Bitcoin, Korea’s Kospi And Nasdaq Futures Rally As China GDP Beats Estimates
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Bitcoin traded near $82,500 on Monday, while Nasdaq futures, Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi advanced after China reported third-quarter GDP growth of 4.5% and stronger-than-expected retail sales. Lower oil prices also supported risk appetite, though the moves do not establish that markets will continue rising.

Bitcoin traded near $82,500 and major equity markets rose on Monday after China reported faster economic growth and stronger retail sales than expected, while oil prices fell. Nasdaq futures gained more than 1%, Japan’s Nikkei rose 1.8% and South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.6%, reversing some of the weakness that followed technology-led losses last week.

Bitcoin was up 0.7% since midnight UTC and 1.3% over the previous 24 hours at the time of CoinDesk’s report, which was updated at 11:38 p.m. EDT on Oct. 18. The figures describe the market at that reporting time and are not a measure of the full Monday session. Chinese stocks were up 0.3%, while gold was little changed near $4,180. The U.S. Dollar Index held near Friday’s lows, below 102.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics said gross domestic product grew 4.5% year over year in the third quarter, compared with 4.3% in the second quarter. Retail sales of consumer goods increased 1.1%, more than twice the 0.5% rise expected and up from 0.4% in the previous month. The report cited these results as signs of stronger domestic demand in the world’s second-largest economy.

Oil prices fell in both the United States and Europe, giving back some of last week’s gains. Reuters attributed the decline to expectations that a waiver by President Donald Trump concerning Russia would add to supply. The report also noted that geopolitical risks in the Middle East remained. The market moves were broad, but the available figures do not establish how much of each asset’s rise was caused by China’s data, oil, or other factors.

At a glance
updateWhen: Reported late Oct. 18, 2026, for market…
The developmentGlobal markets advanced Monday after Chinese data showed faster third-quarter growth and retail sales above expectations, alongside a decline in oil prices.
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China’s Data Supports Risk Appetite

China is a major importer of industrial commodities and a central part of global manufacturing. Faster growth and a stronger retail-sales reading can improve investor expectations for economic activity and demand, helping explain why the data coincided with gains in both Asian shares and U.S. equity futures. The rise in Bitcoin also placed the cryptocurrency among the assets advancing during the session’s broader risk-on move.

The oil-price decline may also matter for inflation expectations. Lower energy costs can reduce some inflation pressure if the decline persists, potentially affecting expectations for central-bank policy. But Monday’s market reaction alone does not show that inflation will ease or that interest rates will change. Oil remains exposed to geopolitical developments, and the reported decline was described as a reversal of some recent gains rather than a lasting trend.

For readers, the key distinction is between a single session’s response and a durable shift in market conditions. The reported advances followed losses the previous week, and the available report provides snapshots rather than evidence that investors have broadly reassessed risk over a longer period.

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Growth and Markets After Last Week

The latest Chinese figures marked an acceleration in year-over-year GDP growth from 4.3% in the second quarter to 4.5% in the third. The 1.1% increase in retail sales also exceeded the forecast cited in the report. Together, the releases offered investors a more positive reading on China’s domestic demand, although the figures do not, by themselves, describe the economy’s broader outlook.

Global markets had faced technology-led losses the previous week, with AI-related shares among the drivers of declines in major equity indexes. On Monday, futures tied to the Nasdaq rose more than 1%, while the Nikkei and Kospi also gained. CoinDesk said the rebound was consistent with the VIX’s historical tendency to normalize after spikes on Friday; that is a comparison to a historical pattern, not proof that volatility or prices will follow the same course this time.

Oil’s decline provided a second market factor alongside the Chinese releases. Reuters linked the move to expectations about additional supply following Trump’s Russia waiver, while the report cautioned that Middle East risks persisted. The combination of economic data, energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty means the session’s market direction cannot be attributed to one development alone.

“Financial markets are a sea of green on Monday as upbeat China data and lower oil prices revive investor risk appetite.”

— CoinDesk’s market report

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How Long Can the Rally Last?

The market report provides prices and percentage moves at a particular time, but does not establish whether gains in Bitcoin, futures or Asian equities continued later in Monday’s session. It also does not quantify how much the Chinese data, lower oil prices or other influences contributed to each move.

It remains unclear whether the oil decline will persist, how much supply the Russia-related waiver may add, and how geopolitical risks will affect energy markets. The report’s reference to interest-rate expectations is conditional: a sustained fall in oil could ease inflation concerns, but no such sustained decline was confirmed. The report said the Federal Reserve was expected to hold its benchmark rate at 4.75% to 5% that month after raising rates by 25 basis points the previous month; the eventual policy decision was not established in the material provided.

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Watch Oil and Policy Signals

Investors will be watching whether China’s stronger retail-sales reading is followed by further evidence of domestic demand, and whether the GDP growth pace holds in later data. The next market sessions will also show whether Monday’s gains in Bitcoin, Asian equities and Nasdaq futures extend beyond the initial response.

Oil prices and developments affecting supply, including the Russia-related waiver and continuing Middle East risks, remain important variables. Traders will also monitor U.S. inflation and Federal Reserve communications for evidence about the direction of interest rates. The source report does not identify a confirmed next release or policy announcement beyond the expected rate decision for that month.

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Key Questions

Why did Bitcoin and Asian markets rise on Monday?

The moves came after China reported 4.5% year-over-year GDP growth in the third quarter and retail-sales growth above expectations. Lower oil prices were another factor cited by the report, though it did not assign a precise share of the gains to either development.

How much did Bitcoin gain?

Bitcoin traded near $82,500 and was up 0.7% since midnight UTC and 1.3% over the prior 24 hours at the time of CoinDesk’s report. Those are time-specific figures, not a guarantee of later prices.

What did China’s economic data show?

China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that GDP grew 4.5% year over year in the third quarter, up from 4.3% in the second quarter. Retail sales rose 1.1%, above the 0.5% increase expected and the previous month’s 0.4% rise.

Did the market gains confirm a lasting recovery?

No. The reported gains describe a market session following losses the previous week. The available information does not establish whether the rally continued or whether investors’ longer-term outlook changed.

What could affect markets next?

Further Chinese economic data, oil-supply developments, geopolitical risks, U.S. inflation readings and Federal Reserve signals could all influence markets. The timing and effect of these factors are uncertain, and cryptocurrencies and other financial assets can be volatile and carry a risk of loss.

Source: rss

Nothing in this article is financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and precious-metal investments carry significant risk — do your own research and consider a licensed advisor.
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