Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Pacific Private Asset Management

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://ppam.com.au/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [News & Insights](https://ppam.com.au/news-insights/)
- [Vance says Fed should lower interest rates: ‘Would be nice to have some help’](https://ppam.com.au/vance-says-fed-should-lower-interest-rates-would-be-nice-to-have-some-help/) - The Federal Reserve should cut interest rates to make homes more affordable, Vice President JD Vance said. Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s handpicked Fed chair, had recently hinted at the possibility of hiking rates to address persistently high inflation. “We’re doing a lot of things to try to keep those interest rates down, but it
- [The one thing that caught Goldman Sachs’ notice this earnings season](https://ppam.com.au/the-one-thing-that-caught-goldman-sachs-notice-this-earnings-season/) - After the relentless barrage of ASX earnings announcements during the August reporting season, the one thing that stood out the most for Goldman Sachs was the number of companies that rallied on better-than-expected results only to give up those gains in the days and weeks that followed. Goldman’s Australian equity strategist Matthew Ross said almost
- [Economics says Australia should have negative migration](https://ppam.com.au/economics-says-australia-should-have-negative-migration/) - Elected members imagine themselves trapped between an economy needing immigrants and a public wanting fewer. It’s time they questioned their assumptions. Politics has forced the hand of the major parties to announce immigration cuts. But on those promises, Australia would run one of the highest per-capita intakes in the developed world – above most of
- [ASX to rise after Waller calms US rate rise worries](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-after-waller-calms-us-rate-rise-worries/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher, tracking a broad advance in New York after US Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said he is in no rush to lift US interest rates. Global bond yields fell, and technology stocks rallied on Waller’s comments. The probability of a quarter of one percentage point US rate rise
- [S&P 500 posts back-to-back gains as Treasury yields retreat](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-posts-back-to-back-gains-as-treasury-yields-retreat/) - Equities moved higher on Thursday, while Treasury yields pulled back, as investors grew hopeful that the Federal Reserve may leave interest rates unchanged this month. The S&P 500 rose 1.06% to end at 7,747.71, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.4% to 26,584.06. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 624.16 points, or 1.18%, to 53,686.11. It was the best day since Aug.
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: PG&E, Dell, GitLab, Credo Technology, Brown-Forman & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-pge-dell-gitlab-credo-technology-brown-forman-more/) - Here are some of the companies making headlines in midday trading. AST SpaceMobile — Shares jumped almost 10% after Berenberg began coverage of the satellite designer and several of its peers. Berenberg gave AST SpaceMobile a buy rating and a price target of $92, suggesting about 65% upside from Tuesday’s close. The company has “a winning
- [Global bond storm puts two RBA rate rises on the table](https://ppam.com.au/global-bond-storm-puts-two-rba-rate-rises-on-the-table/) - Soaring oil prices have triggered a global bond market meltdown, with borrowing costs hitting multi-decade highs, pressuring central banks to do more to stamp out inflation and raising the prospect of two more interest rate rises in Australia this year. Government bond yields have been pushed to levels not seen since the global financial crisis
- [The great Australian quagmire will get only deeper from here](https://ppam.com.au/the-great-australian-quagmire-will-get-only-deeper-from-here/) - It’s embarrassing. Australians are actually having to work harder just to drive below-average economic growth that’s still too hot. The sharemarket is not the economy, or so the well-worn market saying goes. But right now, Australian financial markets are sending some pretty clear signals about where they think the nation goes next. The 10-year Australian
- [‘Have you lost focus?’ WAM investors question shock dividend cut](https://ppam.com.au/have-you-lost-focus-wam-investors-question-shock-dividend-cut/) - For more than five years, shareholders in Wilson Asset Management’s flagship WAM Capital have relied on a steady annual dividend of 15.5¢ a share, paid consistently regardless of how much money the listed investment company was making. That all changed on Friday, when WAM shocked its loyal army of income investors by slashing its dividend
- [The $3 trillion oil market is becoming more accessible than ever: No longer a ‘rich man’s game’](https://ppam.com.au/the-3-trillion-oil-market-is-becoming-more-accessible-than-ever-no-longer-a-rich-mans-game/) - CME’s new 10-barrel WTI contract lowers the barrier for individual oil traders. Retail oil activity is surging, potentially amplifying emotionally driven price swings, said industry veterans. Oil trading was once largely the preserve of commodity houses, institutional investors and professional traders able to make bets involving thousands of barrels at a time. That barrier is
- [10-year yield hits highest since January 2025 as higher oil prices stoke inflation worries](https://ppam.com.au/10-year-yield-hits-highest-since-january-2025-as-higher-oil-prices-stoke-inflation-worries/) - U.S. Treasury yields rose on Tuesday as renewed tensions in the Middle East drove global government borrowing costs to their highest point going back to early last year. The 10-year Treasury note yield — the main benchmark for mortgages, auto loans and credit card debt — rose more than 3 basis points to 4.792%. The yield hit
- [ASX investors ‘overly optimistic’ as analysts slash profit forecasts](https://ppam.com.au/asx-investors-overly-optimistic-as-analysts-slash-profit-forecasts/) - Investors in the Australian sharemarket have become too complacent about the health of the economy despite the August reporting season pointing to a sharp slowdown in consumption and housing, with stocks trading at levels that strategists say look detached from reality. Equity strategists noted that inflationary pressures popped up in the company results of almost
- [Gold and bitcoin rallied, but is last year’s hottest trade really back?](https://ppam.com.au/gold-and-bitcoin-rallied-but-is-last-years-hottest-trade-really-back/) - As US government debt cracked $US40 trillion ($56 trillion) this month for the first time, gold and bitcoin bulls have been piling back in to the so-called debasement trade, betting on the demise of the US dollar. Bitcoin surpassed $US80,000 for the first time since May while gold jumped roughly 10 per cent in August to
- [RBA cuts US dollar reserves as central banks hedge against Trump](https://ppam.com.au/rba-cuts-us-dollar-reserves-as-central-banks-hedge-against-trump/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia has become the first major central bank to confirm that it has reduced its US dollar holdings as part of a wider trend by policymakers to diversify their assets away from the United States under an unpredictable White House. Data from the International Monetary Fund and think tank surveys showed
- [Stock futures are little changed after Wall Street posts third straight losing day](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-after-wall-street-posts-third-straight-losing-day/) - Stock futures are near flat Tuesday night after a rally in bond yields and oil prices led Wall Street to another down day. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added 25 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures also each added 0.1%. Wall Street is coming off a third straight negative session that left the Dow down more than 400 points. Technology
- [Markets see Warsh endorsing a rate hike in September. Not everyone is convinced](https://ppam.com.au/markets-see-warsh-endorsing-a-rate-hike-in-september-not-everyone-is-convinced/) - Markets flipped to pricing in the chance of a rate hike following Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s speech Friday at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. However, some participants see less of a chance with few obvious data points indicating a need for tighter monetary policy. The Fed will get additional reports before its September meeting, including labor, housing
- [Amazon poised to follow Alphabet with $A jumbo bond offer](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-poised-to-follow-alphabet-with-a-jumbo-bond-offer/) - E-commerce giant Amazon is expected to be the next hyperscaler to tap Australia’s debt market for billions of dollars in capital after Google owner Alphabet raised a record-breaking $5.5 billion earlier this month to help fund its artificial intelligence build out. Alphabet was the first of the US tech giants to launch a so-called kangaroo
- [This market move is 20 years in the making. RBA and PM should worry](https://ppam.com.au/this-market-move-is-20-years-in-the-making-rba-and-pm-should-worry/) - Soft commodities are surging amid war and wild weather. It is a great trade for investors, but the threat of further price rises should worry central bankers. While Donald Trump just sent crude oil prices back above $US90 a barrel with his latest attack on Iran, there’s another commodity price shock building that is equal
- [ASX to fall, US bond yields press higher](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-us-bond-yields-press-higher/) - Australian shares are set to open lower, tracking modest losses in New York as US government bond yields pressed higher and oil rose back above the $US90 a barrel mark amid rising tensions between the US and Iran. ASX 200 futures were down 22 points or 0.2 per cent to 9002. The S&P 500 slipped
- [Dow tumbles 370 points after U.S. strikes Iran, but index posts fifth straight winning month](https://ppam.com.au/dow-tumbles-370-points-after-u-s-strikes-iran-but-index-posts-fifth-straight-winning-month/) - Stocks fell on Monday after the U.S. and Iran traded fire for the first time in a month, though the major averages still closed out August with gains. The S&P 500 slipped 0.33% to 7,686.14, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.12% to close at 26,370.89. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 374.09 points, or 0.7%, lower, to end at 53,185.90. The 30-stock index
- [U.S. appeals court rules against prediction markets, sets up likely fight at Supreme Court](https://ppam.com.au/u-s-appeals-court-rules-against-prediction-markets-sets-up-likely-fight-at-supreme-court/) - Prediction market platforms were dealt a blow in their legal battle with states across the country on Friday as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that sports-related event contracts are not “swaps.” Platforms and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission argue that all event contracts are a type of derivative regulated at the federal
- [Insolvency boss is an investor in firm that sent him 50 referrals](https://ppam.com.au/insolvency-boss-is-an-investor-in-firm-that-sent-him-50-referrals/) - A prominent liquidator appointed to take charge of the assets of dozens of defaulted borrowers has revealed he is actually a personal investor in the lender who appointed him and that his firm vets the company’s loans. Hall Chadwick managing partner Richard Albarran disclosed that Blackbird Capital Group has referred 50 matters to his firm
- [How to find an edge in a market whipsawing between sectors](https://ppam.com.au/how-to-find-an-edge-in-a-market-whipsawing-between-sectors/) - The S&P/ASX 200 hit a record high in early August without much fanfare. It’s a symptom of just how little conviction investors have in the sharemarket. Australian fund managers will, for the most part, tell you that they are stock pickers and that macro doesn’t matter – performance is about finding the right company at
- [ASX to retreat as Fed’s Warsh forces pivot on interest rates](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-retreat-as-feds-warsh-forces-pivot-on-interest-rates/) - The sharemarket is starting the week on the back foot as traders scramble to recalibrate their interest rate expectations for the United States after Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish message to the market, vowing to stamp out inflation. After a week of turmoil in the bond market that pushed yields to multi-decade
- [Trump announces deal with Venezuela to secure more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves](https://ppam.com.au/trump-announces-deal-with-venezuela-to-secure-more-than-65-billion-barrels-of-oil-reserves/) - The U.S. struck a deal with Venezuela to get majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves, according to President Donald Trump. Trump said the deal comes “at no cost to” U.S. taxpayers. The U.S. struck a deal with Venezuela to get majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Nvidia, Okta, Hormel, Veeva, HP, Celsius, Best Buy & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-nvidia-okta-hormel-veeva-hp-celsius-best-buy-more/) - Check out some of the companies making the biggest moves midday: Nvidia — The leading artificial intelligence and infrastructure company’s stock surged 9% after second-quarter revenue and earnings beat expectations. Nvidia said Wednesday that revenue in the latest quarter more than doubled. Nvidia earned $2.22 per share after adjustments on $96.22 billion in revenue against analyst consensus
- [Santos targets Papua LNG go-ahead after first-half profit dip](https://ppam.com.au/santos-targets-papua-lng-go-ahead-after-first-half-profit-dip/) - Santos has flagged that it will make a final investment decision on its next major growth project, the LNG venture in Papua New Guinea, in the December quarter, after bringing online two multibillion-dollar projects in Australia and Alaska. The start-up of the Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea and also the Pikka oil project
- [West Gate woes, sagging traffic flows dull a bumper Transurban profit](https://ppam.com.au/west-gate-woes-sagging-traffic-flows-dull-a-bumper-transurban-profit/) - Transurban says lighter traffic in Melbourne as workers stay away from the city has hurt income on the West Gate Tunnel, forcing the toll road giant to ditch forecasts for when its new $10.2 billion asset will break even. The company had forecast average daily traffic through the tunnel would rise to 67,000 vehicles by
- [Telstra ties exec pay to AI returns, putting heat on Accenture deal](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-ties-exec-pay-to-ai-returns-putting-heat-on-accenture-deal-2/) - Telstra’s leadership team will be held to account for the hundreds of millions of dollars the company is investing in artificial intelligence, after the telco became one of the first big Australian companies to directly link executive pay to the value being added by the technology. The board of Australia’s largest telecoms company has taken the
- [S&P 500 futures are little changed as investors count down to Warsh’s Jackson Hole address](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-are-little-changed-as-investors-count-down-to-warshs-jackson-hole-address/) - S&P 500 futures are near flat Thursday night as investors monitored earnings reports awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s latest address. Futures tied to the broad index shed 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures lost 0.2%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 28 points, also little changed. Gap shares jumped 15% despite a mixed quarterly report as the retail announced a new chief executive for the
- [Oil prices little changed after Iran says deal reached with Oman to share revenue from Hormuz](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-little-changed-after-iran-says-deal-reached-with-oman-to-share-revenue-from-hormuz/) - Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Tehran and Oman reached a deal to share revenues generated from the Strait of Hormuz. The Guard did not mention a toll to transit the strait, though a deal on revenue sharing suggests some type of fee is planned by Tehran. The Guard said the U.S. must accept the agreement for
- [L1’s Lendlease stake above 10pc as activist investors start to bow out](https://ppam.com.au/l1s-lendlease-stake-above-10pc-as-activist-investors-start-to-bow-out/) - L1 Capital is attempting to achieve what some of Australia’s pre-eminent activist investors have failed to do for years; oversee a turnaround in embattled global property developer Lendlease. The high-profile hedge fund has emerged as the largest shareholder in Lendlease after buying up the stock on Wednesday and Thursday last week, lifting its stake to
- [Private credit faces ‘real test’ as developers fail, investors flee](https://ppam.com.au/private-credit-faces-real-test-as-developers-fail-investors-flee/) - The nation’s $200 billion private credit sector is showing increasing signs of stress after some of its biggest firms limited redemptions on their portfolios, prompting the corporate regulator to warn that significant cracks were beginning to appear in the industry. Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairwoman Sarah Court said private credit firms were facing their
- [Markets flip the script on rates after hot inflation print](https://ppam.com.au/markets-flip-the-script-on-rates-after-hot-inflation-print/) - A stronger-than-expected inflation print for July has flipped the script on interest rates in Australia, with traders and economists starting to weigh the prospect of at least one more increase this year. Markets were swift to react to the data on Wednesday; the Australian dollar and bond yields spiked while the sharemarket was sold off
- [Stock futures rise as Nvidia shares jump 4% after earnings: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-rise-as-nvidia-shares-jump-4-after-earnings-live-updates/) - Stock futures are higher Wednesday night as investors parsed the latest earnings reports from Nvidia and other well-known technology companies. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 207 points, or 0.4%. S&P 500 futures advanced 0.5%, while Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 0.9%. Nvidia shares added more than 4% after it beat analyst expectations and forecast strong revenue growth ahead. The chipmaker’s fiscal second-quarter revenue more
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Discipline Through Change: Strengthening Conviction, Diversification, and Oversight [August 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-discipline-through-change-strengthening-conviction-diversification-and-oversight-august-2026/) - Meeting Date: Friday & Wednesday, 14 & 19 August 2026 "DISCIPLINE THROUGH CHANGE: STRENGTHENING CONVICTION, DIVERSIFICATION AND OVERSIGHT" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our August Investment Committee Meeting, which was conducted across two sessions to allow for a comprehensive review of the economic outlook, portfolio positioning, investment managers and governance priorities.
