Australia / New Zealand

Global stocks rose Thursday, as chipmakers' strong earnings lifted sentiment. Meanwhile, the dollar hovered at a year-high, with investors still wary of stretched valuations. S&P 500 and Nasdaq, the benchmark indexes on Wall Street, were both up, with industrials, healthcare, and materials stocks leading the way. Micron rose 10% as the memory chipmaker’s strong forecast contributed to its AI-driven rise. Qualcomm gained 4% following its announcement that it expects to generate $15 billion in annual sales through its data center division by 2029. Nasdaq fell, but was dragged lower by the choppy trades among megacap technology companies. Apple fell 5.3%....

Asian stocks surged on Thursday, after Micron and Qualcomm reported strong earnings. This helped to ease some of the concerns about the AI rally which has driven global stock prices to new highs. Micron announced that its customers have committed $22 billion to its memory chips. Qualcomm expects $15 billion of sales in its data center business by 2029. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan rose 1.3% in early trading. Japan's Nikkei gained over 2%, while South Korea's KOSPI gained 5.5%. Futures on the S&P 500 index rose by 0.5%, while Nasdaq futures increased by?1.8%. Tony Sycamore is a...

The stock market fell on Wednesday. Wall Street's gains were erased, and European shares were little changed. Valuation worries continued to weigh on the sentiment. Meanwhile, the dollar rose to a new high. The technology stocks that were hard hit on Tuesday reversed their early gains and continued to fall ahead of the earnings report from Micron, whose chips are a key component in driving AI. Investors have been hesitant as they priced in at minimum one rate increase from the Federal Reserve for this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher on Wall Street while the S&P 500,...

Analysts warned about the possibility of a new bout of volatility after the?day-long global selloff? in technology and semiconductor stocks. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan fell 0.02%. South Korean shares, that plunged 10% in one day, their biggest drop since March, rose 2.2%. Japan's Nikkei fluctuated between gains and losses. It was last down 0.8%. Michael McCarthy, a market analyst with Moomoo Securities Australia, said that the price action on markets in the past seven days was alarming. Not only when it fell, but also when it rose. When markets are moving so quickly, either in one direction...

Global stocks fell on Monday, with a selloff of technology and semiconductors shares leading the way. Investors were bracing for a more aggressive Federal Reserve response to inflation. Wall Street saw the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lead losses. Semiconductors?and?some megacaps were also under pressure. Nvidia shares fell 3%, Tesla shares dropped 5%. Shares of SpaceX recovered from their initial declines and traded up 1.6%. Chip stocks fell 7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.06%. The S&P 500 dropped 1%. And the Nasdaq Composite fell by 1.6%. Amanda Agati is the chief investment officer of PNC Asset Management Group. The...

Investors shifted to bonds and the dollar as they grew more confident that the Federal Reserve would be more aggressive about tackling inflation. Futures on the Nasdaq fell more than 2.5%. This suggests that Monday's 1.3%?slide could continue into Tuesday. SpaceX shares struggled to reach positive territory during Tuesday's premarket after losing nearly 17% the previous day. Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft all also fell. S&P 500 futures fell 1.2%. STOXX 600 dropped 0.8% under pressure of declines by European chip and semiconductor makers. This followed declines among tech stocks in Japan, South Korea and South Korea. Seoul's KOSPI Index...

Investors expect the Federal Reserve will take more aggressive measures to combat inflation even after a 16% decline in oil prices this month. STOXX 600 dropped 1.2% under pressure of 'declines by?European chip-equipment manufacturers, following declines in tech shares in Japan and South Korea. Seoul's KOSPI Index fell 10%, its biggest one-day drop since March. Futures on Nasdaq are down over 2.5%. This suggests that Monday's 1.3% decline could continue into the second day. SpaceX shares fell by nearly 17% on Monday after the company tapped the bond markets following its blockbuster IPO earlier this month. Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and...

