Bitcoin climbed above USD 82,500 on Monday, October 19, as stronger Chinese economic data and lower oil prices helped lift U.S. stock futures. South Korea’s Kospi also recovered from an early selloff, although Asian markets remained mixed following last week’s sharp losses in technology stocks.
The moves came after investors cut exposure to AI-related shares last week, leaving several major benchmarks under pressure.
China GDP Grows 4.5% as Retail Sales Improve
China’s economy expanded 4.5% year on year in the third quarter, exceeding economists’ 4.4% forecast. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that growth accelerated from 4.3% in the previous quarter, while the economy grew 4.6% across the first nine months of 2026.
September retail sales rose 1.1% from a year earlier, compared with 0.4% in August. Industrial production increased 5.5%, supported by manufacturing and export activity. Retail sales beat the expected 0.5% increase, although wider investment figures remained weak. Fixed-asset investment fell 7.2% in the first nine months, with property development spending still under pressure.
The statistics agency also cautioned that “the issue of insufficient domestic demand remains prominent.” That warning contrasted with the better quarterly GDP reading and showed why investors continued to monitor consumer spending and housing data.
Kospi Rebounds While Nasdaq Futures Advance
South Korea’s Kospi closed at 5,768.01, gaining 1.76% after opening more than 3% lower. Institutional investors bought shares during the session, while Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix ended higher. The rebound followed a difficult week for Korean semiconductor stocks. The Kosdaq finished 1.78% higher at 808.89, adding to the late-session turnaround in Seoul.
The afternoon reversal contrasted with early trading losses across regional technology stocks. Nasdaq futures rose approximately 1.3%, while S&P 500 futures gained about 0.8% during early trading. However, the recovery was uneven across Asia: Japan’s Nikkei fell roughly 0.7%, and Taiwan’s market also declined. Chinese blue-chip shares posted modest gains.
Concerns about spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure remained in focus. AMP economist My Bui said, “Investors have long worried that AI revenues won’t be sufficient” to cover heavy upfront costs. Investors also awaited earnings from major U.S. technology companies.
Oil Retreats as Investors Watch Federal Reserve Policy
Oil prices declined after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering waiving some Russia-related sanctions. Brent crude traded near USD 108 a barrel, although Middle East supply risks remained unresolved. Lower energy prices offered some relief after the previous week’s inflation-driven market volatility.
The Federal Reserve announced an increase in its target interest rate range to 3.75%–4.00% in September. With U.S. consumer inflation at 3.7% annually, traders continued weighing whether policymakers would hold rates at their October meeting. Falling oil prices alone do not establish a change in monetary policy.
Bitcoin Faces USD 85,000 Resistance Despite Recovery
Bitcoin traded around USD 82,500–USD 83,000, extending an earlier rebound above USD 82,000. However, the cryptocurrency remained below USD 85,000, where earlier Bitcoin recovery attempts had failed. A move beyond resistance near USD 83,823 would put that higher level back into focus.
Institutional fund flows provided a more cautious signal. Recent Bitcoin ETF withdrawals reached about USD 228.4 million during October 12–16, following roughly USD 679 million in outflows the previous week. Ethereum funds also lost approximately USD 320 million. Bitcoin ETFs still recorded inflows on two days during the week.
Bitcoin’s next moves will be measured against resistance near USD 85,000 and support around USD 80,600. The latest gains came alongside improving stock futures, but ETF redemptions and uncertainty over U.S. interest rates remained part of the market backdrop.
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