- [PACIFIC NAVIGATOR – Economic Growth, Inflation, & the Bond Market [August 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-navigator-economic-growth-inflation-the-bond-market-august-2026/) - ECONOMIC GROWTH, INFLATION, & the BOND MARKET Executive Summary & Recommendation Why does a report on the US bond market matter to a diversified portfolio? Because US Treasury yields form the closest thing global markets have to a common risk-free benchmark. In practical terms, the required return on equities, credit, property, infrastructure and private assets
- [Here’s why markets are starting to care about the 2026 election 10 weeks out](https://ppam.com.au/heres-why-markets-are-starting-to-care-about-the-2026-election-10-weeks-out/) - Markets are starting to care about the 2026 midterm election, which looms less than three months away and could rip control of Congress from President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Democrats are currently favored to win at least one chamber of Congress come November, leading the generic ballot by roughly 6 percentage points according
- [Investors ‘screwed over’ by BHP as the mining giant takes over ASX 200](https://ppam.com.au/investors-screwed-over-by-bhp-as-the-mining-giant-takes-over-asx-200/) - This time last year, some of the country’s most prominent fund managers were counting the cost of sitting out of the dazzling rally in Commonwealth Bank as the lender’s ballooning weight on the S&P/ASX 200 Index punished those who avoided the stock because it had become too expensive. Now, investors are facing a similar predicament
- [Several RBA board members eye another rate rise](https://ppam.com.au/several-rba-board-members-eye-another-rate-rise/) - Several members of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s monetary policy board think another interest rate rise may be required to tame inflation, according to minutes of its latest meeting that highlighted the risk of further unexpected price rises. “Several members judged that it was quite possible that the upside risks to the inflation forecast would
- [ASX to rise; oil drops 5pc](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-oil-drops-5pc/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher/ Wall Street advanced modestly as oil shed more than 5 per cent to fall below the $US88 a barrel mark after Iran and Oman pressed forward with a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. S&P/ASX 200 futures were up 29 points or 0.3 per cent to 9143.
- [Investor competition for commercial real estate sees strongest growth in a year](https://ppam.com.au/investor-competition-for-commercial-real-estate-sees-strongest-growth-in-a-year/) - Bidding for properties in June posted its strongest monthly improvement in a year, according to quarterly bidding and credit indexes released Tuesday from JLL. Specifically, investors are flooding into the retail and industrial sectors. The weakest sector for bidding and credit activity continues to be multifamily. Investors are flooding back into the commercial real estate
- [Prediction market traders doubtful Bessent’s bond interventions will push yields lower](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-market-traders-doubtful-bessents-bond-interventions-will-push-yields-lower/) - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is trying to calm rising yields. But prediction market traders don’t think his efforts will be that fruitful. Speculators on prediction market platform Kalshi think the 10-year Treasury note yield will end 2026 above its current trading levels. Polymarket traders think it’s likely that the yield has yet to hit its
- [Aussie hits three-month high as the US dollar falters](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-hits-three-month-high-as-the-us-dollar-falters/) - The Australian dollar is trading near its highest level in three months, buoyed by a hefty sell-off in the greenback and as Chinese policymakers indicated they would bring forward stimulus to bolster the economy.The local currency was trading around US71.63¢ on Monday after hitting US71.80¢ at the end of last week, its highest since early
- [Private equity’s latest evolution is attracting billions of dollars](https://ppam.com.au/private-equitys-latest-evolution-is-attracting-billions-of-dollars/) - Private equity has always had two clocks running – one belongs to the fund, the other to the business. For decades, we largely assumed they would strike midnight at the same time. Buy a company, improve it, sell it and return the capital before the fund reached the end of its life. But those clocks
- [ASX is beating Wall Street even with ‘uninspiring’ profit results](https://ppam.com.au/asx-is-beating-wall-street-even-with-uninspiring-profit-results/) - The Australian sharemarket has managed to outperform both Wall Street and key Asian markets over the last month despite the earnings season painting an “uninspiring picture” as analysts downgrade their forecasts for the year ahead. A major driver of the S&P/ASX 200’s nearly 4 per cent rally – better than the S&P 500’s 3.6 per
- [Stock futures are flat as investors await Nvidia earnings, inflation report due later this week: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-flat-as-investors-await-nvidia-earnings-inflation-report-due-later-this-week-live-updates/) - U.S. equity futures opened little changed on Monday night after the S&P 500 posted a losing session as investors turned cautious ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and a key inflation report due later this week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 33 points, or 0.06%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures also edged higher by 0.06% each.
- [Six investors reveal the biggest market risks — and one strategy they agree on](https://ppam.com.au/six-investors-reveal-the-biggest-market-risks-and-one-strategy-they-agree-on/) - Global markets have been volatile this year, with a fresh bout of turbulence hitting equity and bond markets this week. Investors see different risks threatening markets, but broadly agree that traders should diversify beyond recent winners. “Don’t die trying to be a hero,” one investor told CNBC. It has been a volatile year for global
- [How to beat the market by 20pc without banks, miners or data centres](https://ppam.com.au/how-to-beat-the-market-by-20pc-without-banks-miners-or-data-centres/) - Claudia Kwan is not your typical stock picker. She does not invest in the big banks, gas companies, data centres or mining giants that dominate the ASX. And yet, she has beaten the market by more than 20 per cent over the past year. As managing partner of NorthStar Impact Funds, she invests in the
- [GQG’s Rajiv Jain stuns market by capitulating on anti-tech bet](https://ppam.com.au/gqgs-rajiv-jain-stuns-market-by-capitulating-on-anti-tech-bet/) - GQG Partners chief investment officer Rajiv Jain has surprised the market, revealing an aggressive pivot into semiconductor stocks over the past month despite his previous warnings that a long rally in technology companies had created a bubble bigger than the dotcom bust. Jain, one of the country’s most prominent stock pickers, oversees more than $220
- [ASX to rise, but investors brace for plenty of profit downgrades](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-but-investors-brace-for-plenty-of-profit-downgrades/) - A wave of profit downgrades looms in the final week of the annual reporting season as boardrooms respond to a slowing economy with conservative outlook statements and guidance. Major retailers, including JB Hi-Fi, Myer and Nick Scali, have all reported difficult trading conditions, while the major banks have detailed a pessimistic outlook for the local
- [The biggest U.S. stocks have done great for you. Experts say not to get greedy](https://ppam.com.au/the-biggest-u-s-stocks-have-done-great-for-you-experts-say-not-to-get-greedy/) - Low-cost S&P 500 index funds are the foundation of many portfolios and have been a great long-term investment – more than quadrupling in value over the last decade. But investing experts say a lack of exposure to small-cap and international equity markets is costing investors in 2026, and they are not properly prepared for what
- [Bessent’s efforts in the Treasury market so far haven’t worked. Here’s what else he can try](https://ppam.com.au/bessents-efforts-in-the-treasury-market-so-far-havent-worked-heres-what-else-he-can-try/) - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday he has a “big toolkit” to aid pressures in the government bond market. While he didn’t name them specifically, Bessent has several options, including reducing duration of the government’s holding, ramping up the bond buyback program and changing the duration composition of the Treasury portfolio. Bond yields moved higher
- [APA Group commits to Qld renewables project as profit climbs](https://ppam.com.au/apa-group-commits-to-qld-renewables-project-as-profit-climbs/) - APA Group will build a $259 million combined solar and battery plant in Queensland as it moves to further diversify the business beyond its core gas transportation activities in line with the broader transition away from fossil fuels. The pipeline giant’s commitment to invest in the Sybella project in Mount Isa came as APA posted
- [Alphabet’s $5.5b bond debut lures more than 200 investors](https://ppam.com.au/alphabets-5-5b-bond-debut-lures-more-than-200-investors/) - More than 200 investors from around the world rushed to snag a piece of Alphabet’s record-breaking $5.5 billion debt debut in Australia, triggering demand so intense that it’s been hailed as the bond market equivalent of Elon Musk’s highly anticipated SpaceX IPO. The deal by the Google and Gemini parent marks the largest corporate bond
- [Bonds slide as Bessent’s intervention fails to cheer investors](https://ppam.com.au/bonds-slide-as-bessents-intervention-fails-to-cheer-investors/) - Washington | Investors renewed their selling of long-dated US government bonds amid worries about public debt and more attractive corporate alternatives, erasing most of the previous day’s gains linked to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s stunning intervention. The sell-off pushed yields on 30-year US Treasury debt up to 5.26 per cent early on Thursday (Thursday night AEST),
- [How higher bond yields can prove a stumbling block for the stock market](https://ppam.com.au/how-higher-bond-yields-can-prove-a-stumbling-block-for-the-stock-market/) - Higher bond yields, even after the U.S. Treasury’s pledge to buy back some longer-dated debt, could make the stock market more vulnerable to any coming shocks. Bond yields were higher Thursday, erasing the brief deline that followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s announcement Wednesday that the department will more than double the size of its government
- [‘Absolutely crazy’: Here’s what South Korean stock investors are doing in U.S. markets](https://ppam.com.au/absolutely-crazy-heres-what-south-korean-stock-investors-are-doing-in-u-s-markets/) - South Korean retail investors net bought $4.5 billion of U.S. stocks in July as their home market corrected. Many are switching markets, not bets, retaining exposure to AI and leveraged products through U.S.-listed securities. Korean flows are unlikely to sway broad U.S. markets but could amplify volatility in individual stocks and thinner trades. A wave
- [Aussie dollar peak is ‘in the rear-view mirror’, analysts warn](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-peak-is-in-the-rear-view-mirror-analysts-warn/) - After a surge in the Australian dollar above US71¢, currency strategists warn the rally is going to fizzle because the Reserve Bank of Australia has finished raising interest rates and there is weak demand for commodities from China. The local currency has jumped more than 6 per cent against the US dollar this year, making
- [Global bond meltdown adding further pressure on economy](https://ppam.com.au/global-bond-meltdown-adding-further-pressure-on-economy/) - Government borrowing costs are surging around the world, taking rates in places such as Australia to their highest levels in decades, as investors become increasingly nervous about everything from the Iran war and the new US Federal Reserve chairman to the growing pile of national debt. Analysts warn that rising bond yields are not going
- [ASX to edge higher](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-edge-higher/) - Australian shares are set to edge modestly higher at the open. US equities ended slightly up after the US Treasury said it plans to increase buybacks of longer-dated debt, stabilising the bond market for now. The yield on the US 10-year note plunged 6 basis points to 4.64 per cent at 4.55pm in New York
- [S&P 500 futures tick higher after index snaps three-day slide: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-tick-higher-after-index-snaps-three-day-slide-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures ticked higher on Wednesday night after a winning session on Wall Street fueled by falling Treasury yields. S&P 500 futures were last up about 0.2%, and Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.4%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 46 points, or 0.09%. The S&P 500 snapped a three-session losing streak earlier in the day, as yields on longer-dated U.S. Treasurys pulled
- [What the Meta Platforms trial means for investors](https://ppam.com.au/what-the-meta-platforms-trial-means-for-investors/) - Investors are keeping a close eye on opening arguments in the Meta Platforms child privacy case that starts on Tuesday. A group of 29 states filed suit against the Facebook and Instagram parent, arguing that Meta violated a federal child privacy act, various consumer protection statutes and fostered addictive behavior in teens and children. Attorneys for Meta said the company could
- [Google prepares $5b Kangaroo bond as AI arms race comes to Australia](https://ppam.com.au/google-prepares-5b-kangaroo-bond-as-ai-arms-race-comes-to-australia/) - Alphabet is raising up to $5 billion from the Australian bond market in what could be the country’s biggest corporate debt transaction, with the Silicon Valley giant behind Google and Gemini scrambling for cash to finance an artificial intelligence arms race against other big technology companies. The so-called Kangaroo bond will mark the first time
- [What we learnt: You’ll never guess what Telstra’s outage compo cost](https://ppam.com.au/what-we-learnt-youll-never-guess-what-telstras-outage-compo-cost/) - The compensation bill for Telstra’s big outage in early July, which Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young claimed caused “mass chaos across the country”? Less than $1 million in credits. Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady, who delivered a full-year profit result bang in line with market expectations on Thursday, says the telco has fielded about 30,000 calls
- [Bonds are flashing a warning sign again. It’s time to listen](https://ppam.com.au/bonds-are-flashing-a-warning-sign-again-its-time-to-listen/) - By the time you read this, there’s a fair chance that the US will be bemoaning another bleak economic milestone: the national debt will break through the $US40 trillion ($56 trillion) mark. It’s a stunning figure, but as Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett points out, the clock is ticking. The US national debt is on track
- [S&P 500 falls for a third day, as elevated global bond yields and oil prices weigh on market](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-falls-for-a-third-day-as-elevated-global-bond-yields-and-oil-prices-weigh-on-market/) - The S&P 500 fell on Tuesday, pressured by a run in sovereign bond yields to multidecade highs amid concerns of persistent inflation and elevated oil prices. A pullback in semiconductor stocks also weighed on the broader market. The broad market index declined 0.69% to 7,691.76 and posted a third consecutive losing session. The Nasdaq Composite was down 1.33% to
- [Nvidia discloses $21 billion stake in SpaceX at end of second quarter](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-discloses-21-billion-stake-in-spacex-at-end-of-second-quarter/) - Nvidia’s stake in SpaceX, which came through an investment in xAI, was worth about $21 billion at the end of the second quarter. SpaceX went public in June in a record IPO, and the stock has been volatile in the two months since the offering. Elon Musk’s rocket maker recently said it will exclusively use
- [Telstra ties exec pay to AI returns, putting heat on Accenture deal](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-ties-exec-pay-to-ai-returns-putting-heat-on-accenture-deal/) - Telstra’s leadership team will be held to account for the hundreds of millions of dollars the company is investing in artificial intelligence, after the telco became one of the first big Australian companies to directly link executive pay to the value being added by the technology. The board of Australia’s largest telecoms company has taken the
- [Suncorp vacuums up ancestry and yoghurt-eating data to price policies](https://ppam.com.au/suncorp-vacuums-up-ancestry-and-yoghurt-eating-data-to-price-policies/) - Suncorp has used data about ancestry and religion and even how likely customers are to eat yoghurt to decide how much policyholders should pay for their home and car insurance, worrying staff who claim that predictive models used by insurers could result in unintentional discrimination. For decades, insurers have relied on complex and powerful computer
- [ASX to slip as Mid-East, RBA loom over market before earnings rush](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-slip-as-mid-east-rba-loom-over-market-before-earnings-rush/) - The stalemate in the Middle East conflict and growing expectations for another Reserve Bank interest rate hike set a bearish tone for the Australian sharemarket ahead of one of the busiest weeks of the year for local corporate earnings reports. S&P/ASX 200 Index futures point to a 0.4 per cent drop at Monday’s open, extending
- [Stock futures are little changed after S&P 500 posts three-week win streak](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-after-sp-500-posts-three-week-win-streak/) - U.S. stock futures were little changed Sunday night, after the S&P 500 climbed for a third straight week though it ended Friday lower. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 11 points, or 0.02%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Wall Street is coming off three consecutive weeks of gains
- [The bond market is signaling trouble ahead for stocks](https://ppam.com.au/the-bond-market-is-signaling-trouble-ahead-for-stocks/) - One signal coming from the bond market could spell difficulties ahead for the stock market, according to Jefferies. While investors typically look at the 10-year Treasury yield for a read on the economy, and the market, Jefferies argues that the 10-year Treasury inflation-protected securities bond is a better gauge right now. The principal on TIPS principal fluctuates over their
- [RBA’s blunt rate rise warning didn’t sway these economists](https://ppam.com.au/rbas-blunt-rate-rise-warning-didnt-sway-these-economists/) - The message from Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock on Tuesday was crystal clear: another interest rate rise is still on the cards, but not everyone is convinced. Economists from Goldman Sachs to JPMorgan are doubling down on their bets that the next move on rates will be down, albeit not until next year.
