New Zealand

On Monday, the leaders of Singapore signed an agreement with New Zealand to keep their supply chains open in times of crisis. They said they hoped that 'the agreement' would serve as a'model for other countries who want to build a trusted network. On his recent visit to Singapore, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saw the signing between his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong and himself. This is at a time when global energy supplies have been 'disrupted' by the Middle East war. Singapore refines a third of the fuel used in New Zealand. The Agreement on Trade of Essential Supplies was...

Australian shares fell on Friday. Miners and banks were the main culprits. Domestic?fuel supply worries and doubts about whether upcoming U.S. - Iran?peace negotiations would ease disruptions in Strait of Hormuz? weighed on risk sentiment. As of 0021 GMT the S&P/ASX 200 index was down by 0.5% at?8,914.30 after a 0.3% decline in the previous session. The benchmark is set to have its worst week since four years, with a 0.5% decline. Oil prices rose overnight as doubts grew about whether upcoming peace talks will ease supply disruptions. Energy supply 'concerns' have been brought to the forefront in Australia. A...

On Tuesday, Australian shares recorded their worst session for over a week as rate hike fears shook heavyweight financials. Meanwhile, miners dropped after BHP warned that long-running negotiations with China's largest iron ore buyer are putting pressure on prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index closed at 8,815.90, a 0.7% decline. This is the steepest drop in a single day since December 15, 2025. Financials dropped by 1.1%. The four largest banks declined between 0.9% and 1.8%. According to Philip Pepe?, senior equities analysts at Shaw and Partners, the sector is losing momentum as investors are rotating out. He said that lower...

Australian shares recovered early losses and closed little?changed? on Thursday. Gains in heavily-weighted miners offset?a??drop? in top oil & gas producer Woodside Energy, after its CEO announced a surprising move to lead BP. After a three-day decline, the S&P/ASX 200 Index fell up to 0.4% and closed unchanged at 8,588.20. The main index, however, was on track to end its last full trading week in 2025, with a 1.3% drop, as sticky inflation and strong economic growth shattered expectations of future interest rate reductions. The markets now expect the central bank to make its next move upwards in the second...

Flavio Bolsonaro announced on Friday that former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has backed his bid for the presidency next year. This angered markets who had placed bets on a more experienced candidate who would consolidate support among the right. The senator posted on social media about his father choosing him to "carry on our project for nation." Valdemar Costa neto, the leader of Bolsonaro’s right-wing Liberal Party (PLR), confirmed in a press release that Bolsonaro’s eldest child, currently serving time for an unsuccessful coup plot, was the party’s presidential candidate. Brazilian markets were shaken by the news on Friday. The...

Australian shares closed Monday at near-four-month lows, as declines among major banks offset the strong performance of the energy sector. Investors also reassessed their positions in an uncertain environment for monetary policy. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed at 8,635.40, its lowest level since mid-July. Financials closed at a four-month low, down 0.2%. Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares fell by nearly 1% to a new low. CBA, Australia's largest lender, has lost more than 10% of its value since the beginning of last week, after its disappointing earnings and warnings about margin pressures affected market sentiment. Tim Waterer, KCM Trade's...

Australian shares closed slightly higher on the Friday as investors remained cautious due to concerns about domestic growth and global uncertainty. The S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.2% higher at 8,360.9. The benchmark was mostly unchanged for the week. Caution prevailed after Republican-controlled U.S. House voted by a slim margin to pass U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed tax cut bill that could add $3.8 trillion to America's debt. The domestic economy's outlook was also clouded Thursday by a Purchasing Manager's Index reading that was the lowest in three months. The rate-sensitive financials increased by 0.5%, with the "Big Four" banks of the...

The Australian share market posted marginal gains Tuesday, supported mainly by energy stocks and mining companies. However, the gains were limited, as consumer discretionary firms suffered due to U.S. China trade tensions, and domestic political uncertainties. The S&P/ASX 200 Index held steady, with a 0.2% gain at 7,766.80 by 1232 GMT. The iron ore price and metals prices have been strong, helping to extend gains for a fourth straight session. Shares in industry giants Rio Tinto BHP and Fortescue increased between 0.5% to 1.5%. Energy stocks gained more than 1% on the back of higher oil prices due to tariff...

