fall, impacting closely watched crypto-exposed stocks [1] - Bitcoin dropped below $110,000, Ethereum fell below $3,900, and XRP declined below $2.75, indicating a broader market downturn [1] Company Impact - Bitcoin miners such as Riot Platforms, Inc. and MARA Holdings, Inc. were particularly affected due to their revenues being closely tied to Bitcoin's market price and mining profitability [2] - HIVE Digital Technologies, Inc. also faced a steep decline as digital asset volatility pressured the company's margins [2] - Coinbase Global, Inc. saw shares drop nearly 5% as trading volumes decreased across global exchanges, directly impacting its revenue tied to transaction activity [3] - Strategy, Inc. mirrored Bitcoin's movements due to its substantial treasury holdings of the cryptocurrency, which weighed on investor sentiment [3][4] Market Sentiment - The market movements were influenced by rising U.S. Treasury yields and a global risk-off sentiment, leading investors to prefer safer asset classes over speculative crypto assets [4] - Stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth and revised GDP figures dampened expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts, putting additional pressure on risk assets like crypto [5]