- [Why Buffett acolyte Chris Mackay is not buying Berkshire (for now)](https://ppam.com.au/why-buffett-acolyte-chris-mackay-is-not-buying-berkshire-for-now/) - Chris Mackay, the legendary co-founder of Magellan, built his reputation in the market by following the wisdom of Warren Buffett that was imparted at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual general meetings. But shareholders who dialled into the full-year briefing of Mackay’s $3.2 billion listed investment firm MFF Capital were told that the fund was no longer invested
- [The property downturn is turning into an investor stampede into ETFs](https://ppam.com.au/the-property-downturn-is-turning-into-an-investor-stampede-into-etfs/) - A sharp slowdown in the country’s real estate market has sent investors rushing towards Australian-listed exchange-traded funds, with a record $6.8 billion poured into index tracking products last month alone. And the biggest beneficiary appears to be income funds – including high dividend-paying products and bond strategies – which received more than a quarter of
- [Stock futures are little changed after S&P 500 sets record above 7,800, heads for winning week: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-after-sp-500-sets-record-above-7800-heads-for-winning-week-live-updates/) - Stock futures were little changed on Thursday night after a record-setting session, with two of the three major benchmarks on pace for their third consecutive weekly advance. S&P 500 futures traded just above the flatline along with Nasdaq-100 futures. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose just 3 points. The S&P 500 on Thursday hit an intraday all-time high of 7,816.70. The
- [Amazon shares appear stuck in a rut. Trader Mike Khouw is betting things will stay that way](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-shares-appear-stuck-in-a-rut-trader-mike-khouw-is-betting-things-will-stay-that-way/) - The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled by Fortune magazine that ranks the 500 largest United States corporations by total revenue. Amazon currently holds the number one spot, recently displacing Walmart’s long streak. In the 72 years since the creation of the Fortune 500 list, only three companies before Amazon occupied the top spot. General Motors,
- [Small-cap rally turbocharged as investors sour on bank stocks](https://ppam.com.au/small-cap-rally-turbocharged-as-investors-sour-on-bank-stocks/) - Hedge funds across the country no doubt cheered on Monday when Westpac earnings triggered a sector-wide sell-off after the big four lender reported a slump in mortgage applications since Labor’s sweeping tax reforms. Short-sellers and long-only fund managers have been burnt by the years-long rally in bank stocks despite the sluggish economy and lacklustre earnings
- [Telstra CEO Vicki Brady banks pay rise as revenue languishes](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-ceo-vicki-brady-banks-pay-rise-as-revenue-languishes/) - Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady took home $6.8 million last year – an 11 per cent increase – despite a fall in revenue at the country’s largest telecoms business and a marginal rise in profits over the last financial year. Telstra reported revenue of $22.9 billion, down 0.8 per cent, in the year to June
- [ASX to fall, Wall St lifts after CPI data](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-wall-st-lifts-after-cpi-data/) - Australian share futures are pointing to modest opening losses. A tech-led rally, as the probability of a September rate rise narrowed, helped the Nasdaq Composite advance. S&P/ASX 200 futures were down 24 points or 0.3 per cent to 9128. The S&P 500 was 0.3 per cent higher at the close in New York, paced higher
- [The stock market’s tranquility is almost unprecedented. That’s a red flag for Michael Burry](https://ppam.com.au/the-stock-markets-tranquility-is-almost-unprecedented-thats-a-red-flag-for-michael-burry/) - Michael Burry is pointing to an unusual stretch of calm beneath the stock market as another warning sign for investors, arguing that a historically long absence of broad-based selling could eventually give way to the kind of reversal he has been anticipating for months. The investor made famous by “The Big Short” highlighted research from
- [U.S. oil rises above $83 a barrel as Iran says Strait of Hormuz won’t open until conditions are met](https://ppam.com.au/u-s-oil-rises-above-83-a-barrel-as-iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-wont-open-until-conditions-are-met/) - A senior Iranian security official demanded the U.S. unfreeze Iranian funds held overseas as condition for Hormuz to open, according to Reuters. President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric this week, demanding that Iran pay reparations to the U.S. But Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg News on Tuesday that “things are shaping up again
- [Hedge funds circle hyped-up ASX stocks that make ‘SpaceX look cheap’](https://ppam.com.au/hedge-funds-circle-hyped-up-asx-stocks-that-make-spacex-look-cheap/) - Hedge funds are circling two of the buzziest stocks on the Australian sharemarket just as retail investors, who were largely responsible for pumping up their share prices, have come down with a case of the jitters. Depending on when an investor first traded imaging software company 4DMedical, or defence tech firm DroneShield, they might have
- [Markets whipsawed by tough-talking RBA governor](https://ppam.com.au/markets-whipsawed-by-tough-talking-rba-governor/) - Money market traders scrambled on Tuesday to decipher whether the Reserve Bank of Australia’s next move on interest rates would be up or down, after softer economic forecasts were countered by a tough-talking Michele Bullock, who said she “personally” believed another increase may be warranted. The RBA board voted to keep the cash rate steady
- [An inflation report Wednesday should be a big deal for the Fed. Here’s what to expect](https://ppam.com.au/an-inflation-report-wednesday-should-be-a-big-deal-for-the-fed-heres-what-to-expect/) - The consumer price index will be released Wednesday and is expected to show just a modest increase but an inflation level still well above the Fed’s 2% target. Coming off the soft jobs report, a benign inflation reading could give the central bank more time before choosing to raise interest rates. Economists expect just a
- [Nvidia lines up $500 billion in financing as CEO Jensen Huang tells CNBC his chips are ‘investable asset’](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-lines-up-500-billion-in-financing-as-ceo-jensen-huang-tells-cnbc-his-chips-are-investable-asset/) - Nvidia signed memorandums of understanding with Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, BlackRock, Brookfield Asset Management, Goldman Sachs and KKR to establish financing platforms for Nvidia’s customers The effort aims to mobilize more than $500 billion in third-party capital for hyperscalers, frontier AI labs and enterprises to build out data centers and acquire Nvidia hardware. Executives from
- [ASX to slip, RBA decision awaited](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-slip-rba-decision-awaited/) - Australian shares are set to edge lower. Shares in New York were modestly lower to start the week with a key focus on Wednesday’s July consumer price report, and whether it moves bets on near-time interest rate moves. ASX 200 futures were down 3 points to 9178. The S&P 500 closed 0.1 per cent lower.
- [Beware the hidden market crash beneath Wall Street’s calm surface](https://ppam.com.au/beware-the-hidden-market-crash-beneath-wall-streets-calm-surface/) - If you only watched the S&P 500 Index in July, you would think nothing happened. The index finished down just 0.1 per cent, still close to its record high. Beneath the surface, however, momentum had become almost synonymous with artificial intelligence and suffered one of its most violent crashes on record. Goldman Sachs estimates its
- [Australia’s top market whisperer on what actually matters now](https://ppam.com.au/australias-top-market-whisperer-on-what-actually-matters-now/) - Financial markets might be nervously watching bond yields, but James Aitken says there’s only one investment theme that really matters right now. On Friday night, James Aitken, the highly respected Australian market strategist who counts some of the world’s largest investors among his clients, did something unusual and made his latest missive public. In the
- [Stock futures are steady as investors weigh Iran, Hormuz deal prospects: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-steady-as-investors-weigh-iran-hormuz-deal-prospects-live-updates/) - Stock futures were little changed in overnight trading Monday as investors weighed signs of progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz against lingering doubts that the U.S. and Iran can reach a broader resolution to the conflict. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 24 points. S&P 500 futures were flat, while Nasdaq 100 futures inched up 0.1%.
- [Prediction markets take center stage in latest round of quarterly earnings reports](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-take-center-stage-in-latest-round-of-quarterly-earnings-reports/) - Annualized total volume for DraftKings’ predictions platform grew to $11 billion from $2.3 billion between April and July, CEO Jason Robins said. Coinbase said that its prediction markets revenue grew 106% on a quarter over quarter basis. Robinhood’s event contracts revenue came in at $156 million in the second quarter. The latest quarterly earnings reports
- [Investors await buyback bonanza, but worry about conservative boards](https://ppam.com.au/investors-await-buyback-bonanza-but-worry-about-conservative-boards/) - The country’s biggest listed companies are embarking on a share buyback bonanza even as the Australian sharemarket hits record levels, delivering a windfall to investors but leaving some worried that boards are becoming increasingly conservative and avoiding riskier growth opportunities. About a quarter of the companies listed on the S&P/ASX 200 have bought back their
- [Nasdaq will soon trade 23 hours a day. Australia is watching](https://ppam.com.au/nasdaq-will-soon-trade-23-hours-a-day-australia-is-watching/) - Before the year’s out Nasdaq plans to start trading 23 hours a day, five days a week, as does the New York Stock Exchange’s Arca venue, while in London, the main bourse has kick-started work on a similar project. These are meaningful developments for retail and institutional investors alike, as many global exchanges evolve in
- [ASX to set record high ahead of wild earnings, RBA decision](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-set-record-high-ahead-of-wild-earnings-rba-decision/) - Australian shares are set to reach a fresh high on Monday, but investors are preparing for a bumpy ride in a busy week of company earnings led by Commonwealth Bank and a possible warning on interest rates from the Reserve Bank of Australia. Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 Index will rise 33 points, or 0.4
- [S&P 500 futures slip as traders watch for Strait of Hormuz deal, inflation data: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-slip-as-traders-watch-for-strait-of-hormuz-deal-inflation-data-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures edged lower on Sunday night amid growing doubts that the U.S. and Iran will soon strike a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz. Futures tied to the broad index slipped about 0.2%, while Nasdaq-100 futures added 0.1%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures shed 99 points, 0.2%. Investor optimism that the U.S. and Iran might be close
- [Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Twilio, Airbnb, DraftKings, Trade Desk and more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-after-hours-twilio-airbnb-draftkings-trade-desk-and-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines after hours. Airbnb — Shares of the vacation rental company surged about 7% after Airbnb posted second quarter earnings of $1.37 per share on revenues of $3.61 billion. That outpaced the earnings of $1.25 on revenues of $3.58 billion forecasted by analysts, according to LSEG. Lyft — The ride-hailing company was
- [ASX’s stunning rebound is no mirage, say market strategists](https://ppam.com.au/asxs-stunning-rebound-is-no-mirage-say-market-strategists/) - The Australian sharemarket’s surprising rebound isn’t over just yet – especially with the earnings season kicking off and hopes that an imminent US-Iran deal will open crucial trade routes in the Middle East. The S&P/ASX 200 Index has reset its record high twice this week thanks to a 6 per cent surge since the start
- [Why boards are playing it safe and buying high instead of investing](https://ppam.com.au/why-boards-are-playing-it-safe-and-buying-high-instead-of-investing/) - The S&P/ASX 200 is at a record high, the share prices of a dozen Australian companies have hit new highs in the past 10 days, and yet boards are preparing to spend more of this year’s profits buying back their expensive shares. Is this really a good use of excess capital? The dilemma is playing
- [ASX to edge down](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-edge-down/) - Australian shares are set for a modestly lower open. US stocks finished modestly lower as oil rose on renewed tensions in the Middle East, which stoked worries about inflation and the prospect of higher interest rates. ASX 200 futures were down 4 points or 0.04 per cent to 9190. The S&P 500 was 0.2 per
- [Jim Cramer highlights 5 investing themes — and the stocks to buy for each](https://ppam.com.au/jim-cramer-highlights-5-investing-themes-and-the-stocks-to-buy-for-each/) - CNBC’s Jim Cramer said earnings season reinforced five investing themes he thinks will produce the market’s best buying opportunities. He highlighted stocks to buy for each theme, including Capital One, Ralph Lauren, Lam Research, CrowdStrike, Goldman Sachs and Eli Lilly. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Thursday earnings season has revealed investing themes he thinks will produce the market’s
- [As Warsh and the Fed contemplate fewer meetings, markets brace for potential volatility ahead](https://ppam.com.au/as-warsh-and-the-fed-contemplate-fewer-meetings-markets-brace-for-potential-volatility-ahead/) - Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh has floated the idea of holding fewer policy meetings than the current eight. The plan would further the strategy of reducing the central bank’s communications to financial markets, causing some to worry about the chances of heightened volatility. Fed regional presidents Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis and Anna Paulson of Philadelphia have
- [Treasury’s DIY plan for CGT flayed; could cost investors more](https://ppam.com.au/treasurys-diy-plan-for-cgt-flayed-could-cost-investors-more/) - Investors and small businesses wanting to avoid paying thousands of dollars to have their assets valued for the new capital gains tax regime face a complex nine-step valuation formula to do it themselves, but would probably end up paying a higher tax bill. On Tuesday night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers released four additional pieces of draft
- [Mayne Pharma investors push for break-up after blocked takeover bid](https://ppam.com.au/mayne-pharma-investors-push-for-break-up-after-blocked-takeover-bid/) - Mayne Pharma investors are calling for the sale of its women’s health and dermatology businesses in the US, after the federal government’s decision to block a takeover of the Adelaide-based company last year left them nursing heavy losses. Key shareholders, including offshore hedge funds and activist investors who now make up more than 20 per
- [ASX set to edge lower](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-to-edge-lower/) - Australian shares are set to slip at the open, reflecting a pause in the S&P 500’s rally after a US Federal Reserve official said incremental increases in interest rates would help keep inflation in check. ASX 200 futures were down 9 points or 0.1 per cent to 9143, reversing an earlier modest gain, with AMP,
- [Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ is doing something unusual as stocks hit record highs](https://ppam.com.au/wall-streets-fear-gauge-is-doing-something-unusual-as-stocks-hit-record-highs/) - Tuesday’s rally was so intense that it’s shaking up some of the usual assumptions around volatility pricing. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) – sometimes referred to as the stock market’s “fear gauge” – rose a full point in the midst of Tuesday’s breakout 1.8% rally in the S&P 500. As stocks extended gains in the first hour of
- [SpaceX is down nearly 40% ahead of Tuesday’s earnings—how to decide to buy stock dips, according to pros](https://ppam.com.au/spacex-is-down-nearly-40-ahead-of-tuesdays-earnings-how-to-decide-to-buy-stock-dips-according-to-pros/) - If you’re a long-term investor, someone smart has probably told you to “buy the dip.” And in many cases, they’re right. Historically, the stock market has trended upward and has reached new highs after every broad-based decline in prices. That has meant that if you were invested in the broad stock market, even the worst bear markets — dips
- [Kevin Warsh’s invisible man routine has bond markets all at sea](https://ppam.com.au/kevin-warshs-invisible-man-routine-has-bond-markets-all-at-sea/) - The Federal Reserve chairman has all but abandoned forward guidance, leaving traders confused and questioning whether he’s an idiot or genius. It was, according to economists at JPMorgan, the single most troubling presentation by a Federal Reserve chairman in more than a decade of press conferences given by those at the very top of the
- [Investors brace for wild earnings swings by hiding in tech and defence](https://ppam.com.au/investors-brace-for-wild-earnings-swings-by-hiding-in-tech-and-defence/) - Fund managers are bracing for the wildest earnings season yet for the ASX, avoiding retail and housing sectors but doubling down on technology, defence and energy stocks as algorithmic trading wreaks havoc on the market. The rise of index-tracking funds, high-speed trading and so-called “pod shops” that trade aggressively on daily headlines means even minor earnings
- [ASX to rise, S&P 500 resets record high](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-sp-500-resets-record-high/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, catching a wave that lifted both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones to record highs on hopes that a US-Iran deal on fully opening the Strait of Hormuz is imminent. US bond yields fell. Strong earnings – from Palantir and Caterpillar, among others – also bolstered sentiment in
- [The stock market soars. 5 reasons behind the big surge Tuesday](https://ppam.com.au/the-stock-market-soars-5-reasons-behind-the-big-surge-tuesday/) - A broad, booming rally sent the market soaring Tuesday. Among the reasons cited for the run: optimistic comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, booming earnings and a chart breakout for the S&P 500. The S&P 500 closed above 7,700 for the first time. Wall Street sent stocks soaring to records on Tuesday as a multitude of factors
- [Amazon tops $3 trillion market cap as stock continues post-earnings surge](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-tops-3-trillion-market-cap-as-stock-continues-post-earnings-surge/) - Shares of Amazon hit a new all-time high to start the week, putting its market cap over the $3 trillion. The company posted strong Q2 earnings last week, highlighted by cloud growth. Some of Amazon’s biggest cloud rivals also saw robust growth, with Microsoft and Alphabet beating estimates. Shares of Amazon hit a new all-time high on
- [This hasn’t happened in markets in 28 years. It could mark a new era](https://ppam.com.au/this-hasnt-happened-in-markets-in-28-years-it-could-mark-a-new-era/) - An extraordinary co-ordinated intervention in currency markets by the US and Japan could have huge ramifications for investors – including Australian super fund members. US President Donald Trump may be best known for hyperbole, but he can be a master of understatement, too. “Japan’s always been very good to us – with the exception, of
- [Canada’s TMX throws down the gauntlet to ASX on trading, tech](https://ppam.com.au/canadas-tmx-throws-down-the-gauntlet-to-asx-on-trading-tech/) - Canada’s TMX Group, which has acquired a rival exchange to the ASX, said its bold Australian ambitions could see it grab more than 30 per cent of equities trading volumes as it accused the incumbent of dragging the chain on settlement times and technology upgrades. TMX completed its purchase of Cboe Australia on Monday, as
- [Magnificent seven surge to life](https://ppam.com.au/magnificent-seven-surge-to-life/) - Australian share futures are pointing to a muted start to Tuesday’s trading session, though US equities pressed higher as oil fell and data showed US manufacturing expanded at its fastest pace in more than four years in July. S&P/ASX 200 futures were flat at 8970, after fluctuating between modestly lower and modestly higher. The S&P
- [Stock futures rise slightly after rip-roaring rally leads Dow to record closing high: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-rise-slightly-after-rip-roaring-rally-leads-dow-to-record-closing-high-live-updates/) - Stock futures rose slightly on Monday night following a huge move higher during regular trading, powered by a decline in oil prices and sharp gains in major tech names. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.1%, or 76 points. S&P 500 futures gained 0.1%. Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.2%. The major stock averages surged Monday, with the Dow closing at a
- [Looking at just the odds isn’t enough. How traders gain an edge on prediction markets](https://ppam.com.au/looking-at-just-the-odds-isnt-enough-how-traders-gain-an-edge-on-prediction-markets/) - Between Polymarket and Kalshi alone, there can be over 100,000 active markets. That’s too much for one prediction market trader to juggle on her own. From using AI bots to purchasing an antenna, traders rely on tools and peculiar methods to compete against others. It’s enough motivation for some to trade on the platforms full-time.
