Market Reports

• Australian Market Report: At the close on Thursday 2 April, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 92.3 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 8,579.50, reversing earlier gains, as miners and tech stocks declined..... [more]

• U.S. Market Report: Wall Street's main indexes kicked ​off the week on a higher note on Monday after marking their biggest weekly jump in four months in the previous ‌session, while investors assessed prospects of an end to the Middle East conflict.... [more]

• European Market Report: After a weak start and a subsequent long spell fairly deep down in negative territory, European stocks staged a good recovery around late afternoon on Thursday. A few markets even managed to move above the flat line.... [more]

• Asian Market Report: Asian stocks rose on Monday, even as most regional markets remained closed for holidays. While Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong celebrate Easter, mainland China and Taiwan celebrate the Qingming Festival..... [more]

Australian Business News

• We eye the impact of higher energy prices in the U.S. March CPI this week and see supply chain shocks eventually pushing up broader inflation. The global supply chain shock from the Middle East conflict reinforces our view.... [more]

• The Albanese government is remaining quiet on potential changes to the controversial capital gains tax in the May budget, despite Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitting he would be “happy” if it was noted for tax reform..... [more]

• Diesel remains volatile as prices rise again despite Labor’s fuel tax relief. Energy minister Chris Bowen says 3.4% of Australia’s service stations had no diesel, as of Monday, after wholesale prices surged.... [more]

• Australian motorists are facing a prolonged era of high petrol prices even if the United States were to end the war in Iran tomorrow, as fuel companies and experts warn the damage to global energy markets has been so severe .... [more]

• Australian taxpayers have helped nearly 50,000 migrants purchase new homes since mid-2023 under just one generous scheme available to non-citizens. A viral social media post over the weekend has reignited debate online.... [more]

• Savers are having to jump through hoops to get the full benefit of interest rate rises as the country’s major banks keep their base rates unchanged, even after the Reserve Bank’s recent moves..... [more]

• Where Auscap is hunting amid market dislocation (and four stocks they like). AI fears and macro noise have driven a sharp disconnect. For investors, that’s where the opportunity lies..... [more]

• As if Australian active managers weren’t already facing challenging times, the latest analysis from research and ratings house, Morningstar, is pointing to even greater challenges ahead.... [more]

• Beetaloo bags $15.4M R&D refund as NT gas project nears lift-off.... [more]

• KGL Resources (ASX:KGL) is up 25% on news it has entered into a US$300 million precious metals purchase agreement (PMPA) to help fund construction and development of the Jervois copper project in the Northern Territory..... [more]

• Mount Hope grows Mt Solitary with standout Phase 2 gold hits.... [more]

• Rio2 Limited has tightened the screws on its balance sheet and bolstered its bench, slicing US$20 million off the debt for its Peruvian Condestable copper project whilst unveiling a seasoned management line-up..... [more]

• Ariana Resources on results and Tavsan production driving cash and dividend flow.... [more]

• A potential shortage of gas in the eastern states over winter has prompted the federal government to threaten to limit exports unless producers make more supply available for domestic use..... [more]

• Aussie suppliers call for grocery price hike to combat fuel crisis.... [more]

• Tourism businesses across southern Queensland say they are bearing the brunt of surging fuel prices, with some losing thousands to booking cancellations and extra operational costs.... [more]

• CBA onboards customers with NFC scans of ePassports.... [more]

• Opinion - Clancy Yeates: Frequent flyer points are almost like a second currency in Australia. More than 18 million people are members of Qantas’ loyalty scheme, which issues more than 200 billion points a year, while Virgin’s.... [more]

• Analysis - Gareth Hutchens: Stagflation 'is happening' says a leading economist. What can be done about it?.... [more]

• Opinion/Comment - Marc Van Dinther: Why sitting out this ASX share market chaos could cost you big. Today's volatility could build serious long-term wealth..... [more]

• Opinion - Luke Slawomirski: Private health premiums are rising, but is the system working? Spoiler: No. Private health insurance premiums rose by 4.4 per cent on April 1 – faster than inflation.... [more]

World Business News

• Wall St Week Ahead Inflation in focus for markets jostled by Middle East war signals.... [more]

