Weekly Smart Pills #77
Financial Markets
Cryptocurrency Market
Bitcoin (BTC) posted a strong performance this week, rising from around $85,000 to over $94,600 by April 27, marking a weekly gain of approximately 11%.
Ethereum (ETH) also saw significant growth, increasing from around $1,590 to over $1,820, for a weekly gain of about 14%.
These gains were supported by positive investor sentiment and anticipation of Ethereum’s upcoming “Pectra” upgrade, scheduled for May 7, which aims to enhance the network’s scalability and efficiency.
Traditional Financial Markets
U.S. stock markets rebounded sharply this week:
S&P 500 gained 4.6%
Nasdaq rose 6.7%
Dow Jones increased 2.5%
These gains were driven by hopes for easing trade tensions and strong earnings from the tech sector.
In Europe, Germany’s DAX remained volatile but ended higher, while Italy’s FTSE MIB rose 1.5%, hitting a three-week high.
The euro peaked at 1.1523 before stabilizing around 1.136.
Despite the rebound, investor sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing concerns about global trade and growth.
Economy and Regulation
At an energy summit in London, Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, despite U.S. pressure to increase LNG imports.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for clean, domestic energy to ensure energy security.
Fatih Birol, director of the IEA, highlighted the rise of renewables and the risks of mineral supply concentration.
U.S. representative Tommy Joyce criticized the focus on net-zero targets, citing economic and security concerns.
The UK also announced a carbon capture project and a new offshore wind farm initiative.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia are facing slowing growth due to weak external demand, inflation, and structural issues, with projected growth falling to 2.5% between 2025 and 2026.
Central Asia and Russia are seeing the sharpest slowdowns.
Rising inflationary pressures are complicating monetary policy and delaying rate cuts.
The World Bank emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity.
Without such reforms, the region risks falling into a middle-income trap and economic stagnation.
Blockchain and Innovation
Significant regulatory progress was made in the blockchain sector this week:
The U.S. SEC clarified that certain stablecoins will not be classified as securities, providing greater regulatory certainty for issuers.
Additionally, the GENIUS Act—aimed at establishing federal protections for stablecoin holders and enhancing consumer trust—advanced in Congress.
These developments reflect a growing integration of blockchain technology into the financial system and a trend toward clearer regulatory frameworks.
Trends and Statistics
Real Estate Investment Yields in Europe – 2025
Moldova tops the list as Europe’s best property market for 2025, with purchase costs as low as 2.80% and a 12% rental income tax, offering high rental yields.
Lithuania ranks second, with property prices rising nearly 10% at the end of 2024 and a gross rental yield of 6.39%, along with moderate growth and purchase costs up to 4.10%.
North Macedonia takes third place with a 6.47% gross rental yield, low taxes, and government incentives for foreign investors.
Serbia, Ireland, and Latvia also offer high rental yields above 7%, though Ireland faces high taxes and a housing crisis.
Andorra, Montenegro, and Bulgaria report high yields with relatively low rental income taxes, while Italy offers a 7.56% yield despite a 21% tax rate.