- [PEXA faces a steep price cut and investors a hard reality check](https://ppam.com.au/pexa-faces-a-steep-price-cut-and-investors-a-hard-reality-check/) - If you’re looking for tension, drama and a fierce intellectual contest, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s public hearing into electronic lodgment network operator service fees is an unlikely place to find it. But the emotions, and the financial stakes, at that Microsoft-Teams-enabled meeting on July 21 were running high. The management and shareholders of
- [Why the inflation scare may peak before the war ends](https://ppam.com.au/why-the-inflation-scare-may-peak-before-the-war-ends/) - The consensus view is becoming entrenched. Oil prices are rising, inflation risks are re-emerging, central banks remain data dependent, and bond markets are responding accordingly. Brent crude is approaching $US100 per barrel, West Texas Intermediate is near $US90, and investors are again debating whether inflation is proving more persistent than expected. The logic appears straightforward.
- [ASX to fall as Middle East conflict set to dominate reporting season](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-as-middle-east-conflict-set-to-dominate-reporting-season/) - Investors expect the escalating Middle East conflict to cast a pall over what will already be a highly volatile ASX reporting season, which kicks off this week, with the threat of inflation contributing to an aggressive rate-hiking cycle and hurting consumer sentiment. Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 will fall 1 per cent at the opening bell on
- [Investors scored on Iran war’s oil market boom. Staying long the trade will get trickier](https://ppam.com.au/investors-scored-on-iran-wars-oil-market-boom-staying-long-the-trade-will-get-trickier/) - Blowout earnings from Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Valero Energy this past week showed how the U.S.-Iran war created massive short-term profits in oil. ETFs targeting oil refiners and crude oil price volatility were among big winners over the past six months. But investing experts caution that geopolitics is a risky trade to bank on and
- [The oil majors are about to report booming profits. These smaller stocks may be better buys](https://ppam.com.au/the-oil-majors-are-about-to-report-booming-profits-these-smaller-stocks-may-be-better-buys/) - Why oil prices aren’t even higher despite recent escalations. The new pipelines reshaping global energy flows. Four energy giants expected to post eye-popping profits. Expect some negative political attention after the numbers. Several renewable and AI-linked stocks that may be better buys than the majors right now, according to Wall Street. The classic lyric from
- [Santos trims output guidance as project hiccups delay surge](https://ppam.com.au/santos-trims-output-guidance-as-project-hiccups-delay-surge/) - Santos has cut its guidance for full-year output after technical hitches delayed the start of two major growth projects in the Timor Sea and Alaska, pushing out a long-forecast jump in output into the December half. Production this year is now expected to be between 99 million and 105 million barrels of oil and gas,
- [Not out of the woods yet: these economists warn rate rises are coming](https://ppam.com.au/not-out-of-the-woods-yet-these-economists-warn-rate-rises-are-coming/) - Investors may be breathing a sigh of relief after this week’s benign inflation report, but a cohort of economists argues that Australia’s central bank is likely to lift interest rates one more time this year, given the higher costs related to the conflict in the Middle East. KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne warned that the
- [Investors tip ASX’s battered small caps are about to go on a tear](https://ppam.com.au/investors-tip-asxs-battered-small-caps-are-about-to-go-on-a-tear/) - Small-cap stocks have had a bruising year on the ASX as the Iran war sent oil prices surging above $US100 a barrel and the Reserve Bank of Australia embarked on an aggressive interest rate cycle to stave off inflation. The Small Ordinaries Index has dropped 13 per cent so far this year, whereas the S&P/ASX
- [Nasdaq futures rise after strong rebound on Wall Street, Amazon surges after earnings: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/nasdaq-futures-rise-after-strong-rebound-on-wall-street-amazon-surges-after-earnings-live-updates/) - Nasdaq futures edged higher in overnight trading Thursday after Wall Street staged a sharp rebound. Upbeat earnings from Amazon added to optimism. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.4%. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average traded flat, while S&P 500 futures inched up 0.1% In extended trading, Amazon surged more than 9% after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter revenue. The results,
- [Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Microsoft, Meta, Starbucks, Carvana and more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-after-hours-microsoft-meta-starbucks-carvana-and-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in extended trading. Meta Platforms — Shares tumbled almost 10% after the company posted earnings per share of $6.18 for the latest quarter, missing analysts’ estimates by $1.04 per share, according to LSEG. It also forecasted third quarter revenue between $61 billion and $64 billion, the lower end of which
- [RBA won’t ignore inflation red flags. Neither should investors](https://ppam.com.au/rba-wont-ignore-inflation-red-flags-neither-should-investors/) - Money markets have slashed the odds of further rate increases from the central bank, but there’s a big problem with that calculus. The immediate reaction of financial markets to Wednesday’s softer-than-expected inflation data – stocks up, bond yields down, probability of rate hikes slashed – seems a little overdone. There are enough red flags in
- [‘Wouldn’t be short for quids’: Investors return to ASX amid tech sell-off](https://ppam.com.au/wouldnt-be-short-for-quids-investors-return-to-asx-amid-tech-sell-off/) - For years investors have bemoaned Australia’s lack of exposure to the global artificial intelligence trade, which has been a key reason for the sharemarket’s lacklustre performance when compared with that of the United States or Asia. But what was once the ASX’s biggest weakness has suddenly turned into an advantage as cracks start to appear
- [‘Everyone has to change their mind’: traders axe RBA rate rise bets](https://ppam.com.au/everyone-has-to-change-their-mind-traders-axe-rba-rate-rise-bets/) - Bond investors have slashed expectations for another interest rate rise from the Reserve Bank of Australia this year after a soft inflation print on Wednesday suggested the economy was cooling at a faster clip than even the central bank had expected. Traders have all but abandoned their bets for an August rate increase, pricing in just a
- [Apple shares just hit a record. Here’s how trader Mike Khouw is playing the move](https://ppam.com.au/apple-shares-just-hit-a-record-heres-how-trader-mike-khouw-is-playing-the-move/) - Apple continues to prove itself as the ultimate market safe haven. Even as broader tech names and momentum plays have faltered, Apple has hit new all-time highs. Investors view the Cupertino titan as uniquely “above the fray,” remaining largely insulated from the eye-watering AI capital expenditure cycles of the mega-cap hyperscalers while avoiding the supply chain
- [Introducing Pacific Podcast | Pacific Flagship Ep 1](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-flagship/) - Discover the Investment Process Behind and Key Themes Driving our Pacific Playbook - 2H 2026 We're pleased to introduce the inaugural episode of Pacific Flagship, our new quarterly podcast series designed to provide clients and investors with deeper insights into our investment philosophy, market outlook, and portfolio positioning. In this first episode, Ben Grodski, Founder
- [Elon Musk stocks take $1.5 trillion hit with fresh test in SpaceX lockup ahead](https://ppam.com.au/elon-musk-stocks-take-1-5-trillion-hit-with-fresh-test-in-spacex-lockup-ahead/) - It’s been a rough month for Elon Musk, if there is such a thing for the world’s richest man. SpaceX and Tesla have erased a cumulative $1.5 trillion in market cap since mid-June, after an almost 50% sell-off in SpaceX since its high and an 18% drop in Tesla since earnings last week. It might get even crazier
- [Australia stuck in ‘interest rate purgatory’ as inflation stays high](https://ppam.com.au/australia-stuck-in-interest-rate-purgatory-as-inflation-stays-high/) - The latest lull in the Iran war has not alleviated fears rattling the bond market that central banks will have to keep interest rates at high levels for the foreseeable future as traders steel themselves for a pick-up in inflation. After President Donald Trump threatened a “massive attack” on Iran late last week, the US
- [This Nvidia deal is sparking fears markets could ‘go straight down’](https://ppam.com.au/this-nvidia-deal-is-sparking-fears-markets-could-go-straight-down/) - The way the chip giant is using its financial firepower to keep the AI hype machine going is scaring investors again. One Big Short hero has a brutal warning. A funny thing happened on Wall Street on Monday night. Oil plunged, but the S&P 500 barely moved. Why? Because the world’s biggest company became the
- [Investment bankers jump ship as data centre talent war heats up](https://ppam.com.au/investment-bankers-jump-ship-as-data-centre-talent-war-heats-up/) - Investment banks have become a hunting ground for talent amid a boom in artificial intelligence, with data centre developers raiding research desks and advisory teams to bankroll, build and sell a wave of new projects. The latest to join the data centre gold rush is JPMorgan’s head of technology, media and telecommunications research, Bob Chen,
- [Stock futures tick lower as oil prices rise after U.S. blocks attack from Iran: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-tick-lower-as-oil-prices-rise-after-u-s-blocks-attack-from-iran-live-updates/) - Stock futures inched down on Tuesday night as oil prices rose after U.S. forces intercepted an attack from Iran. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures shed 66 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures lost 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.3%. West Texas Intermediate crude futures advanced about 4% to trade at around $82 a gallon after U.S. Central Command said
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: ASML, SK Hynix, SAP, Forte Bio, Brown-Forman & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-asml-sk-hynix-sap-forte-bio-brown-forman-more/) - Check out some of the companies making the biggest moves midday: ASML — Shares of the maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment slid 8%. China began mass production of domestically made deep ultraviolet chipmaking tools, The Information reported. Memory chip stocks — Shares rose broadly after chipmaker CXMT debuted as a public stock in Shanghai, soaring more than 466%. SK Hynix’s
- [How a $1b fund turned a three-page letter into an investment edge](https://ppam.com.au/how-a-1b-fund-turned-a-three-page-letter-into-an-investment-edge/) - If you’re running a large listed Australian company and a letter from Merlon Capital Partners arrives in the mail, chances are you’re not in a great place. The $1 billion Australian equity fund follows a strict investment process which means they’re buying in when the share price has bombed out and the market has deserted
- [Retail investors stock up on Musk’s SpaceX as fund managers sell out](https://ppam.com.au/retail-investors-stock-up-on-musks-spacex-as-fund-managers-sell-out/) - Local retail investors can’t get enough of Elon Musk’s rockets and artificial intelligence company SpaceX, buying up stock even as institutional shareholders sell out, and the stock falls below its offer price. SpaceX’s share price surged 50 per Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/retail-investors-stock-up-on-musk-s-spacex-as-fund-managers-sell-out-20260727-p60irn
- [Why the last financial year may have been a warning for ASX investors](https://ppam.com.au/why-the-last-financial-year-may-have-been-a-warning-for-asx-investors/) - The S&P/ASX 200 Index returned 2.7 per cent in 2025-26, but the headline number conceals more than it reveals, and what it conceals is becoming harder to ignore. The S&P/ASX 200 Index returned 2.7 per cent in price terms last financial year. Add dividends, and the accumulation index reached 6.3 per cent. While that is
- [SpaceX has now lost the equivalent of a full Tesla in market capitalization](https://ppam.com.au/spacex-has-now-lost-the-equivalent-of-a-full-tesla-in-market-capitalization/) - What’s one trillion between a trillionaire and his biggest fans? SpaceX has now erased more than $1.2 trillion in market cap since its high price of $225.64 in June – almost exactly the value of Elon Musk’s other company, Tesla, whose shares just fell to near one-year lows. On Monday, SpaceX fell for the 13th session out
- [S&P 500 closes little changed Friday as Iran fears and chip sell-off weigh down market: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-little-changed-friday-as-iran-fears-and-chip-sell-off-weigh-down-market-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 ended near flat on Friday, weighed down by chip stocks, as investors assessed the latest developments regarding the Middle East conflict. The broad market index added just 0.05% and closed at 7,411.98 while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.64% to end at 24,975.82.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 235.60 points, or 0.46%, to settle at 51,947.25. A 3.5% jump
- [A guide to surviving Australia’s looming bear market](https://ppam.com.au/a-guide-to-surviving-australias-looming-bear-market/) - The world is turning bearish on Australian stocks. We’ve come across our fair share of commentary from global analysts who believe their friends down under are facing a world of pain. It’s time to get out or get short. How does this particular bear case go? Interest rates aren’t going down, the property market is
- [Investors fume over Forrestania’s Zenith bid; eyes on Takeovers Panel](https://ppam.com.au/investors-fume-over-forrestanias-zenith-bid-eyes-on-takeovers-panel/) - Western Australia’s Ida Metal Investments has hit back at ASX-listed gold and lithium explorer Zenith Minerals’ response to its criticism of a scrip bid from Stokes-backed Forrestania Resources after a dramatic decline in the bidder’s share price. Ben Klemasz, chief commercial officer of Aurenne Group – the parent entity of Ida Metal – who oversees
- [ASX to rise ahead of big tech earnings, Fed decision](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-ahead-of-big-tech-earnings-fed-decision/) - The global artificial intelligence trade that has rocketed equity markets to record levels is facing a defining week, as the world’s largest technology companies deliver results that will be scrutinised for signs that huge spending is generating the promised returns. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-rise-ahead-of-big-tech-earnings-fed-decision-20260726-p60inf
- [Stock futures climb, oil prices fall as U.S. and Iran pause attacks](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-climb-oil-prices-fall-as-u-s-and-iran-pause-attacks/) - U.S. stock futures rallied on Sunday night, and oil prices declined amid a pause in fighting between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend. Traders were also looking ahead to a demanding week of megacap earnings and a potentially surprising Federal Reserve meeting. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose by 244 points, or 0.5%. S&P
- [Tesla, Alphabet lose hundreds of billions in value in post-earnings stock plunge](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-alphabet-lose-hundreds-of-billions-in-value-in-post-earnings-stock-plunge/) - Both Tesla and Alphabet signaled higher spending as they invest in artificial intelligence. There were signs that some of Google’s investments were beginning to pay off, with its cloud revenue jumping 82% year on year in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Tesla is investing in areas from robotics to semiconductors. Shares of Alphabet and Tesla fell on Thursday after both
- [Worried about the economy? WAM says water is a very good bet](https://ppam.com.au/worried-about-the-economy-wam-says-water-is-a-very-good-bet/) - The discount largely reflects that alternative assets aren’t yet as well understood by the broader market compared to more traditional listed equity exposures. The retail market is becoming more aware of the diversification benefits of alternatives, but is yet to fully appreciate the time that it takes for new investments in these asset classes to
- [James Hardie restores investor faith after sales, earnings beat](https://ppam.com.au/james-hardie-restores-investor-faith-after-sales-earnings-beat/) - James Hardie has upgraded its sales and earnings forecasts, despite ongoing sluggishness in the United States housing market, as the building products group looks to move on from a turbulent period marked by an investor backlash over its $14 billion acquisition of outdoor decking company Azek. The company now expects sales revenue for the quarter
