Pacific Perspectives
Prediction markets are fueling a high-stakes brawl between states and federal regulators
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/21/where-the-feds-are-fighting-states-over-prediction-markets.html
‘Massive disincentive’: High earners face 20-year tax high
The federal government’s refusal to lift income tax brackets in line with inflation means every dollar earned today above $190,000 is taxed at 47 per cent, instead of the top rate kicking in at more…
‘I’m selling’: Investors face 50pc more tax than Treasury says
Investors with diversified share portfolios making a mix of gains and losses compared to inflation could face tax rates of more than 100 per cent on real gains, due to the Albanese government not fully…
ASX to rise, oil swings on hopes for peace deal
Australian shares are set to open higher as oil swung lower amid heightening speculation that the US and Iran are close to an agreement to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. ASX 200…
Stock futures rise slightly as S&P 500 looks toward another winning week: Live updates
Stock futures ticked higher in overnight trading Thursday as Wall Street looked set to cap off a winning week despite heightened volatility. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 40 points. S&P 500 futures gained 0.1% and Nasdaq…
Fed officials see rate hike ahead if inflation stays elevated, minutes show
WASHINGTON — A majority of Federal Reserve officials at their most recent meeting anticipated that interest rate increases would be necessary if the Iran war continued to aggravate inflation, according to minutes released Wednesday. Though…
$A shot down in May, after riding high in April
A red-hot US economy and a simmering war in Iran stand in the way of the Australian dollar hitting the highs that many strategists tipped at the start of the year, as the currency slipped…
Investors seek higher premium on Australian bonds as debt fears mount
Financial markets are growing nervous about Australia’s federal and state governments’ ability to restrain spending, with bond investors demanding higher returns to fund public spending as the economy faces a potent combination of slowing growth…
Investors in Barrenjoey-backed Applied EV hit the eject button
Melbourne-based autonomous vehicle maker, Applied EV, welcomed a bevy of new investors onto its share registry in January, led by Barrenjoey Capital and National Reconstruction Fund. But now, some of its earliest shareholders want out.…
S&P 500 futures tick lower as traders analyze Nvidia earnings: Live updates
S&P 500 futures inched down Wednesday night as investors debated whether Nvidia’s earnings report met the high bar set for the artificial intelligence titan. Futures tied to the broad index slipped 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures lost 0.4%. Dow…