Australian shares were bit changed on Thursday, as gains in banks and gold stocks were balanced out by losses in investment firm GQG Partners, which dropped after Indian corporation Adani Group's chair was arraigned in the United States. The S&P/ ASX 200 benchmark index closed at 8,323 points, compared to its previous close of 8,326.30. Australia-listed shares of GQG Partners, which holds a. integrated stake of almost 20% in 4 Adani firms, fell more than. 19% after Gautam Adani was charged with bribery and fraud in New. York. It was amongst the most significant losers by percentage on the. benchmark...

Political dangers due to possible loss of public support over increasing power tariffs are a. significant obstacle to transitioning to cleaner electrical energy. sources, ministers from New Zealand and Cambodia told an energy. industry event on Monday. It's incredibly essential to take the general public with you,. considered that end of the day, they need to think that what you're. doing is improving their lives, Shane Jones, Partner Minister. for Energy, New Zealand, stated at the Singapore International. Energy Week conference (SIEW). Jones stated New Zealand's power tariffs are comparable to. Singapore's, ranking amongst the highest in the Asia-Pacific. area....

Australian shares rose on Thursday driven by gains in heavyweight miners and financials, while mining giant Rio Tinto offered to purchase U.S.based Arcadium Lithium in a $6.7 billion deal a day earlier. The S&P/ ASX 200 index increased 0.5% to 8,225 by 2331 GMT. The standard ended 0.1% greater on Wednesday. After the marketplace closed on Wednesday, Rio Tinto said it will buy Arcadium Lithium in an all-cash deal to end up being the world's. third-largest lithium miner. Shares of the iron ore miner increased as much as 0.8% to. A$ 119.220. The mining sub-index snapped a two-day losing streak....

Frank Duckworth, the pioneering statistician who cocreated the Duckworth Lewis approach embraced in cricket to revise targets in restricted overs video games truncated due to rain, died recently at the age of 84, the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) stated on Tuesday. Duckworth and Tony Lewis produced the well-known technique which was adopted by the International Cricket Council in 1999. It was commonly used in one-day internationals and later on in T20 matches. Fellows will be unfortunate to discover that Frank Duckworth passed away on 21 June 2024, at the age of 84, the RSS stated in a declaration. Frank will...

The Australian share market closed Monday at its lowest level in over a month, with mining and gold stocks dragging it down. This was due to a fall in commodity prices. Meanwhile, the stagnation of Middle East peace negotiations boosted crude prices, fueling inflation fears. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 ended 1.5% lower, at 8,505.30 point, its lowest close since March 31, As commodity prices fell, the number of miners dropped 2.8% to a new low. BHP and Rio Tinto fell between 2.8% to 3.6%. Gold miners fell 4% while real estate dropped about 3%, and financials fell 0.3%. Santos and...

Australian stocks were flat on Thursday. Financials recovered from a four-day decline on budget-driven worries about mortgages, and gains in heavyweight miners, such as a record high by BHP Group, provided a little support. As of 0103 GMT the S&P/ASX 200 Index?held its position at?8,621.8, but was on course for its fifth consecutive day of losses if current momentum continues. Financial stocks recovered from early losses and snapped a four session losing streak. They gained 0.2%. The financial sub-index fell by nearly 1% earlier in the day and reached its lowest level since 15 May 2025. The drop was primarily...

Australian shares fell on Wednesday as investors sold Commonwealth Bank and other lending institutions. The?top?bank's missed profit heightened fears that Canberra's proposed curbs to tax incentives for property-investors could slow down mortgage demand. The S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.5% lower, at 8,630.40. This brings its overall decline to 2.8% in the last four sessions. Australia's biggest mortgage lender Commonwealth Bank plunged 10.4%, posting its weakest ever session. The bank erased a market value of?A$29.93 billion ($21.66billion) after an earnings missed and new Middle East-related provisions bleakened the outlook for the banking industry. The financials index is down 4% at a five-month...

Australian shares fell on Friday, wiping?gains made in the previous two?sessions. The market was flooded with broad-based sales after the latest exchange of fire between Iran and the United States rattled the sentiment. The S&P/ASX 200 ended the week 1.5% lower, at 8,744.40. The benchmark index rose 0.2% in the past week despite the drop, but it still remained below the record highs set early in March. Investors concluded a week that saw the Reserve Bank of Australia raise its interest rates a third time in this year. The U.S. escalated hostilities with Iran, and the mood deteriorated over night....