- [Upcoming ASX rebalance to unleash $2.5b trading bonanza](https://ppam.com.au/upcoming-asx-rebalance-to-unleash-2-5b-trading-bonanza/) - Investors and traders are getting ready for one of the biggest rebalances of the ASX in years that is expected to spark a multibillion-dollar trading event fuelled by passive funds and quantitative firms. Up to six changes are expected for the widely tracked S&P/ASX 200 Index alone, with semiconductor components maker Weebit Nano and car
- [Shortsighted stock market can no longer brush off war: ‘It’s too hard to ignore $100 oil’](https://ppam.com.au/shortsighted-stock-market-can-no-longer-brush-off-war-its-too-hard-to-ignore-100-oil/) - U.S. equities fell on Thursday after Brent Crude prices broke above $100 per barrel once again. The rise in oil prices come after the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran for a 12th consecutive night, and reports that a tanker was attacked off the coast of Saudi Arabia. While U.S. stocks initially didn’t react much to
- [Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Alphabet, Tesla, IBM, Las Vegas Sands, ServiceNow & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-after-hours-alphabet-tesla-ibm-las-vegas-sands-servicenow-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in extended trading. Alphabet — Shares fell more than 4% after the company raised its capital expenditures forecast for 2026 to a range of $195 billion to $205 billion, pointing to artificial intelligence demand. Separately, Alphabet posted revenue of $119.8 billion in the fiscal second quarter, topping expectations of $116.93 billion, according
- [Lowe says higher board gender targets may not add shareholder value](https://ppam.com.au/lowe-says-higher-board-gender-targets-may-not-add-shareholder-value/) - The head of the Australian sharemarket operator’s peak governance committee says there is no compelling evidence that increasing the target of women on corporate boards to 40 per cent will add value, prompting a sharp rebuke from one of the country’s major superannuation funds. Former Reserve Bank of Australia governor Phil Lowe was appointed to
- [BofA equities traders say buy momentum stocks](https://ppam.com.au/bofa-equities-traders-say-buy-momentum-stocks/) - Bank of America’s trading desk is urging clients to buy US momentum stocks, betting that the group has reached an attractive price level after a bout of profit taking. The bank’s basket of US momentum stocks ended last week down more than 10 per cent from its June 25 peak following a tumble during which
- [ASX to rise, oil reaches six-week high](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-oil-reaches-six-week-high/) - Australian shares are poised to rise. US stocks wavered ahead of results from Alphabet, Google’s parent, and Tesla after the closing bell. Oil edged still higher as the US and Iran continued to joust. Both Alphabet and Tesla fell about 3 per cent, respectively, in extended trade as investors parsed their results and conference call
- [Stock futures slip as investors eye more earnings; Alphabet falls on higher capex outlook: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-slip-as-investors-eye-more-earnings-alphabet-falls-on-higher-capex-outlook-live-updates/) - U.S. equity futures slipped Wednesday evening as investors weighed fresh earnings, artificial intelligence spending concerns and rising oil prices. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 69 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures dropped 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.3%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/22/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Investing experts: Why ‘just buy the market’ doesn’t necessarily apply to bonds](https://ppam.com.au/investing-experts-why-just-buy-the-market-doesnt-necessarily-apply-to-bonds/) - Young and inexperienced investors often find themselves receiving some version of the same advice: just buy the market. Indeed, market luminaries from Warren Buffett on down advise that young people looking to accumulate long-term wealth should own low-cost mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that track a broad stock market index. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/bond-investing-buy-the-market-agg-index.html
- [Santos slams Australian gas mandate, warns of supply crunch](https://ppam.com.au/santos-slams-australian-gas-mandate-warns-of-supply-crunch-2/) - antos has slammed the federal government’s domestic gas reservation scheme, warning it will create energy shortages and drive up prices for electricity generators, manufacturers, and data centres. Australia’s second-largest oil and gas producer, which stands to be the hardest hit by the proposed scheme, emphasised it had long supported a forward-looking gas reservation system, with
- [AustralianSuper defies private credit fear, plans fivefold asset lift](https://ppam.com.au/australiansuper-defies-private-credit-fear-plans-fivefold-asset-lift/) - ustralianSuper will double its exposure to private credit to near $20 billion within four years and more than double it again in the long term, as the country’s largest retirement investment fund becomes increasingly bullish about the prospects of the high-growth but controversial market. The asset manager, which oversees some $410 billion in savings, said
- [ASX to rise, S&P 500 lifts on tech](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-sp-500-lifts-on-tech/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher, tracking a broad advance on Wall Street even as oil topped $US91 a barrel, its highest since early June, amid renewed US-Iran hostilities. ASX 200 futures were up 21 points or 0.2 per cent to 8763. The S&P 500 was 0.9 per cent higher in New York as
- [Stock futures are little changed as investors gear up for more earnings: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-as-investors-gear-up-for-more-earnings-live-updates/) - Stock futures were little changed in overnight trading Tuesday as investors looked ahead to another busy day of corporate earnings, with several major technology and industrial companies set to report. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped just 16 points. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures were both flat. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Pacific Playbook - 2H 2026](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-playbook-2h-2026/) - Positioning for the Next Phase of Global Markets As we enter the second half of 2026, we're sharing a concise overview of the key macroeconomic themes shaping global markets—and how investors can position portfolios thoughtfully for the opportunities and risks ahead. Artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, central banks remain cautious, geopolitical tensions persist, and market
- [Jim Cramer says it’s time to look beyond tech as AI uncertainty rattles the market](https://ppam.com.au/jim-cramer-says-its-time-to-look-beyond-tech-as-ai-uncertainty-rattles-the-market/) - CNBC’s Jim Cramer says the AI trade has become too unpredictable, making this a better time to put new money into high-quality companies outside of technology. While he’s waiting for a broader pullback before buying more tech, Cramer remains bullish on long-term AI leaders including Nvidia and Intel. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Monday that the artificial intelligence
- [Australia’s top-performing equity fund just returned 166pc in FY26](https://ppam.com.au/australias-top-performing-equity-fund-just-returned-166pc-in-fy26/) - A little-known money manager operating out of the NSW coastal town of Kingscliff has been crowned Australia’s top equity fund after more than doubling investors’ money in the 2026 financial year, thanks to early investments in two bitcoin miners turned artificial intelligence darlings. Tectonic Investment Management’s Opportunities Fund returned a massive 166.5 per cent for
- [Top super funds made double-digit returns. Is yours among them?](https://ppam.com.au/top-super-funds-made-double-digit-returns-is-yours-among-them/) - Tech shares led Australian super funds to their fourth straight year of returns above 9 per cent, with the average fund returning 9.5 per cent over the past 12 months and a cumulative four-year return of 44 per cent. Industry fund UniSuper delivered the best return of any super growth option last financial year, reporting a return
- [ASX to fall, Iren surges 20pc](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-iren-surges-20pc/) - Australian shares are set to open lower, tracking broad weakness on Wall Street where all three major benchmarks closed down as oil rose amid persistent US-Iran tensions. ASX 200 futures were down 36 points or 0.4 per cent to 8717. The S&P 500 was 0.2 per cent lower, with eight of its 11 industry sectors
- [S&P 500 futures slip as traders shift focus to earnings amid Middle East tensions: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-slip-as-traders-shift-focus-to-earnings-amid-middle-east-tensions-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures ticked down Monday evening after higher oil prices weighed on the major indexes. Investors also looked ahead to the week in corporate earnings. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 7 points. S&P 500 futures fell 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 0.2%. In regular trading, the Dow dropped 307.16 points, or 0.59%, weighed down by a
- [Oil tankers face ‘worst case scenario’ in Hormuz as Iran steps up attacks on ships, maritime risk CEO says](https://ppam.com.au/oil-tankers-face-worst-case-scenario-in-hormuz-as-iran-steps-up-attacks-on-ships-maritime-risk-ceo-says/) - Shippers face a “worse-cast scenario” in the Strait of Hormuz, said Dimitris Maniatis, CEO of maritime risk service Marisks, in a Lloyd’s List Intelligence briefing. At least nine ships have come under attack since July 6 as Iran tries to force vessels to navigate Hormuz through its territorial waters. “Crews of vessels are even more
- [Macquarie investors call for more transparency on culture concerns](https://ppam.com.au/macquarie-investors-call-for-more-transparency-on-culture-concerns/) - Concerns about how Macquarie handled an investigation into cultural issues and alleged wrongdoing within its investment banking division have prompted some shareholders to demand more information from the financial services giant. Last week, The Australian Financial Review reported that two letters were sent to chairman Glenn Stevens this year alleging that six senior managers within Macquarie Capital engaged in
- [This surprising inflation gauge says RBA may still need to hike twice](https://ppam.com.au/this-surprising-inflation-gauge-says-rba-may-still-need-to-hike-twice/) - Another week of strikes between Iran and the United States, and the price of just oil keeps rising. Brent crude surged on Friday, up 4.6 per cent to about $US88 ($126), following a report that the Trump administration is sending more refuelling planes to Israel, a possible signal that US military operations could expand in the coming
- [ASX on edge as US strikes on Iran and tech wobbles roil markets](https://ppam.com.au/asx-on-edge-as-us-strikes-on-iran-and-tech-wobbles-roil-markets/) - Waves of strikes unleashed by the United States and Iran over the Australian weekend are expected to drive up energy prices and cause more uncertainty in the local sharemarket, disrupting the usual calm before the August reporting season. Meanwhile, the rush late last week on Wall Street to dump chipmaker stocks – the so-called picks
- [How are prediction markets taxed? The IRS hasn’t provided guidance yet](https://ppam.com.au/how-are-prediction-markets-taxed-the-irs-hasnt-provided-guidance-yet/) - The Internal Revenue Service has yet to disclose how prediction market wins and losses should be taxed. Without guidance from the IRS, tax experts say it’s tricky to determine the tax treatment that may apply to prediction market contracts, such as which team will win the World Cup final on Sunday. For now, tax experts
- [TSMC to invest additional $100 billion in Arizona after second-quarter profit soars 77%](https://ppam.com.au/tsmc-to-invest-additional-100-billion-in-arizona-after-second-quarter-profit-soars-77/) - TSMC recorded over 77% year on year profit jump, and over 23% from prior quarter. The company forecast third-quarter revenue between $44.6 billion and $45.8 billion. Both the company’s quarterly revenue and profit both topped estimates. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co on Thursday reported a 77.4% jump in second-quarter profit year on year, soaring past estimates as
- [Melbourne Storm’s owners tap Jefferies to sell partial stake](https://ppam.com.au/melbourne-storms-owners-tap-jefferies-to-sell-partial-stake/) - The owners of rugby league club Melbourne Storm have drafted investment bank Jefferies to run a capital-raising effort as they seek to upgrade the team’s headquarters and training base and finalise a new centre of excellence. Street Talk understands a partial stake in the 27-year-old NRL club, chaired by wagering entrepreneur and executive chairman of
- [SpaceX IPO now looks like a cynical joke. It’s more serious than that](https://ppam.com.au/spacex-ipo-now-looks-like-a-cynical-joke-its-more-serious-than-that/) - Iconic Wall Street investor Peter Lynch was not a fan of buying into sharemarket floats, and liked to say that IPO actually stood for “it’s probably overpriced”. There would be plenty of investors wishing they’d heeded his advice when it came to the initial public offering of Elon Musk’s interplanetary plaything, SpaceX. Source: https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/spacex-ipo-now-looks-like-a-cynical-joke-it-s-more-serious-than-that-20260717-p60g2j
- [ASX to drop, tech rally fades](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-drop-tech-rally-fades/) - Australian shares are set to drop as a rally in chipmakers faded, causing the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to slip. The slide in tech shadowed an upbeat start to second-quarter earnings, while investors parsed fresh economic data for clues on the health of the economy. ASX 200 futures were down 15 points or -0.2
- [As prediction markets boom, questions arise over who will be the watchdog](https://ppam.com.au/as-prediction-markets-boom-questions-arise-over-who-will-be-the-watchdog/) - As prediction markets are booming, legal experts increasingly expect the CFTC’s sibling agency — the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — will have a role to play soon in this novel asset class. A spokesperson for prediction market platform Polymarket confirmed to CNBC that the company has engaged with both the CFTC and SEC regarding
- [Former Telstra chairman slams Canberra’s ‘self-serving’ outage outrage](https://ppam.com.au/former-telstra-chairman-slams-canberras-self-serving-outage-outrage/) - Former Telstra chairman John Mullen has delivered a stinging attack on what he calls the self-serving moral outrage of some politicians following last week’s nationwide outage, defending chief executive Vicki Brady as an exceptional leader who is entitled to take a holiday. Brady and chief financial officer Michael Ackland are expected to appear before a
- [Investors pile into income ETFs to shelter from tax changes](https://ppam.com.au/investors-pile-into-income-etfs-to-shelter-from-tax-changes/) - Australian investors are on the hunt for income and are piling into exchange-traded funds that are focused on dividends, bonds and cash amid higher interest rates and looming changes to capital gains tax. Money flowing into cash and fixed-income-focused ETFs more than doubled in June to $1 billion from $494 million in May, according to
- [Aussie dollar under threat as Trump’s blockade triggers rate fears](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-under-threat-as-trumps-blockade-triggers-rate-fears/) - Hopes for a rebound in the Australian dollar are hanging by a thread after US President Donald Trump reinstated a blockade through the Strait of Hormuz and traders ramped up their bets for a US interest rate rise later this month. The Aussie, which is often traded as a proxy for risk, sat at US69.2¢
- [US banks smash earnings records, despite ‘tectonic’ risks](https://ppam.com.au/us-banks-smash-earnings-records-despite-tectonic-risks/) - In a world of uncertainty, one reliable rule is that Wall Street will find a way to make money. That was underscored with emphasis Tuesday when four of the largest banks in the United States reported a collective $43 billion ($61.6 billion) in profits in the second quarter, smashing records and exceeding analysts’ projections, despite
- [ASX finishes flat amid simmering US-Iran tension; Light & Wonder jumps](https://ppam.com.au/asx-finishes-flat-amid-simmering-us-iran-tension-light-wonder-jumps/) - ASX shrugs off oil price spike; Light & Wonder jumps Matt BellShare post The Australian sharemarket finished the day largely where it began despite US President Donald Trump reimposing a blockade through the Strait of Hormuz and as further strikes across the region sent oil higher. After trading lower for much of the session, the
