In tonight’s episode of The Gentle Ledger, markets find their footing after a turbulent week. The Dow dips 0.7 % to 47,147, the S&P 500 holds near 6,734, and the Nasdaq edges up 0.1 %, hinting at a tentative calm. Tech stocks, including Nvidia and Alphabet, recover slightly, while defensive names and M&A whispers—like Merck’s surprise bid for Cidara Therapeutics—quietly shape the day’s tone. Bond yields tick higher to 4.14 %, gold softens to $4,090, and oil steadies near $60. In crypto, Bitcoin slips to $95,000 and Ethereum to $3,190 as risk appetite cools. Settle in, breathe deeply, and listen as we trace a market learning to pause, reflect, and realign after the storm.