Pacific Perspectives
Telstra forced to remove a third of its mobile coverage from its maps
Australia’s biggest telco, Telstra, will be forced to remove a 1 million square kilometre area – more than the size of NSW – from maps promoting its mobile phone coverage after the Albanese government set…
Stagflation fears grip markets as oil, aluminium prices soar
Listen to this article 4 min Markets are finally starting to price in the dire consequences of a prolonged Middle East war as oil and aluminium surged on Monday, while stocks and gold were sold…
Super funds at risk as war triggers ‘overcrowding’ of the ASX
Fears of a drawn-out war in the Middle East has prompted investors to pile into Australia’s biggest companies at the fastest rate since the global financial crisis, reigniting concern that superannuation money is far too…
Powell sees inflation outlook in check, no need to hike rates because of oil shock
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/30/powell-sees-inflation-outlook-in-check-no-wider-crisis-yet-in-private-credit.html
Eli Lilly reaches $2.75 billion deal with Insilico to bring AI-developed drugs to the global market
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/29/eli-lilly-reaches-deal-to-bring-ai-developed-drugs-to-global-market.html
TPG and Optus join forces to shrink Telstra’s mobile footprint
The telco sector is holding its breath ahead of a decision that could erase a third of Telstra’s purported 3 million square kilometres of mobile coverage. n a map of Australia on Telstra’s website, Lachlan…
Why the super sector should be doubly worried about Iran
The superannuation sector hopes the Iran crisis is solved quickly so it can avoid the risk of a nasty bear market colliding with persistent operational issues. On Shemara Wikramanayake’s office wall is a cartoon that…
ASX to slide as Houthi strikes threaten deeper oil shock
The Australian sharemarket is set to drop on Monday as the entry of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels into the Middle East war threatens to drive up oil prices and interest rates globally. Iran has effectively shut…
Dow tumbles almost 800 points and enters correction, S&P 500 posts fifth straight losing week: Live updates
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled on Friday and fell into correction territory, while Brent topped $110 after incidents in the Strait of Hormuz exacerbated investors’ energy supply concerns and President Donald Trump’s latest comments failed to encourage…
It’s not just oil and gas. The Strait of Hormuz blockage is rattling another vital commodity
Farmers in the Northern Hemisphere are heading into the crucial spring months, during which major fieldwork must begin. Their peers in the south, meanwhile, are busy harvesting crops before the winter sets in. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/fertilizer-price-iran-war-food-security-inflation-urea-potash-nitrogen-farmers.html