- [Tesla calls for all drivers to pay road user charges](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-calls-for-all-drivers-to-pay-road-user-charges/) - Tesla says NSW should scrap its plans for an electric vehicle tax and Australia should adopt a national road user charge that would be paid by all drivers including those who own petrol cars. A NSW parliamentary inquiry has exposed widespread concerns about the state tax on EVs and hybrids that is legislated to begin
- [Budget’s nasty CGT surprise for Australians doing a stint overseas](https://ppam.com.au/budgets-nasty-cgt-surprise-for-australians-doing-a-stint-overseas/) - Australians who work overseas will lose access to any capital gains tax discount on investment properties from July 1, 2027 if they relinquish Australian tax residency during their time abroad. Ben Turner, an accountant specialising in expat tax at Atlas Wealth Management, said the “surprisingly harsh” new residency requirement is buried in the budget legislation
- [Iran bombs US supply lines as Hormuz stand-off escalates](https://ppam.com.au/iran-bombs-us-supply-lines-as-hormuz-stand-off-escalates/) - Dubai | The US and Iran exchanged fresh strikes overnight into Monday as they continued their tit-for-tat attacks while issuing conflicting declarations over whether the Strait of Hormuz was open to shipping. US Central Command said American forces carried out a new round of attacks to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the narrow
- [ASX ends flat as oil soars towards $US80; big banks rally](https://ppam.com.au/asx-ends-flat-as-oil-soars-towards-us80-big-banks-rally/) - The Australian sharemarket ended flat on Monday as investors largely looked through the surging oil prices from fresh strikes between the US and Iran and the implications for the Strait of Hormuz. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index added just 2.5 points to 8808.50 after trading in a narrow band for much of the session. Five
- [Wall Street feasts on fees from SpaceX IPO and mega-mergers](https://ppam.com.au/wall-street-feasts-on-fees-from-spacex-ipo-and-mega-mergers/) - New York | Wall Street banks this week are set to report their biggest haul from investment banking fees in four and a half years, fuelled by SpaceX’s blockbuster stock market listing and a resurgence in mega-mergers. The five largest US investment banks – JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup –
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – From Strategy to Execution:  Turning Investment Views Into Client Outcomes [July 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-from-strategy-to-execution-turning-investment-views-into-client-outcomes-july-2026/) - Meeting Date: Friday, 10 July 2026 We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, where discussions centred on refining portfolio implementation, strengthening investment governance, and translating macroeconomic insights into practical client strategies. As markets continue to navigate elevated volatility and evolving economic conditions, the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to
- [Microsoft strikes its first Australian AI media deal to boost Copilot](https://ppam.com.au/microsoft-strikes-its-first-australian-ai-media-deal-to-boost-copilot/) - US tech titan Microsoft has inked the first deal of its kind in Australia, paying a media company to access news articles that will inform its Copilot artificial intelligence platform, in a multimillion-dollar boost for local journalism. Microsoft, which has a market capitalisation of $US2.85 trillion ($4.1 trillion), has agreed a one-year pilot deal with
- [Trump bought Apple, Nvidia and other tech giants before tariff reversal fueled rebound](https://ppam.com.au/trump-bought-apple-nvidia-and-other-tech-giants-before-tariff-reversal-fueled-rebound/) - While investors and businesses spent the early days of April 2025 fretting over the future of global trade and the economy, President Donald Trump was busy buying into the stock market sell-off he created. Trump made 327 stock purchases on April 8, 2025, according to a CNBC analysis of the president’s annual financial disclosure for 2025 that includes trades,
- [Dow jumps nearly 600 points to record close; Nasdaq slides as chip stocks suffer: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-jumps-nearly-600-points-to-record-close-nasdaq-slides-as-chip-stocks-suffer-live-updates/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average scaled to record highs on Thursday as investors reacted to a weaker-than-expected nonfarm payrolls report for June, while the Nasdaq Composite languished as semiconductors struggled once again. The 30-stock average added 594.83 points, or 1.14%, for a record close of 52,900.07. The index hit a new all-time intraday high of 52,903.85. The S&P 500 rose less than
- [Record wave of ETFs flood the ASX, with more to come](https://ppam.com.au/record-wave-of-etfs-flood-the-asx-with-more-to-come/) - A wave of new exchange-traded funds are flooding the sharemarket as firms jump on the soaring demand from retail investors looking for a cheap and tax-effective way to access some of Australia’s top fund managers. For the 2026 financial year, 72 new ETFs hit the boards, which was the highest on record and a jump
- [ASX ends up 1.4pc as gold stocks soar; PEXA sinks 21pc](https://ppam.com.au/asx-ends-up-1-4pc-as-gold-stocks-soar-pexa-sinks-21pc/) - Australian shares, led by gold miners, surged after weaker-than-expected US jobs data prompted investors to scale back bets on further Federal Reserve interest rate increases. The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 1.4 per cent, or 119.80 points, to 8844.3, with 10 of the 11 sectors advancing. The benchmark rose 0.9 per cent for the week. The
- [Resmed sells US software business on the cheap as AI threat looms](https://ppam.com.au/resmed-sells-us-software-business-on-the-cheap-as-ai-threat-looms/) - Resmed has sold an underperforming software business focused on residential aged care to a US private equity firm for $707 million, about a third less than what it paid for the asset eight years ago, in a move analysts say reflects the risk that artificial intelligence renders it obsolete. Resmed said the sale of MatrixCare,
- [What Australian CEOs plan to tell Narendra Modi](https://ppam.com.au/what-australian-ceos-plan-to-tell-narendra-modi/) - Billionaire data centre operator Robin Khuda has called on Australia’s $4.5 trillion superannuation sector to invest in India, arguing the country’s scale and momentum made it a compelling long-term opportunity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into Melbourne on Wednesday night for a two-day visit, which includes meeting 20 Australian chief executives with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
- [Telstra faces big fines after mobile outage, CEO cuts holiday short](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-faces-big-fines-after-mobile-outage-ceo-cuts-holiday-short/) - Telstra faces potential penalties in the tens of millions of dollars after a malfunctioning timer in two of its data centre servers triggered a nationwide outage across its mobile and data network, which meant hundreds of people were unable to connect to Triple Zero for hours. Australia’s largest telecommunications provider is anxiously waiting on the
- [Iran plans ‘massive’ retaliation; Telstra says issues nearly resolved](https://ppam.com.au/iran-plans-massive-retaliation-telstra-says-issues-nearly-resolved/) - That’s a wrap! Thanks for following The Australian Financial Review’s live coverage this Thursday, July 9. We’ll be back with more tomorrow. Here are some of the top stories we covered today: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reached arrangements with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enable uranium exports to India for peaceful purposes. Telstra said more than 630 people needed welfare
- [ASX’s biggest float of 2026 to kick-start ‘anaemic’ IPO market](https://ppam.com.au/asxs-biggest-float-of-2026-to-kick-start-anaemic-ipo-market/) - After Elon Musk’s blockbuster SpaceX float injected new life into Wall Street’s IPO market, Australia could be about to follow suit this week as it prepares to welcome the country’s biggest initial public offering of 2026. Construction and fitout business FDC Consolidated is due to hit the boards on Thursday with a market capitalisation of about $1
- [Has China obtained the world’s most important machine?](https://ppam.com.au/has-china-obtained-the-worlds-most-important-machine/) - The Dutch punch above their weight in technology transfers that shaped the modern world. In the 17th century, their financial and farming innovations spread to Britain, laying the ground for the Industrial Revolution and the British Empire’s expansion. Peter the Great, a Russian tsar, studied Dutch shipbuilding techniques to build the navy that established Russia
- [Investments banks are downgrading Telstra, and not because of the outage](https://ppam.com.au/investments-banks-are-downgrading-telstra-and-not-because-of-the-outage/) - Investment banks have downgraded Telstra and a suite of other ASX-listed telecommunications companies over fears that Elon Musk’s SpaceX will lure customers away from the highly concentrated industry. Analysts from Morgan Stanley and Jarden told clients on Wednesday that they had cut their projections for the telco giant’s share price over fears its earnings were
- [Trump is being schooled about leverage as Iran deal unravels](https://ppam.com.au/trump-is-being-schooled-about-leverage-as-iran-deal-unravels/) - Washington | US President Donald Trump last month described the leaders of Iran as pragmatic, rational and smart people, but now he says they are sick, vicious and violent. The change of heart about his foes in Tehran, Trump says, came because he “got to know them”, but foreign policy and defence scholars say no one
- [Taylor warns One Nation policies would send interest rates rocketing](https://ppam.com.au/taylor-warns-one-nation-policies-would-send-interest-rates-rocketing/) - Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says One Nation’s policies would smash the budget bottom line, force interest rates up 3 percentage points, almost triple the nation’s $1 trillion debt load and potentially spark a sovereign debt crisis. The remarks, made in a speech to The Sydney Institute on Thursday evening, represent Taylor’s most pointed attack on
- [ASX snaps four-day losing streak as copper miners surge](https://ppam.com.au/asx-snaps-four-day-losing-streak-as-copper-miners-surge/) - ASX snaps losing streak as copper miners rally Australian shares snapped a four-day losing streak as investors returned to miners and financials after the latest Middle East flare-up pushed oil prices up. The S&P/ASX 200 Index was up 43.5 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 8806, with only three of the 11 sectors higher. The
- [Santos slams Australian gas mandate, warns of supply crunch](https://ppam.com.au/santos-slams-australian-gas-mandate-warns-of-supply-crunch/) - Santos has slammed the federal government’s domestic gas reservation scheme, warning it will create energy shortages and drive up prices for electricity generators, manufacturers, and data centres. Australia’s second-largest oil and gas producer, which stands to be the hardest hit by the proposed scheme, emphasised it had long supported a forward-looking gas reservation system, with
- [More carve-outs from trust changes likely after $3b hit to charities](https://ppam.com.au/more-carve-outs-from-trust-changes-likely-after-3b-hit-to-charities/) - More carve-outs from Labor’s rushed plan to impose a 30 per cent tax rate on discretionary trusts are likely after Treasury flagged it was looking for ideas on how to deal with a potential $3 billion hit to the not-for-profit sector. Churches, sporting clubs and other groups will lose $510 million in the first year
- [ATO faces $50b tax shortfall as small business debts rise](https://ppam.com.au/ato-faces-50b-tax-shortfall-as-small-business-debts-rise/) - The Australian Taxation Office may never be able to recover half the $100 billion tax it is owed, says a new report by the Australian National Audit Office that warns small businesses are the biggest defaulters and rising debt risks some taxpayers obtaining an unfair financial advantage. The latest audit of the ATO’s management of
- [Scolyer state memorial, Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed](https://ppam.com.au/scolyer-state-memorial-iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-closed/) - What you need to know Share post Welcome to Need to Know this Monday, July 13. Here are some of the top headlines so far. A state memorial for Australian pathologist, cancer researcher and joint 2024 Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer will begin at 11am at the Sydney Opera House. You can watch the livestream
- [US launches more strikes after Iran attacks container ship](https://ppam.com.au/us-launches-more-strikes-after-iran-attacks-container-ship/) - Dubai | The United States attacked Iran on Sunday over an Iranian strike on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz that set the container ship ablaze and forced its crew to abandon it. Iran apparently responded with attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The strait has become the key sticking point
- [1.4m business owners will retire by 2036. 33pc have no succession plan](https://ppam.com.au/1-4m-business-owners-will-retire-by-2036-33pc-have-no-succession-plan/) - Taking over their father’s Melbourne construction business was a steep learning curve for brothers Mark and Lee Griffiths. While they had worked with their father Stephen at Griff & Lee Constructions for two decades, and it was always assumed they would take over, attempts to speak to their father about retirement fell on deaf ears, and conversations
- [Australia faces worst growth slump in decades](https://ppam.com.au/australia-faces-worst-growth-slump-in-decades/) - Australia is facing its longest stretch of weak economic growth since the early 1990s recession, but stubborn inflation pressures are still expected to force the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates again, according to a new report by Deloitte Access Economics. The firm slashed its outlook for the Australian economy in its latest set of
- [ASX’s first AI-powered stock picking ETF puts quant funds on notice](https://ppam.com.au/asxs-first-ai-powered-stock-picking-etf-puts-quant-funds-on-notice/) - Fund managers using advanced artificial intelligence models to gain an edge over the market have been put on notice following the launch of the first Australian exchange-traded fund that will also use the technology to select stocks. VanEck announced on Tuesday that one of its ASX-listed international ETFs, which trades under the ticker GOAT, will
- [Health stocks (and WiseTech) are on a tear in buy-the-dip frenzy](https://ppam.com.au/health-stocks-and-wisetech-are-on-a-tear-in-buy-the-dip-frenzy/) - A wave of buy-the-dip momentum has gripped Australia’s sharemarket, particularly among retail traders, giving a much-needed shot in the arm to some of the most heavily sold-down stocks on the domestic bourse. One of the standouts has been logistics software giant WiseTech Global, which has jumped a massive 30 per cent in just two weeks
- [RBA flags data centre boom as new threat in inflation fight](https://ppam.com.au/rba-flags-data-centre-boom-as-new-threat-in-inflation-fight/) - The Reserve Bank is concerned that the recent explosion in data centre investment could compete with Australian businesses for workers and resources, making its fight against inflation harder and contributing to interest rates staying higher for longer. Economists say the RBA is right to be worried, given the investments are occurring at a time when
- [‘They’re trying to shut us down’: Beach CEO slams gas reserve](https://ppam.com.au/theyre-trying-to-shut-us-down-beach-ceo-slams-gas-reserve/) - The Albanese government’s plan to reserve gas for domestic buyers on the east coast would cost about $2.9 billion a year in forgone revenue and infrastructure losses and could bring forward energy shortages in Australia’s south-east to next year. The stark predictions come from independent analysis carried out by financial and risk advisory firm Kroll
- [Lululemon’s latest struggle: slowing sales in key China market](https://ppam.com.au/lululemons-latest-struggle-slowing-sales-in-key-china-market/) - New York/Shanghai | Lululemon is struggling with slowing sales in China, a market that has helped the company offset quality problems, unpopular designs and an angry founder – until now. Wall Street analysts say the China slowdown may signal a deeper challenge ahead. Rival activewear brands are expanding rapidly on the mainland just as Lululemon may be approaching
- [Big investors commit billions to private credit despite turmoil](https://ppam.com.au/big-investors-commit-billions-to-private-credit-despite-turmoil/) - London/New York | Large investors are committing billions of dollars to private credit funds as big institutions seek to profit from an exodus of smaller retail clients. North American direct lending funds that seek to attract institutional clients raised at least $US16 billion ($23 billion) in the second quarter, according to Preqin data analysed by the FT.
