Market Bizzz

Total short interest, or the amount that contrarian traders have pledged against crypto stocks, has increased to nearly $11 billion this year, according to a report from S3 Partners LLC on Monday. More than 80% of total short interest in the sector are bets against MicroStrategy Inc. and Coinbase Global Inc.

Spot gold was steady at $2,178.31 per ounce, as of 0125 GMT, following two session on gains. * U.S. gold futures edged 0.1% lower to $2,173.70 per ounce.

Brent crude futures for May dropped 69 cents, or 0.8%, to $85.56 a barrel at 0150 GMT. The May contract is set to to expire on Thursday and the more actively traded June contract declined 60 cents, or 0.7%, at $85.03.

Stocks that were in focus include names like IREDA, which rose 5%, Infosys, which declined 3%, and Wipro, whose shares fell 2.5% on Friday.

In a stock exchange disclosure, Asian Paints Saturday said Shroff has informed the board of directors she will not be able to continue for a second term of appointment as an independent director of the company on account of several new projects her firm has undertaken, projects that demand greater professional and time commitments.

“The Fed Chair has tried to push the market away from aggressive interest rate expectations at the start of this year and he’s always been maintaining the idea that it was going to be a bumpy path,” said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG.