Australia / New Zealand

The financial markets started the week with a mixed bag. U.S. stocks futures rose, but the dollar weakened ahead of the coming week. This was due to data, Chinese earnings as well as the threat of steep U.S. Tariff hikes. S&P 500 Futures rose about 0.6% and Nasdaq100 futures increased 0.8% in the morning Asian session. Japan's Nikkei climbed 0.2% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose about 0.2% Early trade saw the euro rise 0.2% to $1.0835, after a slight drop last week. The Turkish lira is on the edge of a cliff in emerging markets as investors are uneasy...

The European share market fell on Wednesday following a Wall Street sell-off overnight. Meanwhile, the dollar rose from its five-month low in anticipation of the Federal Reserve's rate decision later that day. Turkish bonds, stocks and the Turkish lira have all fallen, while Turkish authorities detained The main political rival of President Tayyip Erdoan on Wednesday was his main rival. The pan-European STOXX 600 Index was down by 0.1% last session after having risen for three sessions in a row, thanks to the boost from Germany's overhaul Spending more money on infrastructure and defence is a way to get around...

Asia shares rose Friday, and global markets tried to rebound after a brutal sale earlier in the week. Gold reached a new record as investors became nervous due to the latest escalation in global trade tensions. After Senator Chuck Schumer announced that he would vote for a Republican funding bill to avoid a government shutdown, he signaled his party's support. U.S. Stock Futures were a strong response. Nasdaq futures gained more than 1% in one instance and S&P futures advanced by 0.6%. FTSE Futures also gained 0.3%. DAX futures rose 0.6%. Alvin Tan is the head of Asia FX Strategy...

Investors were less concerned about the impact of U.S. trade policies on global markets as a result of data showing a lower inflation rate in the U.S. The oil prices are aiming for their second consecutive day of gains following data on stockpile increases, while the euro has retreated slightly from its five-month high set the day before on the hopes that a ceasefire would be reached between Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. Department of Labor released data on Wednesday showing that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures prices in the United States, rose 2.8% annually in February. This...

The euro reached a five-month-high on Wednesday, as Ukraine was ready to accept a ceasefire lasting a full month. Meanwhile, stocks were swayed by the back and forth of U.S. tariffs plans and concerns about an economic slowdown in the U.S. European equity futures jumped by 0.8%, and FTSE Futures climbed 0.3%. This was after the U.S. announced it would resume military aid to Ukraine and share intelligence with Ukraine following Kyiv's acceptance of a U.S. proposed ceasefire. Russia has not yet responded. In New York, the euro reached its highest level since October at $1.0947. It remained steady at...

Meg O'Neill, the CEO of Woodside LNG Australia, said on Monday that the company may delay a final decision on the Louisiana plant's liquefied gas project until the second quarter 2025 if talks to sell the half of the project continue. Woodside is looking to sell up to 50% of the project. The company has been reported to be in discussions with several buyers, including Tokyo Gas and Japan's JERA. O'Neill stated in an interview conducted on the sidelines an energy conference held in Houston, "We want confidence in our partners and a sell-down that is adequate." The goal is...

MSCI's global equity gauge fell 1.7% on Monday after hitting a two-month-low earlier in the day. U.S. Bond yields also dropped, as investors became concerned about an economic slowdown following Donald Trump's refusal to rule out a recession related to tariffs. Investors began seeking safety even as early as the Sunday after Trump, in an interview with Fox News, talked about a "period transition". He declined to predict if his tariffs against China and Canada would lead to a U.S. economic recession. Robert Pavlik is a senior portfolio manager with Dakota Wealth, in Fairfield, Connecticut. He cited concerns about tariffs,...

The stock market rose sharply Wednesday, after U.S. president Donald Trump agreed that tariffs on certain vehicles made in North America would be delayed for one month. Meanwhile, the euro reached its highest level in four months versus the U.S. Dollar. The White House stated that the president reached an agreement following a phone call with the CEOs from General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Tariffs imposed by the United States on imports of goods from Canada, Mexico, and China came into effect on Tuesday. The stock market was volatile in the morning, but then turned sharply upwards by afternoon. "It...

The major stock indexes dropped on Tuesday, as the United States slapped Canada, Mexico, and China with high tariffs. Meanwhile, the euro reached a three-month high against the U.S. Dollar, as German parties agreed to create a 500 billion euro fund for infrastructure. Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imported goods from Mexico and Canada. Duties on Chinese products were also doubled. China and Canada responded, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to do the same without providing details. Investors were worried about the economic impact of the tariffs. A group of automakers and trade representatives warned...

The major stock indexes fell sharply on Tuesday. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 10% since its record high in December, and Treasury yields declined as well. This is because the United States imposed steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, which has fueled investor concerns about the economic impact. The S&P 500 fell more than 1% while MSCI's global stock index dropped by 13.14 points or 1.54% to 842.67. The Nasdaq dropped 10% from the record high it reached on December 16, into correction territory. Wall Street was hit by a broad selloff, as all major sectors fell. Financials...

The European stock markets fell on Thursday after U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs of 25% on imports coming from the EU. However, stocks around the world remained largely stable as Nvidia's earnings did not reveal any major surprises. Trump caused confusion on Wednesday by announcing that the duties would go into effect on April 2 - a month later than originally planned. A White House official said that the March 4, 2014 deadline for levies was still in effect, "as of now", causing further confusion about U.S. Trade Policy. Trump has also proposed a "reciprocal tariff" of...

Investors weighed the prospects for tariffs, the economy and President Trump's policies as they assessed the dollar's performance in the early Asian hours of Thursday. Asian stocks were mixed, with tech shares in the region receiving little boost from Nvidia, the AI darling and heavyweight U.S. chipset maker. As trade war fears kept the market sentiment fragile, bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, remained below $85,000. Gold as a safe-haven remained steady at about $40 below its previous record high. Trump lowered the prospects for levies against Canada and Mexico, two of his top trading partners, by announcing that they would go into...

James Hardie Industries, a fibre-cement manufacturer in the United States, announced that it will acquire AZEK Company for $8.75 billion (including debt) through a cash and share deal. The company is looking to increase growth by offering new products to homeowners. AZEK shareholders receive $26.45 cash and 1.034 James Hardie share for each AZEK shares, bringing the value per share to $56.88, a 37.4% increase over AZEK’s Friday closing price. In a joint press release, Hardie and AZEK stated that the board of directors at AZEK had recommended accepting this offer. AZEK produces wood decking and pergolas, as well as...

Institutional Shareholder Services urged Rio Tinto's shareholders on Tuesday to accept a proposal that would review the dual-listed structure of the miner, amid pressure by activist Palliser. Palliser urged Rio Tinto to merge its two primary listings in London and Sydney into one holding company. The dual-listed structure, Palliser argued, has caused shareholders to lose billions of dollars and is the reason for its stock trading at a lower price than its peers. ISS, a prominent advisory firm in the proxy industry, now recommends that shareholders vote to support Palliser’s non-binding Resolution for the Company to Review the Matter on...

India's Commerce Minister said that a proposed free-trade agreement with New Zealand would significantly strengthen bilateral ties. He suggested that trade could increase 10-fold within ten years. After a ten-year hiatus, India and New Zealand resumed FTA negotiations following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Christopher Luxon from New Zealand, who was visiting India. At a meeting of business leaders, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the deal could increase trade ties for farm products, essential minerals, pharmaceuticals and tourism. The talks are being held against the backdrop of rising global trade tensions after U.S. president Donald Trump...

AVZ Minerals, an Australian company, announced on Friday that it had won a court case against the Democratic Republic of Congo and China's Zijin Mining for the rights to the Manono Lithium Mine. It is now in negotiations with U.S. parties about raising funds for the project. The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce ordered DRC state-owned Cominiere, to pay a fine of 39.1 millions euros ($42.46million) for failing to comply with orders earlier to cease any action terminating its joint enterprise with AVZ. AVZ originally held the permit for the development of the Manono Project,...