- [How the great wealth transfer is rewriting the investment playbook](https://ppam.com.au/how-the-great-wealth-transfer-is-rewriting-the-investment-playbook/) - ust months before he died last year aged 98, Goh Cheng Liang, one of Singapore’s richest men, made six of his grandchildren billionaires. The Nippon Paint tycoon, who built his business empire from a single shop trading cheap goods bought from the British Army, was worth $US13 billion ($19 billion) at the time of his
- [Housing downturn to lift the ASX, but bank risks still loom](https://ppam.com.au/housing-downturn-to-lift-the-asx-but-bank-risks-still-loom/) - If history is any guide, Australia’s sharemarket is set to be an unexpected winner from the housing market slump, with falling property prices linked to higher returns on the local bourse over the past 40 years. Research house Morningstar analysed the five housing market downturns since 1980 where national dwelling prices fell by at least
- [IFM wins more than 60pc of Atlas as takeover bid nears finish line](https://ppam.com.au/ifm-wins-more-than-60pc-of-atlas-as-takeover-bid-nears-finish-line/) - IFM Investors has secured more than 60 per cent ownership of Atlas Arteria as its $7.4 billion hostile takeover bid draws to a close and the global investment group prepares to overhaul the toll road company’s management of the Chicago Skyway. IFM is expected to announce to the market on Monday that investors holding a
- [Australia tops inflation rankings among all major developed economies](https://ppam.com.au/australia-tops-inflation-rankings-among-all-major-developed-economies/) - Australia has become an international inflation outlier, with economists arguing the Reserve Bank has not done enough to bring price pressures under control or offset the inflationary effect of elevated state and federal government spending. The nation now has the equal-highest core inflation rate among major developed economies and the second-highest across all advanced economies,
- [US clean power prices to soar as AI demand clashes with subsidy cuts](https://ppam.com.au/us-clean-power-prices-to-soar-as-ai-demand-clashes-with-subsidy-cuts/) - New York | US companies are facing a sharp increase in green energy costs as the Trump administration halts renewable tax credits at the same time as cash-rich data centres are snapping up the available supply. According to a survey of solar and wind developers across the US by LevelTen Energy, a clean energy marketplace, the
- [No rate cuts until 2027 as a fourth rise looms, say economists](https://ppam.com.au/no-rate-cuts-until-2027-as-a-fourth-rise-looms-say-economists/) - Economists have all but ruled out an interest rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia before well into next year, while the chance of another rate increase remains a line-ball call as the central bank waits to see what happens with inflation. A very slim majority of the 32 economists polled for The Australian Financial Review’s latest
- [ASX to fall; Genesis launches $5.6b Vault bid, tops Regis offer](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-genesis-launches-5-6b-vault-bid-tops-regis-offer/) - Australian shares started the week lower as losses in financials and consumer staples sectors offset broad gains in energy and technology. The S&P/ASX 200 Index was down 20.20 points, or by 0.2 per cent, to 8824.20 at 10.09am AEST, with five of the 11 sectors lower. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-fall-as-traders-prepare-for-look-inside-warsh-s-fed-20260705-p60crg
- [Fed Chief Kevin Warsh declines to hint at July rate decision, but says inflation ‘too high’](https://ppam.com.au/fed-chief-kevin-warsh-declines-to-hint-at-july-rate-decision-but-says-inflation-too-high/) - Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, in comments Wednesday at the ECB Forum on Central Banking, declined to give any signal as to what the central bank may do at its meeting later this month, but did note that inflation was too elevated. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/01/kevin-warsh-ecb-forum-live-updates.html
- [‘Sell us cheap steel’: Santos CEO fires back at cut-price gas demand](https://ppam.com.au/sell-us-cheap-steel-santos-ceo-fires-back-at-cut-price-gas-demand/) - Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher has torn into demands from manufacturers that they be supplied with cut-price gas, taking to new heights the tense discord between producers and energy users over the federal government’s gas reservation scheme. Gallagher said management and boards of gas producers would be breaching their fiduciary duties and would be crucified
- [The fund manager rally has left us scratching our heads](https://ppam.com.au/the-fund-manager-rally-has-left-us-scratching-our-heads/) - A new financial year and a bright new dawn for markets. For some of the most beaten up stocks, all they needed was the calendar to roll over for the selling to cease and the buying to start. But who was doing the buying and why now? The most overlooked corner of the ASX has
- [ASX caps ‘toughest year’ for stock pickers with no end in sight](https://ppam.com.au/asx-caps-toughest-year-for-stock-pickers-with-no-end-in-sight/) - Stock pickers have endured one of the most challenging 12-month periods on the ASX in living memory. Those that backed the mining sector were handsomely rewarded, but those that bet on technology or healthcare were brutally wrong-footed by former blue chips. The S&P/ASX 200 Index eked out a 2.8 per cent gain for the 2026
- [Stock futures are little changed after weak start to July trading; jobs report ahead](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-after-weak-start-to-july-trading-jobs-report-ahead/) - Stock futures traded near the flatline on Wednesday night after Wall Street began a new month of trading on a somewhat sour note, with traders awaiting the latest batch of U.S. employment data. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures lost 56 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures slipped about 0.1%, while Nasdaq-100 futures advanced less than 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/01/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Jim Cramer says the AI trade has shifted — and these stocks are leading now](https://ppam.com.au/jim-cramer-says-the-ai-trade-has-shifted-and-these-stocks-are-leading-now/) - CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Wall Street is rewarding the companies supplying the artificial intelligence boom rather than the technology giants funding it. While Cramer continues to own several Magnificent Seven stocks, he believes AI suppliers such as Micron, Intel, Marvell, AMD and Sandisk are currently in the strongest position to benefit from the industry’s massive
- [Super funds dumping nearly $100b in a crisis would slash balances 25pc](https://ppam.com.au/super-funds-dumping-nearly-100b-in-a-crisis-would-slash-balances-25pc/) - The financial regulator has warned that the nation’s biggest superannuation funds could dump almost $100 billion of shares and bonds in a worst-case scenario of acute economic stress to meet demand for account withdrawals and switching requests, which could cut average member balances by one-quarter. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, in a review of the
- [Retail investors risk turning market correction into recession: BIS](https://ppam.com.au/retail-investors-risk-turning-market-correction-into-recession-bis/) - The surging numbers of retail investors in the sharemarket has heightened the risk of a much bigger economic fallout from a correction that threatens financial stability, central bankers have warned. The Bank of International Settlements – often regarded as the central bank for central banks – has also warned of the risks of highly leveraged
- [These 10 stocks prove the ASX is just an index points game](https://ppam.com.au/these-10-stocks-prove-the-asx-is-just-an-index-points-game/) - You can explain the S&P/ASX 200’s performance for the financial year with just 10 stocks – the five biggest winners and the five biggest losers. If you add the index points from five winners and deduct the five losers, you get pretty close to the entire benchmark’s 236.43-point gain for the financial year. The other
- [Dow futures dip after blue-chip index posts strongest first-half performance since 2021: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-futures-dip-after-blue-chip-index-posts-strongest-first-half-performance-since-2021-live-updates/) - Dow futures slipped on Tuesday night after the 30-stock index posted its best first half in five years. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 89 points, or 0.2%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures were trading around the flatline. During the day’s regular session, all three major averages rose to close out a strong first half
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Comcast, Charter Communications, Rocket Lab, Alphabet, Verizon & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-comcast-charter-communications-rocket-lab-alphabet-verizon-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Chipmakers — Semiconductors were volatile Monday as investors rotated money between the sector and the rest of the market. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) was last up 2.5% after falling as much as 3.1%. Shares of Nvidia traded 0.6%, recovering from a 1.4% slide. Micron shares pared earlier
- [The stocks tipped to rebound when the new financial year kicks off](https://ppam.com.au/the-stocks-tipped-to-rebound-when-the-new-financial-year-kicks-off/) - Energy stocks and a rare earths mining company backed by Gina Rinehart are expected to rebound when the new financial year begins on Wednesday, after facing heavy selling in June from peace talks in the Middle East that sent commodity prices tumbling. Tax-loss selling, which is typically a major undercurrent of the ASX in the
- [Nvidia-backed Firmus targets $30b revenue ahead of IPO in fourth quarter](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-backed-firmus-targets-30b-revenue-ahead-of-ipo-in-fourth-quarter/) - Firmus plans to have up to $30 billion of committed annual revenue when it launches its initial public offering later this year, as existing investors gain more confidence after its expansion into Indonesia. Firmus and its advisers are seeking to have its public offering in front of investors late in the September quarter, with a
- [ASX to rise, techs rebound](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-techs-rebound/) - Australian shares are set to edge higher at Tuesday’s open, tracking positive sentiment from Wall Street, where tech stocks rebounded in the final stretch of what’s set to be the best quarter for equities in six years. S&P/ASX 200 futures were up 3 points or 0.03 per cent to 8825. The S&P 500 rallied 1.2
- [Oil prices near pre-war levels — but persistent supply risks could spark a rebound, analysts warn](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-near-pre-war-levels-but-persistent-supply-risks-could-spark-a-rebound-analysts-warn/) - Strait of Hormuz shipping is unlikely to rebound quickly to pre-war levels, as companies grapple with unclear ceasefire terms, higher insurance costs and mine risks. Iran is set to continue to exert its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz energy chokepoint to push for greater control over vessel traffic, strategists say. Oil prices have eased
- [A ‘perfect storm’ points to a much smaller U.S. auto market by 2040](https://ppam.com.au/a-perfect-storm-points-to-a-much-smaller-u-s-auto-market-by-2040/) - Some auto forecasters predict the industry will be smaller and more competitive in the coming years. Bain and Company cites slowing population growth, changing consumer behavior and high prices as some of the reasons they’re expecting automakers to sell fewer cars. Analysts said auto sales could fall by more than 2 million units by 2040.