After the U.S. lifted sanctions against?Iran on Tuesday, oil prices rose and traders were concerned that the Federal Reserve might take more aggressive measures to combat inflation in the second half of the year. S&P 500 futures and MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan both fell by 0.5%. Brent crude rose 0.2% to $78.03 a barrel. The Nikkei was down 0.6%. This is a reversal of some losses. Data showed that Japan's manufacturing industry experienced robust growth in the month of June. New orders surged at their highest rate in over four years. South Korean stocks fluctuated between gains, losses,...

The global stock market was mostly flat Monday, while oil prices dropped. This was due to a combination of 'expectations' that higher interest rates would be imposed on the U.S. Treasury. U.S. Vice-President JD Vance stated in Switzerland that Iran has agreed to let nuclear inspectors enter the country. The conversations about the inspections could begin as early as this week. Treasury Department of the United States authorized Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals and petroleum products sales through August 21. This eases decades-old sanctions and pushes towards a final peace agreement with Iran. In exchange for?commitments to nuclear inspections and free...

After Iranian negotiators announced that 'progress was made in peace negotiations with the United States, this helped calm fears about the fragile process of ending the Iran War. Qatari and Pakistani officials also released a joint statement announcing that the first round of talks was over and that progress had been made in a roadmap for a final agreement to be reached within 60 days. The talks were overshadowed earlier by Tehran's announcement that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping had slowed down after U.S. Central Command?said 55 ships passed on Saturday. This prompted U.S. president...

MSCI's global equities index rose?on Thursday, while oil prices dropped. An interim agreement to end the U.S. - Iran war allowed the reopening?of the Strait?of Hormuz. This fueled hopes that inflation?could?ease and that the U.S. Federal Reserve might not have to?tighten monetary?policy? this year. On Wednesday, the United States and Iran reached an agreement that extended a ceasefire declared in April for another 60 days. This will allow both sides to negotiate a peace. The agreement also allows for the full resume of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz "without charge". Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has threatened to...

The global stock market was torn Thursday between optimism and concern over the possibility of an increase in U.S. interest rates?this coming year following the Federal Reserve meeting. The United States and Iran released their agreement on Wednesday, which extends the ceasefire that was announced in April for another 60 days. This will allow both sides to negotiate a peace. The agreement also calls for the full resume of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz "without charge". Oil dropped 2.8% more to $77 per barrel. This is the lowest price since early March. Futures and shares fell in Europe,...

After the Iran conflict, when oil flows were disrupted and costs rose, India decided to buy Russian coal and crude oil to boost its energy supply. According to data compiled by Kpler, the world's third largest oil importer is expected to experience a surge in arrivals of Russian crude to a new record of 2,55 million barrels per?day (bpd). The imports of?Russia in June will be higher than the 2,13 million bpd that were imported in May. This was the third highest on record, and only behind the 2,16 million bpd for May 2023. In June, Russia's share will be...

China's?weak production of steel and its robust imports of iron ore continue to contrast, and it is beginning to appear as?a structural change rather than just a temporary disruption. China, which is responsible for producing just over half the world's total steel, produced 86.63 million metric tons of steel in April. This was a 2.8% decline from the same month of 2025, and the lowest April figure since 2018. Steel production for the first four month of this year was 331.12 millions tons, down 4.1% on the same period of last year. According to official statistics, however, iron ore exports...

The disparity between China's low steel production and its robust imports of?iron ore is still evident, but it is now starting to appear as a structural shift instead of a temporary dislocation. China, which accounts for just over half the world's total steel production, produced 86.63 metric tons of steel in April. This is a 2.8% drop from the same period in 2025 and the lowest April figure since 2018. Steel production for the first four months of the year was 331.12 millions tons, down 4.1% from last year's same period. According to official statistics, however, iron ore exports increased...

The Iran War has impacted crude oil and natural gas markets. However, the impact on coal prices has been muted. Prices for thermal grades are quietly rising to multi-year highs. The conflict between the United States of America and Iran has led to the loss of about 10% of crude oil and a fifth of LNG. However, the thermal coal supply has been largely unaffected by the conflict, despite the fact that the cost of shipping and producing has increased due to higher fuel prices. Coal prices are likely to be driven by a number of factors, including the Iran...