The United Arab Emirates exported aluminium to the United States in the first eleven days of March. This was due to buyers stocking up on shipments before U.S. Tariffs went into effect on Wednesday. The UAE has exported 68.560.29 tons of aluminum to the U.S. so far in March before tariffs were imposed, compared with 16,124.88 tons for the whole of March 2024. Exports are at their highest level in nearly two years on a monthly scale. The President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs for all U.S. imports of steel and aluminum with the aim of strengthening domestic production....

Western Mine Workers Alliance in Australia (WMWA), said that on Thursday, more than 400 employees at Rio Tinto’s Paraburdoo Iron Ore Mine in Pilbara Region had signed a petition supporting collective bargaining. The alliance launched a petition to begin bargaining in the mine for a first collective agreement after more than 20 years. The company's website stated that the Paraburdoo Mine is part of Rio Tinto's Western Australian operations. This operation employs approximately 16,000 people and will ship 328,6 million tonnes by 2024. The WMWA is formed by the Australian Workers' Union and Mining and Energy Union. MEU said that...

As major producers around the world prepare for Wednesday's increased tariffs, two major South Korean steelmakers have been evaluating their options to invest in new facilities. They said that the options included investing in operations in the U.S. The U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to increase protection for American producers of steel and aluminum restores global tariffs that are effective at 25% on all metal imports. It also extends these duties to hundreds downstream products, such as nuts and bolts, bulldozers blades and cans. Canada, the largest foreign supplier of aluminium and steel to the U.S.A., Brazil, Mexico, and South...

Australian shares continued to fall on Wednesday, briefly entering correction territory. Investor appetite was dampened by local media reports that the White House confirmed Australia would not be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. S&P/ASX 200 Index fell by 1.2% at 0001 GMT to 7,793.6. The benchmark index fell up to 1.6% in the morning session. It is now down around 10% from its February 14 high. This is known as a "market correction". Local media reported on the fact that Australia would not be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum that President Donald Trump will...

Australian media, citing an official at the White House, reported that Australia would not be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum that President Donald Trump will impose Wednesday. In February, Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to exempt Australia from tariffs due to the U.S. surplus in trade with Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corp, citing White House spokesperson KarolineLeavitt, reported that Trump had decided against it. Leavitt said that if they wanted to be exempted they should move the steel manufacturing here. During his first term as president, Trump exempted Australia of U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs....

The company's annual report stated that Chinese state-controlled mining firm MMG Ltd put its Kinsevere Cobalt Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo under care and maintenance due to the unfavourable market conditions for cobalt in December. MMG approved a 2022 extension of the mine's life and added cobalt production to its current copper production. MMG reported that the extension project was finished in September of last year but that the cobalt facility was shut down in December. It said that "a flexible cobalt strategy will be implemented moving forward, adapting cobalt prices to market conditions and cobalt content varying...

After a series of recent accidents that left dozens of people dead, Mali has suspended the granting of permits for artisanal mining to foreigners. In the gold-rich Kayes Region, 43 people were killed by the collapse of an artisanal mine on 15 February. Thirteen artisanal miner, including three women and two children, died in southwest Mali on January 29 after a gold-digging tunnel flooded. A statement stated that the Mali Council of Ministers, in response to these deaths, decided to suspend the grant of permits for artisanal mining "to foreign nationals" at their weekly meeting held on Wednesday. The statement...

Jean-Claude Diplo told a leading industry official that the Ivory Coast is expecting to reach a record gold production this year. The mine Lafigue, which opened in 2024, will be a major contributor. To diversify income sources, the world's biggest cocoa producer wants to develop its neglected mining sector. Lafigue, located 500 km north-east of Abidjan, the commercial capital of West Africa, and operated by Endeavour Mining (a London-listed company), is expected to produce 180,000 to 210,000 ounces gold in 2025. Diplo's term as head of the mining association GPMCI, which ended on Friday evening, stated that Ivory Coast gold...