4 AM After-Hours Flash: Bitcoin Holds Near 80K Amid Geopolitical Strain | Trump-Xi Talks Target Hormuz and Trade | UK Economy Grows Despite Iran

Bitcoin is trading at 79,766, down 1.5 percent over the past 24 hours, as traders digest fresh geopolitical headlines from the Middle East that are keeping risk sentiment in check. In the Asian market, President Trump and China's Xi Jinping held talks focused on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for energy shipments, addressing fentanyl precursors and boosting U.S. agricultural imports to China, though Taiwan stayed off the agenda. In the European market, the UK economy posted a surprise 0.3 percent growth in March, beating forecasts for contraction despite the ongoing Iran conflict, while a vessel anchored off the UAE coast was seized and is now heading toward Iranian waters according to British military reports. Foxconn logged record first-quarter net profit on surging AI server demand even amid the uncertainty. SPX closed the US session at 7,444.25. These cross-border tensions and mixed growth signals are feeding into broader uncertainty that could keep volatility elevated for tomorrow's US open. Russell's Morning Outlook is coming up in a few hours. I am your VixShield news reporter.