Australian'shares' logged their second consecutive session of gains,?boosted by mining and financial stocks as hopes for a?peace agreement off the Middle East helped stabilize markets worldwide and lift risk appetite. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 1% to 8,878.10, continuing gains for the second consecutive session after gaining 1.3% on Wednesday. The global markets were encouraged by the prospects of a Middle East Peace Deal after Trump stated that he expects the war in Iran to be over soon. This positive sentiment spread into Australian markets. Cameron Curko (chief investment officer, Pitcher Partners) said that gold and copper-related miners are rising...

Australian shares fell on Friday, and are on course for their worst week in more than a month due to uncertainty over a lasting peace agreement in the Middle East. However, insurer Suncorp has bucked the trend after securing a reinsurance policy. By 0034 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 Index had dropped 0.2%. If losses continue, the benchmark is set to drop nearly 2%, making it its worst week since last March 16. After a meeting of high-level officials at the White House, Israel and Lebanon?extended a ceasefire for a period of three weeks. However, markets are still uncertain whether a...

Investors 'purchased' mining stocks on Wednesday, after a recent sale 'linked to the Middle East War, and stronger iron ore prices and gold prices boosted?the sector. As of 2339 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 index was up by 0.2% at?8,713.10. The benchmark closed 1.1% higher on Monday. After a recent sell-off sparked by inflation fears linked to volatile energy costs, stocks are now on the road to recovery. The Middle East conflict has nearly erased gains from earlier this year. This leaves the benchmark index flat year-to date. U.S. president Donald Trump predicted that the conflict would end soon, even as...

Australian shares eased Friday. Rio Tinto shares were the main drag, as they missed expectations due to their flat annual earnings. QBE Insurance, however, limited losses by 'beating profit estimates. By 2342 GMT, the?S&P/ASX 200 Index fell?0.2%?"to 9,069.1?points. The benchmark index rose by 0.9% on Friday. Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto fell as much as 4%. On Thursday, after-market hours the world's biggest iron ore producer posted a profit that was below estimates because of a weaker performance in?iron ore, but copper performed well. Gold stocks surged as bullion prices rose on overnight geopolitical tensions, resulting in a 0.4% rise for the...

Australian shares rose Thursday, after the top business lender, National Australia Bank led banks to record high levels after recording a higher profit a day earlier. Meanwhile, miners boosted overall gains as commodity prices trended upward. S&P/ASX 200?index?rose 0.8% at 2333 GMT and is now a little closer to its record high of 9,115.20. The benchmark index rose by 0.5% on Tuesday. After posting better quarterly profits, National Australia Bank extended its gains and reached?its highest level ever. The "Big Four" lenders were followed by the rest, who gained between 1.4% to 2.3%. The top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia...

The Australian share market rose modestly Tuesday. It was on track to end four consecutive days of losses. Mining and banking stocks were at the forefront, as the index gained ground. This came ahead of the central bank's announcement on the cash rate, which is due later in the day. S&P/ASX 200 Index grew 1.1% by 2323 GMT to 8,875.80, a record high. This is the best trading session since 23 December. The benchmark index fell 1% Monday. Investors will be watching the Reserve Bank of Australia's meeting to determine the monetary policy decision. The rate decision is expected at...

Australian shares dropped on Tuesday. Heavyweight miners, financial stocks and other sectors led the losses. Global risk sentiment was soured by escalating tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose extra tariffs against Europe. As of 0007 GMT, the?S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.5% to?8,832.9. The benchmark closed Monday 0.3% lower. Overnight, global stocks fell as Trump announced he would add 10% to the tariffs imposed on eight European nations that oppose his takeover Greenland. U.S. stock markets were closed for a public holiday. S&P 500 Eminis futures fell 70.75 points or 1.01% early on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei dropped...

Australian shares were up slightly on Thursday as gains in healthcare and banking stocks offset a fall in mining stocks. This comes a day after mixed data about inflation left the central banks' monetary policy uncertain. S&P/ASX 200 Index?edged?up?0.1% to 8,707.50 at 0012 GMT. The benchmark index rose by 0.2% on Tuesday. The Reserve Bank of Australia has set a target range of 2%-3% for core inflation. However, the data released on Wednesday shows that consumer prices increased 3.4% from a month earlier in November. This is slower than the alarmingly high rate of 3.8% seen in October. RBA already...