• US gas prices could top $5 a gallon this month if the war in Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz shuttered in the coming weeks, JPMorgan said..... [more]

• A year after President Donald Trump declared his “liberation day” and imposed sweeping tariffs on imports, kicking off a wave of economic and political uncertainty, some companies are still feeling the effects..... [more]

• U.S. services sector growth slowed in March, while prices paid by businesses for inputs increased by the most in more than 13 years, an early indication that the prolonged war with Iran ​was boosting inflation pressures..... [more]

• JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in annual letter cites risks in geopolitics, AI and private markets. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is calling for a broad recommitment to American ideals as his bank navigates geopolitical uncertainty.... [more]

• Morgan Stanley plans to debut an interval fund investing predominantly in private credit, just as retail investment vehicles in the $1.8 trillion market are being hit with record redemption requests..... [more]

• BNY and Robinhood Will Help Run ‘Trump Accounts’ for Children. The new tax-sheltered savings and investment accounts will start accepting deposits this summer..... [more]

• The White House is proposing to ​cut more than 9,400 ‌workers and just over $1.5 billion from the 60,000-employee Transportation ​Security Administration that ​handles airport security operations, according ⁠to budget documents..... [more]

• Meta is preparing to release the first new AI models developed under Alexandr Wang, with plans to eventually offer versions of those models via an open source license.... [more]

• JPMorgan reups its bearish call for a 60% plunge in Tesla stock after unsold cars jump to record levels.... [more]

• Oracle (ORCL.N), on Monday named Hilary Maxson as its ​chief financial officer, tapping an executive with deep experience in infrastructure and energy as it ‌ramps up investments to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence.... [more]

• How a ‘short squeeze’ could still move Avis’s stock much higher. Deutsche Bank says car-rental company’s recent stock surge isn’t justified by fundamentals, but there are ‘technical’ reasons it could continue.... [more]

• A federal ​appeals court ruled on Monday that New Jersey gaming regulators cannot prevent Kalshi from allowing people in the state to ‌use its prediction market to place financial bets on the outcome of sporting events..... [more]

• Workers at one of the nation’s largest meatpacking plants have agreed to return to work and halt a three-week strike after plant owner JBS USA agreed to resume negotiations, labor union representatives announced Saturday..... [more]

• Pepsi and brewery company Diageo have withdrawn their sponsorship of the UK’s 2026 Wireless Festival after it was announced that Kanye West would headline the three-day event..... [more]

• Amazon is imposing a 3.5 per cent fuel and logistics surcharge on third-party sellers using its platform, effective 17 April. The online retail giant confirmed the temporary charge on Thursday, citing a spike in fuel prices .... [more]

• ECB's Stournaras says euro zone monetary policy will depend on size of energy disruption.... [more]

• Thousands of independent businesses across the UK are braced for their energy bills to more than double owing to the sharp rise in heating oil costs as the war in Iran pushed Europe’s fuel market prices to fresh record highs..... [more]

• Buying second-hand has been the first choice for one in 10 consumers when purchasing items other than food so far this year, according to a survey. Some 8% of people of all ages report using reselling sites as their main way of buying.... [more]

• Dozens of firms risk losing B Corp status after standards overhaul. Tougher ethical certification process requires companies to meet standards in every one out of seven categories.... [more]

• Italy sees EU easing deficit rules if Middle East crisis lasts.... [more]

• Spain's huge pork industry seeks salvation from swine fever threat.... [more]

• China’s yuan may be going global faster than Western data suggests, analysts say. Many yuan transactions are now routed through China’s own global payment system, which often does not show up in traditional data sets, analysts say.... [more]

• China overtakes US in R&D, but genesis spark still lags.... [more]

• Indonesia will allow airlines to raise ticket prices by increasing the ​fuel surcharge, while waiving some airline-related taxes, senior ‌economic minister Airlangga Hartarto told reporters on Monday..... [more]

• The rupee appreciated by 28 paise to close at 92.90 against the US dollar on Monday.... [more]

• India’s Refiners Delay Maintenance to Stabilize Fuel Supplies.... [more]

• Somalia says it is ready to begin its first offshore oil drilling operations, with a Turkish government-owned drilling ship expected to arrive off its coast on Friday..... [more]