Bitcoin hit its highest in two weeks on Saturday, extending the previous session’s strong gains as cryptocurrencies basked in a recovery in risk appetite and a rally in stock markets. The world’s largest cryptocurrency hit $41,983, taking gains from Thursday’s lows to nearly 16 percent, and marking a 27 percent rise from the year’s low of $32,950.72 on Jan. 24. Ether, the coin linked to the ethereum blockchain network, scaled the $3,000 level for the first time since Jan. 21. Friday’s 11 percent-plus was the biggest single-day gain for bitcoin since mid-June, and the first major bounce after weeks of being roiled, along with technology and growth stocks, by fears of faster-than-expected Fed rate hikes to curb a surge in inflation. It came alongside a rally in U.S. stocks, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq ending the week with gains despite the heavy volatility from earnings, including Amazon’s robust growth and Facebook-owner …