Futures contract volumes, including interest rate, commodities, ASX and energy bets, leapt 52 per cent in March on a year ago and were up 120 per cent on February.
Sean Smith
The S&P-ASX200 closed just 0.2 per cent better after sceptical investors downplayed US President Donald Trump’s claims of a diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East.
The insurer also insists RAC’s 1.3 million members have nothing to fear from a sale of the motoring mutual’s State-leading general insurance business.
At Thursday’s Australian close of US71.8¢, the dollar is the best performer this year from the G10 basket of currencies, which includes the US dollar, the British pound and the Japanese yen.
The organisation menacing the bedrock of WA’s economy has officially cemented its status as a key part of China’s political apparatus.
Adrian Rauso
The S&P-ASX200 recorded one of its worst days of the past year as growing fears around the widening conflict in the Middle East wiped nearly $65 billion from share values.
AMP chief economist Shane Oliver says fuel prices could leap 40 cents a litre to between $ and $2.10 a litre on the escalating violence in the Persian Gulf.
A visit to the Mobile, Alabama yard appears to have made an impression, with the US Navy’s chief of naval operations calling out Austal’s use of modular shipbuilding to help speed up submarine deliveries.
The Craig Burton-backed oil play has been working on an initial public offer for two years that would help drive expanded production from former State-owned oil wells in onshore Cuba.
Australia’s Venezuelan community processes the complex fallout of the strikes as Anthony Albanese urges Donald Trump and Venezuelan leaders to pursue a peaceful transition.
Katina Curtis
The two have signed a co-operation agreement that will come up with a development concept for a five-million-tonnes-a-year LNG plant on Timor-Leste’s south coast.
The Federal Government’s trade agency has told multiple companies not to jeopardise Australia’s landmark critical minerals pact with the United States by spruiking a forum held in Perth.
Australian shares are set to start the week with a sharp sell-off after fears of a renewed trade war between the US and China sent jitters through global financial markets.
President Donald Trump said he is not considering delaying his July 9 deadline for higher tariffs to resume and renewed his threat to cut off talks and impose duty rates on several nations, including Japan.
Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Akayla Gardner
The Australian share market has posted its best return since the pandemic, recovering from the meltdown triggered by Donald Trump’s tariffs four months ago to deliver nearly double-digit gains.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has labelled the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel as ‘alarming’ and vowed Australia would do everything necessary to keep its citizens safe.
Caitlyn Rintoul
Profits at China’s industrial firms rebounded in March, driven by a boost in income from the high-technology manufacturing sector and signalling economic resilience amid trade tensions with the US.
Bloomberg
The Tongan Acting High Commissioner has visited the small Great Southern town of Katanning for a chat about filling its labour gaps.
Claire Middleton
Fortescue has joined a laundry list of global business heavyweights using a lobbying firm run by Donald Trump’s friend and fundraiser.
Chinese war ships have continued to track north up the WA coast as they almost finish their lap of Australia after making headlines for conducted a live fire exercise in the Tasman Sea off New South Wales.
US President Donald Trump’s extraordinary tirade against his Ukrainian counterpart has so far done little to spook global markets, but more tariff carnage looms large.
Adrian Rauso, Skylar Woodhouse and Mia Gindis
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will fly to Washington today for critical trade discussions amid the Trump administration’s threats to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium.
WA’s struggling lithium hydroxide producers are on the verge of being dealt another major blow with China clamping down on specialised technicians and equipment leaving its borders.
Donald Trump has assured Australia that relations between the two nations are ‘perfect’ as world leaders brace for a ‘shock and awe’ flurry of presidential orders.
Jessica Page
