Market Reports

• Australian Market Report: The Australian sharemarket slumped on Wednesday amid lingering uncertainty about the duration of the Middle East war after plans for a fresh round of talks between the US and Iran fell apart overnight.... [more]

• U.S. Market Report: Wall Street's main indexes climbed on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump extended ​the ceasefire with Iran, even as uncertainty remained over whether Tehran and U.S. ally Israel would honor the truce..... [more]

• European Market Report: European stocks closed weak on Wednesday with investors digesting corporate earnings updates and regional economic data in addition to assessing the prospects of a fresh round of U.S.-Iran peace talks..... [more]

• Asian Market Report: Asian stocks ended mixed on Wednesday due to lingering uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran peace talks. U.S. President Donald Trump said he would extend the ceasefire until Tehran submits a "unified" proposal..... [more]

Australian Business News

• Fresh figures released by Seek shows advertised salaries growth has re-accelerated in March up 0.4 per cent over the month. In total, employers are offering a 4.1 per cent pay bump to staff.... [more]

• Australia has become one of the few advanced economies benefiting from the Iran war, but most local investors are yet to recognise the opportunity, according to Wealth Within Limited’s chief investment analyst Dale Gillham..... [more]

• Takeaway coffee sales plunge as fuel and living costs dent Australian spending. Is the economy next? For many coffee drinkers, takeaway orders are changing from a habitual purchase to an occasional treat.... [more]

• Expert warns negative gearing change will supercharge rents, ‘tighten’ supply..... [more]

• Accepting the risks and buying the best when quality is on sale. Competitively advantaged businesses with strong prospects for growing earnings at rates well above the market are currently on sale..... [more]

• Why stock picking is harder than ever. Many investors still bet on being the exception in this winner-takes-all market..... [more]

• A “significant growth” in the Pilbara’s prosperity came over the past three decades because the region’s mines were de-unionised, according to Rio Tinto’s homegrown iron ore boss. Rio’s Matt Holcz said a “really successful model”.... [more]

• Lynas Rare Earths just delivered its best quarter in 4 years on rising NdPr prices. Why it fell, and is it time to buy the dip?.... [more]

• As heavy rare earths, scandium and gallium prices soar, Mount Ridley Mines has kicked off a strategic re-assay program of 3300 historical drill pulps in a move to deliver low-cost, near-term resource growth.... [more]

• AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) has completed its first airborne magnetics and LiDAR survey at the Tundulu rare earths project in Malawi, marking an early step as it moves toward a maiden drilling program..... [more]

• Brazilian Critical Minerals lifts Ema indicated MRE by 58%.... [more]

• The countdown to Hastings Technology Metals’ maiden revenue stream is officially on after the company pulled the curtain back on a proprietary flowsheet for its Kabin Buri Hydromet Plant in Thailand..... [more]

• Tasmania's embattled salmon industry is launching a statewide advertising blitz, as questions surrounding an antibiotic used in public waters continue to swirl..... [more]

• A surge on defence policy optimism quickly ran into a reality check for DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO, OTC:DRSHF) this week, with shares pulling back even as the company delivered strong quarterly growth..... [more]

• Government invests in counter-drone technology citing lessons of Iran war.... [more]

• Singular Health Group has ticked off another key commercial milestone in the United States after receiving US$500,000 (A$698,500) from Provider Network Solutions Group (PNS) following the rollout of a further 500 licences.... [more]

• Former Woolies exec denies internal rules changed because it was lying to shoppers.... [more]

• Coles adds 20c to the price of milk as war in the Middle East pushes up Australian grocery costs.... [more]

• An Australian travel giant caught in a $240 million overcharging scandal has revealed signed agreements with a UK customer may have been faked. Brisbane-based Corporate Travel Management on Wednesday morning detailed.... [more]

• Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson’s former employer is suing the pair, demanding they pay for advertising that KIIS lost after they allegedly breached their $200 million, 10-year deals and the radio network terminated.... [more]

• Opinion - Elizabeth Knight: BHP has won the battle, but China’s $93b iron ore flex will continue.... [more]

• Comment - Sebastian Bowen: Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio. Investing with stagflation might become a necessity on the ASX….... [more]