Although the Iran war has impacted crude oil and natural gas prices, its impact on coal has been muted. Prices for thermal grades are quietly rising to multi-year heights. The conflict between the United States of America and Iran has led to the loss of about 10% of world crude oil, and a fifth of LNG, but thermal coal supplies remain largely unaffected. Even though the cost of shipping and producing has increased due to higher fuel prices. Coal prices are not solely driven by the?Iran War. Other factors, such as low Chinese production and Indonesian regulations, may be more...

China has increased its customs inspections to enforce the new controls on fertilizer exports as the gap between domestic and foreign prices continues to widen after the disruptions caused by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. Three fertiliser traders, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said that customs inspections are now required for exports of?ammonium?sulphate, one of China's biggest fertilizer exports in terms of volume. Two people said that the crackdown began after two customs officers in Qingdao, a port city located on China's eastern coast, identified exporters who were falsely...

Customs data showed that China's imports of iron ore in the first two months 2026 increased by 10% compared to a year ago, thanks to stronger exports from Australia, a major supplier, and a higher level of domestic demand. In January and February of this year, the world's biggest iron ore consumer imported 210.02 metric tons. This is up from 191.36 metric tons in previous years. Alexis Ellender is an analyst with the ship tracking firm Kpler. She said that this growth was due to Australia's strong exports in December. China combined import data from January and February in order...

Itochu, Japan's largest retailer, posted a record-breaking 4% increase in its nine-month net profits through December 31st, to 705.3 billion dollars. This was a result of strong consumer businesses, such as food, textiles and the convenience store chain. The trading house's food unit saw a 38% increase in profit to 82.5 billion Japanese yen, up from 60 billion last year. This was due to higher banana sales and production, as well as growth of the packaged foods division at Dole agriculture. Tsuyoshi Hachimura, Chief Financial Officer of the company, said at a press conference that "core profits in non-resources sectors...

China's steel imports reached a monthly record high in December. This was largely due to the front-loading of shipments, which was prompted by Beijing's announcement that export licenses would be required for shipments starting 2026. Data from the General Administration of Customs in the Philippines showed that the world's largest steel producer exported 11.3 million tons of'metal' used in construction and manufacturing during the month of December, which was the highest amount ever for a month. Beijing plans to implement a license system to regulate steel exports in 2026, after robust shipments sparked a protectionist backlash around the world. Analysts...

SolGold announced on Friday that it would "recommend to its shareholders, Jiangxi copper?an improved offer?valuing the gold and copper mining company at approximately?842?million pounds? ($1.13 billion) amid a worldwide race for copper assets. Jiangxi Copper has increased its offer to 28 pence per Share, marking the third time that it has proposed to buy SolGold. This is a 7.7% rise from their previous bid of 26 pence per Share which was rejected last month. SolGold, a company based in Ecuador, said that its board will tell shareholders to accept Jiangxi Copper's (JCC) offer if it is firm. JCC's pursuit for...

Investors said that BHP should focus on its own growth strategy and move away from Anglo American, following the Australian firm's last minute appeal to the London listed company, which is close to a $60 billion deal with Canada's Teck Resources. In recent days, the world's biggest miner contacted Anglo's board to determine if there was any interest in a merger. This was reported by Sunday. BHP announced on Monday that it would not pursue the bid, but instead focus its efforts on growth. The decision to leave comes before the votes of Teck and Anglo shares - scheduled for...

BHP Group, the mining company, has renewed its takeover bid for rival Anglo American, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. This comes just months after BHP and Teck Resources, the Canadian miner, agreed to merge to form a global heavyweight in the copper industry. Anglo American refused to comment. BHP didn't immediately respond to an outside normal business hours request for a comment. Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that BHP made overtures to Anglo American recently. The report added that discussions are still ongoing and a deal is not certain. Anglo American has...