Pacific Perspectives
Amazon to invest up to another $25 billion in Anthropic as part of AI infrastructure deal
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/20/amazon-invest-up-to-25-billion-in-anthropic-part-of-ai-infrastructure.html
Traders bet on strait reopening as FOMO grips markets
Terrified of missing out on a sudden surge in asset prices, traders are diving back into the market betting that the crucial Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East will reopen within a month despite…
War and inflation point to $125m profit boost for Woolworths, Coles
Higher food prices and a fall in the number of people dining out will help deliver a $125 million boost to profits at Woolworths and Coles in the next financial year, and their move towards…
ASX to edge higher, oil rises
Australian shares are set to open slightly higher. Shares opened the trading week in New York modestly lower, with a focus on the US war against Iran and an accelerated pace of corporate results. ASX…
Investors are misreading news about the Iran war, analysts say as markets whipsaw
“Complacent” investors risk getting wrong-footed as they continue to misread developments in the Iran war, analysts said after markets reacted to the brief reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, only for their hopes…
We spoke to over 30 central bankers, policymakers and politicians. Here are their top concerns
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/18/iran-war-inflation-prices-energy-trump-economy-end.html
Market mistakes: The ‘SaaSpocalypse’ and other AI-disruption errors
There have been two main topics dominating the headlines so far this year – the disruption caused by artificial intelligence and the war in Iran. Their influence on markets has been significant, including the S&P/ASX 200…
S&P and Nasdaq hit big records as Wall St ends on high
Speculation the Iran war is poised to end sent risky assets surging anew, extending a month-long rally that’s lifted the S&P 500 Index to a succession of records, added around $US12,000 to the price of…
ASX to drop as uncertainty hangs over strait
Oil prices are set to rally while the Australian sharemarket is poised for a rocky start to the week following on-again, off-again control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had announced the reopening of the…
S&P 500 notches first close above 7,100, Nasdaq posts longest win streak since 1992: Live updates
U.S. stocks rocketed higher on Friday after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” on the heels of a ceasefire announcement between Israel and Lebanon. The S&P 500 jumped 1.2% to close at 7,126.06, crossing the 7,100 threshold for…