• Comment - Chris Evans: Tinkering with the capital gains tax discount isn’t enough. Here’s why it needs to go. It looks increasingly likely Treasurer Jim Chalmers will make changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) discount.... [more]

World Business News

• Fed rate cut pushed back to late 2026 on war-related inflation risks.... [more]

• Citi says the US economy may be 'overheating'. Here's its market playbook to not get burned..... [more]

• Stocks could be set up for a pullback after the relief rally brought the market back to all-time highs, Goldman Sachs says..... [more]

• Tesla earnings are just hours away. Here's what to expect. Tesla reports first-quarter earnings after Wednesday's closing bell. While cars are still the company's big moneymaker, investors have become increasingly interested.... [more]

• SpaceX nears deal with Cursor.... [more]

• Tilray and other cannabis stocks soar as Trump is reportedly ready to reclassify the substance. The move, which could open up medical research on cannabis as well as banking services for growers, follows an executive order.... [more]

• Boeing CEO says ‘all systems are go’ to increase 737 production as company narrows loss.... [more]

• The Trump administration is in advanced talks about a potential rescue of ​low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, which is struggling to exit bankruptcy, people familiar with the matter told Reuters..... [more]

• Spirit Aviation stock is soaring on reports that White House is considering a rescue deal.... [more]

• Rivian Automotive on Wednesday said it has started production of its new R2 all-electric vehicle for customers at its plant in Normal, Illinois..... [more]

• International Paper stock hits 52-week low, drops to $33.56.... [more]

• Mexican telecoms giant America Movil (AMXB.MX), on ​Tuesday posted a 25.1% rise in ‌profit for the first quarter, driven by stronger operating earnings and lower financing ​costs..... [more]

• EU close to approving a $106B loan for Ukraine after months of deadlock.... [more]

• $28 billion and counting: Europe tallies the cost of another energy crisis. The European Union has unveiled a raft of planned emergency measures to cushion its economy from soaring energy costs..... [more]

• The impact of the Iran war on inflation and economic growth will linger even if an end to the conflict is found, Rachel Reeves and fellow finance ministers have warned..... [more]

• Taxes on workers in Britain rose at the fastest rate among the world’s richest economies last year, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development..... [more]

• Over-50s travel and insurance group Saga has revealed a returned to profit and forecast a further “step forward” in earnings over the year ahead, as it shrugged off Iran war disruption in the sector..... [more]

• Lufthansa cuts 20,000 summer flights as fuel prices surge.... [more]

• Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE), is ​exploring a deal to combine with T-Mobile US TMUS.O, create a transatlantic telecoms giant in what would be the largest ever public merger, two people familiar ‌with the matter said..... [more]

• La dolce vita: Is Italy the new tax haven for the global rich? Italy has already been attacked by the French Government for using tax incentives to lure wealthy French and other international residents away,.... [more]

• Italy would oppose UniCredit moving HQ to Germany, economy minister says.... [more]

• A court in Moldova sentenced a former opposition leader and one of the nation’s richest men on Wednesday to 19 years in a fraud case that saw a billion dollars stolen from several of the impoverished European country’s banks.... [more]

• The Trump family's World Liberty Financial crypto venture is being sued by one of its billionaire backers over allegations of extortion. Justin Sun has accused World Liberty of an "illegal scheme" to seize his WLFI tokens.... [more]

• Petroyuan will mature in bursts of crisis.... [more]

• Global flexible workspace operator WeWork is expanding in Hong Kong as companies scale back long-term office commitments, opening its fifth site in Causeway Bay to tap rising demand.... [more]

• Cathay Pacific raises $265.6 million from 3-year fixed-rate notes, term sheet says.... [more]

• India's ​rate panel members characterized the Iran war-driven oil price spike as a supply shock and opted to ‌remain on hold to avoid policy mistakes, according to minutes from the April meeting released on Wednesday..... [more]

• Analysis - Jamie Seidel: China sidesteps global energy shock after US assault on Iran triggers crisis. Beijing now controls the supply chains of a massive list of crucial minerals. And now we know it is absolutely willing to exploit them..... [more]

• Analysis - Elisabeth Buchwald: Confused by where Warsh stands? Get used to it.... [more]