Markets are mixed this morning as investors balance softer U.S. index moves with continued strength in crypto and commodities. The TSX is slightly lower, while the TSX Venture Index is higher as small-cap risk appetite holds up. In the U.S., the Dow and Nasdaq are both modestly lower as traders size up Fed expectations, retail earnings, and the latest wave of technology headlines. The broader macro backdrop remains active. Gold is climbing toward the $4,400 level as rate-hike bets fade, while oil is also firmer after recent geopolitical volatility. Bitcoin is up more than 1% in Canadian-dollar terms, showing renewed strength even as equity markets drift. Currency markets are also in focus, with the pound moving around ahead of a U.K. inflation test and the Canadian dollar firmer against the U.S. dollar.