- [Here’s where Australian investors are looking to trim tech exposure](https://ppam.com.au/heres-where-australian-investors-are-looking-to-trim-tech-exposure/) - London | Bubble-like valuations in artificial intelligence and other technology stocks have sent investors looking to spread risk into securitised credit and other fixed-income alternatives, according to one of Canada’s biggest asset managers, as it plots an expansion in Australia. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/here-s-where-australian-investors-are-looking-to-trim-tech-exposure-20260610-p605dk
- [Wall Street slips as semiconductor stocks sink anew](https://ppam.com.au/wall-street-slips-as-semiconductor-stocks-sink-anew/) - Losses among industrials and information technology stocks paced the S&P 500 modestly lower to end New York’s trading week, even as healthcare led six of the benchmark’s 11 industry sectors higher. The S&P 500 slipped 0.05 per cent to 7354.0. The Dow Industrials also slipped 0.09 per cent. The Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.2 per
- [ASX to rise as EOFY reset outweighs Middle East fears](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-as-eofy-reset-outweighs-middle-east-fears/) - Traders are hoping that the start of a new financial year this week will spur gains across the Australian sharemarket, even as reigniting tensions in the Middle East and volatility among Wall Street’s big technology players are threatening to send fresh jitters through the exchange. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-rise-as-market-counts-on-eofy-to-overpower-middle-east-fears-20260628-p60api
- [Stock futures rise along with oil prices as traders weigh U.S. attacks on Iran over the weekend: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-rise-along-with-oil-prices-as-traders-weigh-u-s-attacks-on-iran-over-the-weekend-live-updates/) - Stock futures were slightly higher on Sunday, as tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalated once again following renewed attacks in the Middle East — which threaten to prolong the war. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 124 points, or 0.2%. S&P 500 futures ticked higher by 0.4%, while Nasdaq-100 futures advanced 0.5%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/28/stock-futures-today-live-updates.html
- [Core inflation rate hit 3.4% in May, highest since October 2023, Fed’s preferred gauge shows](https://ppam.com.au/core-inflation-rate-hit-3-4-in-may-highest-since-october-2023-feds-preferred-gauge-shows/) - The core personal consumption expenditures price index showed a 3.4% annual rate after rising 0.3% for the month. The core annual reading was the highest since October 2023. The Fed’s primary inflation gauge also showed an annual rate of 4.1%, the highest since April 2023. Even with the elevated inflation levels, consumer spending for the
- [CBUS says this market shift has echoes of dotcom bust and 1929](https://ppam.com.au/cbus-says-this-market-shift-has-echoes-of-dotcom-bust-and-1929/) - It’s telling that CBUS chief investment officer Leigh Gavin still isn’t quite sure where the fund’s returns for the 2026 financial year will end up. The final number for the growth option will probably be between 8 per cent and 9 per cent. But with a few trading days still to go before June 30,
- [Gas pipeline stoush heats up as Squadron slams APA project](https://ppam.com.au/gas-pipeline-stoush-heats-up-as-squadron-slams-apa-project/) - A bid by APA Group to rush through approval for a $244 million gas pipeline expansion in Victoria’s south-west has drawn opposition from an LNG import terminal backed by billionaire businessman Andrew Forrest, which says the development will not be a good use of consumers’ money. Forrest’s private company Squadron Energy and pipeline company Jemena,
- [Prediction markets hit this fundie’s returns. Here’s what he’s buying now](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-hit-this-fundies-returns-heres-what-hes-buying-now/) - Nathan Hughes is a portfolio manager in the Australian equities team at Perpetual. The team oversees around $12 billion in assets. The fund’s biggest single allocation is to cash and fixed interest – is that a reflection of bottom-up asset allocation or the macroeconomic environment? Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/prediction-markets-hit-this-fundie-s-returns-here-s-what-he-s-buying-now-20260618-p60852
- [Nasdaq falls for a fourth day as a drop in Apple overshadows Micron’s booming earnings: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/nasdaq-falls-for-a-fourth-day-as-a-drop-in-apple-overshadows-microns-booming-earnings-live-updates/) - The Nasdaq Composite fell on Thursday, even after a blowout Micron Technology earnings report, as traders moved out of key technology stocks. The market was divided as non-artificial intelligence names boosted the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a new all-time intraday high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 0.46% to end at 25,358.60, marking its first four-day string of losses since February. The S&P
- [Why energy could be a great place to invest even with oil prices retreating — 5 stocks to buy](https://ppam.com.au/why-energy-could-be-a-great-place-to-invest-even-with-oil-prices-retreating-5-stocks-to-buy/) - What matters most is not how many ships are leaving the Strait of Hormuz, but how many are going in. The latest “behind-the-meter” deal as Chevron makes 20-year natural gas partnership with Microsoft to power data center in Texas. Star JPMorgan oil analyst sees Brent crude exiting 2026 at just $64 a barrel. Five cheap
- [Atlas Arteria chairman hits dead end as IFM takes control](https://ppam.com.au/atlas-arteria-chairman-hits-dead-end-as-ifm-takes-control/) - Atlas Arteria chairman Debbie Goodin is under pressure to resign after hostile suitor IFM Investors finally secured control of the toll road group four years after it first raided the ASX-listed company’s shares. The $268 billion superannuation asset manager has obtained a 51 per cent direct stake in Atlas Arteria – and another 1.33 per
- [Bond traders won’t rule out fourth rate rise even as inflation cools](https://ppam.com.au/bond-traders-wont-rule-out-fourth-rate-rise-even-as-inflation-cools/) - Bond traders are not ruling out the chance of one more interest rate rise from the Reserve Bank of Australia this year, after the central bank’s preferred inflation measure ticked higher last month. Markets held firm to their rate bets even as headline inflation slowed to 4 per cent in May. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/bond-traders-won-t-rule-out-fourth-rate-rise-even-as-inflation-cools-20260624-p609j3
- [The seven ASX stocks leaving short sellers $1b out of pocket](https://ppam.com.au/the-seven-asx-stocks-leaving-short-sellers-1b-out-of-pocket/) - Against the odds, seven of the Australian sharemarket’s most-shorted stocks – from a pharmaceutical group and an intellectual property company to a data centre operator – have left hedge funds staring down $1 billion in potential losses. It comes as hedge funds have been ratcheting up their bets against Australian companies, with aggregate short positions jumping
- [S&P 500 futures rise as Micron surges after earnings; Wall Street awaits key inflation reading: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-rise-as-micron-surges-after-earnings-wall-street-awaits-key-inflation-reading-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures rose on Wednesday night, boosted by a blowout Micron Technology earnings report, as traders looked ahead to the release of a key inflation reading from May. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 0.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 29 points, or less than 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/24/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: FedEx, Cerebras, KB Home & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-after-hours-fedex-cerebras-kb-home-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines after the bell: FedEx — Shares shed about 6% after revenue in the fourth quarter narrowly beat Wall Street’s expectations. The company posted revenue of $25.01 billion, slightly higher than the $24.04 billion analysts polled by LSEG had sought. KB Home — The homebuilder added 2% after posting a fiscal second-quarter
- [Orora shutters Middle East bottle plant and warns of big profit hit](https://ppam.com.au/orora-shutters-middle-east-bottle-plant-and-warns-of-big-profit-hit-2/) - Orora says earnings from its major Saverglass division will be up to a third lower than expected, and stop production at a facility in the UAE as it adjusts to the fallout from six weeks of war in the Middle East. The Ras al Khaimah plant represents about 15 per cent of Saverglass’ capacity, with
- [Lingering RBA rate rise bets keeps Aussie dollar afloat](https://ppam.com.au/lingering-rba-rate-rise-bets-keeps-aussie-dollar-afloat/) - The Australian dollar is holding firm above US70¢ despite an unexpected hawkish pivot from the US Federal Reserve, thanks to a lingering bet in the bond market that the Reserve Bank of Australia will have to raise interest rates one more time this year. The local currency came under some pressure last week after the
- [ASX to rise, semis hit by selling wave](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-semis-hit-by-selling-wave/) - Australian shares are set to open higher amid volatile trading on Wall Street as selling pressure hit the tech sector, in particular semiconductor stocks. The Australian dollar fell sharply, in line with a surging greenback as expectations for higher US interest rates heighten. ASX 200 futures were up 35 points or 0.4 per cent to
- [Oil prices edge lower as market monitors tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-edge-lower-as-market-monitors-tanker-traffic-through-strait-of-hormuz/) - Oil prices ticked lower Tuesday as investors monitored tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, fell 82 cents to close at $77.08 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures declined 65 cents to settle at $73.21. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/23/oil-prices-rise-as-investors-mull-middle-east-developments-.html
- [S&P 500 futures are little changed after tech sell-off drags down broad market index: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-are-little-changed-after-tech-sell-off-drags-down-broad-market-index-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures traded near the flatline on Monday night after a sell-off in tech giants dragged down the broad market index. S&P 500 futures lost 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.2%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 12 points, or less than 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/22/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Metcash boss sees confidence returning, but Victoria remains a drag](https://ppam.com.au/metcash-boss-sees-confidence-returning-but-victoria-remains-a-drag/) - Shoppers have reopened their wallets this month, says Metcash boss Doug Jones, as signs of an imminent resolution to the Middle East conflict boost confidence, but he bemoaned unfavourable tax settings in Victoria as a persistent drag on spending. The nation’s top supplier to independent supermarkets, including Foodland and IGA, reported group sales rose 1.9
- [‘Uninspiring’: Investors lose patience with ASX as money goes offshore](https://ppam.com.au/uninspiring-investors-lose-patience-with-asx-as-money-goes-offshore/) - Australia’s sharemarket is expected to remain in the doldrums for the rest of this year as strategists warn that high interest rates, steep equity prices, and recent government tax changes will leave the bourse trailing far behind its global rivals. While investors from New York to Tokyo have been riding the booming artificial intelligence trade,
- [ASX to rise](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise/) - Australian shares are set to edge higher at the open, tracking modest gains in the Dow Industrial Average amid optimism over the US-Iran peace talks which helped push oil lower. However, SpaceX tumbled as did Alphabet and tech losses dragged on both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-rise-spacex-tumbles-more-than-10pc-20260623-p6095b
- [Nvidia’s stock struggles as Kalshi traders bet chip prices are coming down](https://ppam.com.au/nvidias-stock-struggles-as-kalshi-traders-bet-chip-prices-are-coming-down/) - Nvidia shares have underperformed the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) in 2026, with the chipmaker up 12% compared with the fund’s nearly 85% surge. The chip stock has largely sat on the sidelines as Wall Street turns its focus on memory chips and infrastructure in the next steps of the artificial intelligence buildout. Kalshi traders also
- [AI buildout gives tech investors new reasons to watch bond market](https://ppam.com.au/ai-buildout-gives-tech-investors-new-reasons-to-watch-bond-market/) - Tech giants are depleting reserves and leveraging debt in their ambitious data center buildouts. That’s making the group much more exposed to the cost of borrowing and giving tech investors reason to pay attention to the Fed. “Tech investors are learning what it’s like to be an investor in old-economy industrial businesses,” said Peter Boockvar,
- [Australians turn to crypto exchanges to bypass prediction market ban](https://ppam.com.au/australians-turn-to-crypto-exchanges-to-bypass-prediction-market-ban/) - Australians keen to play the prediction markets that have drawn millions of users across the United States are increasingly turning to cryptocurrency exchanges as a way to bypass a local ban on the popular online trading platforms. Prediction markets allow users to place bets on events, ranging from as trivial as the total number of
- [Big super has distorted the ASX, brave investors are starting to speak out](https://ppam.com.au/big-super-has-distorted-the-asx-brave-investors-are-starting-to-speak-out/) - Australia’s old-headed fund managers can be paper tigers – they love giving it to management teams and directors behind closed doors, yet can disappear or just leave it to someone else when it comes to important structural changes in equity capital markets. So, it is good to see a few be brave enough to weigh
- [ASX on edge as Iran’s Strait of Hormuz closure halts oil price drop](https://ppam.com.au/asx-on-edge-as-irans-strait-of-hormuz-closure-halts-oil-price-drop/) - Iran’s claim that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz has cast doubt over a peace deal with the United States and threatens to trigger a fresh jump in crude prices, stoking fears that inflationary pressures could force the Reserve Bank of Australia to lift interest rates for the fourth time this year. The US
- [S&P 500 closes higher, Nasdaq climbs nearly 2% as chips fuel comeback from Fed sell-off: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-higher-nasdaq-climbs-nearly-2-as-chips-fuel-comeback-from-fed-sell-off-live-updates-2/) - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, staging a comeback after the Federal Reserve indicated the possibility of a rate hike this year — a move that sparked a sell-off in equities during the previous session. The S&P 500 added 1.08%, closing at 7,500.58, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.91% to 26,517.93. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 72.15 points, or 0.14%, to end
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Sandisk, Intel, Enphase Energy, Accenture, Exxon Mobil & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-sandisk-intel-enphase-energy-accenture-exxon-mobil-more/) - Enphase Energy — Shares of the global energy technology company jumped 10%. Enphase announced that it began production shipments of its IQ9S microinverters. Barclays also upgraded the stock to equal weight from underweight. Artificial intelligence plays — Investors flocked to stocks tied to AI and data center infrastructure. Corning advanced 7%, while Credo Technology added 5%. Photonics company Coherent jumped 4%, and Applied Digital added more
- [RBA and APRA put banks on ‘war footing’ over geopolitical risk](https://ppam.com.au/rba-and-apra-put-banks-on-war-footing-over-geopolitical-risk/) - The nation’s top financial regulators have warned banks they are operating in a new era of heightened geopolitical risk, urging them to bolster their defences against foreign interference and cyberattacks. The prudential regulator has written to all banks, insurers and super funds outlining its higher expectations around their preparedness to defend the financial system from
- [What’s eating Australia’s largest listed sharemarket funds?](https://ppam.com.au/whats-eating-australias-largest-listed-sharemarket-funds/) - Everyone seems to hate the Australian sharemarket at the moment. Last week, broker Morgan Stanley told its wealthy clients to cut their holdings in favour of global shares, where there is greater exposure to the boom in artificial intelligence spending. This week, research consultant Zenith added its voice to those telling clients to sell Australia.
- [Aussie dollar under pressure after Fed pivots on rates](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-under-pressure-after-fed-pivots-on-rates/) - The Australian dollar has come under pressure after the US Federal Reserve unexpectedly signalled that interest rates could start to climb in the world’s largest economy this year if inflation continued to creep higher. The local currency dropped as much as 1 per cent overnight to below US70¢ after the Fed’s hawkish pivot sent the US dollar
- [S&P 500 closes higher, Nasdaq climbs nearly 2% as chips fuel comeback from Fed sell-off: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-higher-nasdaq-climbs-nearly-2-as-chips-fuel-comeback-from-fed-sell-off-live-updates/) - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, staging a comeback after the Federal Reserve indicated the possibility of a rate hike this year — a move that sparked a sell-off in equities during the previous session. The S&P 500 added 1.08%, closing at 7,500.58, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.91% to 26,517.93. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 72.15 points, or 0.14%, to end
- [BMW stock slumps to 5-year low as Iran war and China slowdown spark profit warning](https://ppam.com.au/bmw-stock-slumps-to-5-year-low-as-iran-war-and-china-slowdown-spark-profit-warning/) - BMW shares fell to their lowest levels in over 5 years on Wednesday after slashing 2026 guidance. The group’s pre-tax profit is now expected to fall “significantly.” European carmakers continue to lose ground to their Chinese rivals. Shares in BMW tumbled to their lowest level in over 5 years on Wednesday after the German carmaker cut its
- [CommSec’s SpaceX bid shows what retail investors really want](https://ppam.com.au/commsecs-spacex-bid-shows-what-retail-investors-really-want/) - Elon Musk’s space company just shattered records to become the biggest float in the broker’s 30-year history as Australian investors went on the hunt for sizzle. CommSec had four times as many customers bid for SpaceX shares than for any float in its 30-year history. Our biggest retail broker’s biggest float ever was a growth
- [Australian private credit sector’s D-Day is just two weeks away](https://ppam.com.au/australian-private-credit-sectors-d-day-is-just-two-weeks-away/) - After two years of studying the industry, ASIC has drawn a line in the sand for local players. Get your June 30 asset valuations right, or else. The corporate cop has heard enough talk from the private credit sector. It’s time for action, and D-Day is less than two weeks away. The Australian Securities and
- [ASX to open lower](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-lower-3/) - Australian shares are set to open lower as markets forecast the US to increase interest rates by October after the US Federal Reserve held rates steady in the first decision under Donald Trump’s chosen new chairman, Kevin Warsh. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-rise-fed-expected-to-hold-rates-20260618-p607te
- [Dow closes 500 points lower as Warsh’s first Fed meeting sets off surge in bond yields: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-500-points-lower-as-warshs-first-fed-meeting-sets-off-surge-in-bond-yields-live-updates/) - Stocks fell on Wednesday, while Treasury yields surged, as investors grew uncertain over the path of monetary policy after several Federal Reserve officials indicated there could be a rate hike this year to tamp down on inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 507.12 points, or 0.98%, after earlier hitting a fresh all-time intraday record — the
- [PACIFIC COMPASS – Riding the Recovery While Staying Selective [June 2026 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-riding-the-recovery-while-staying-selective-june-2026-review/) - MONTHLY ECONOMIC & INVESTMENT REVIEW: Executive Summary May 2026 was characterised by a broad improvement in global risk sentiment, with equity markets continuing to recover from the volatility experienced through March and early April. The recovery was led by global developed equities and emerging markets, supported by resilient earnings, improving confidence in the global growth
- [Global week ahead: Is ‘Sell in May’ just a myth?](https://ppam.com.au/global-week-ahead-is-sell-in-may-just-a-myth/) - May trading gets underway following a record-breaking April for certain stock markets. Deutsche Bank looks to bust the myth of the “sell in May” adage. Earnings season in Europe and Asia is still in full swing. Global central banks sound the alarm on inflation. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/03/global-week-ahead-sell-in-may-just-a-myth.html
- [Technical factors are adding fuel to SpaceX’s meme stock fire](https://ppam.com.au/technical-factors-are-adding-fuel-to-spacexs-meme-stock-fire/) - SpaceX has been fast-tracked to enter several major stock market indexes and that could eventually ground its stock performance in the broader fundamentals of the tech sector. But before SpaceX goes into those indexes in coming weeks, market forces – amplified by derivative securities based on the stock and maneuvers by big-money investors – could drive
- [Eight stock picks that fund managers expect to go on a tear](https://ppam.com.au/eight-stock-picks-that-fund-managers-expect-to-go-on-a-tear/) - Inside a packed Sydney hotel last week for the annual Morgan Stanley Summit, the mood was defiantly upbeat. Market pundits crowded into buzzing conference rooms, eager for insights from Treasurer Jim Chalmers to a humanoid robot named KOID. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/eight-stock-picks-that-fund-managers-expect-to-go-on-a-tear-20260611-p60615
- [Rate pause gives bonds traders confidence RBA is done](https://ppam.com.au/rate-pause-gives-bonds-traders-confidence-rba-is-done/) - Money markets are upping their bets that the next move on interest rates could be down. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to keep interest rates on hold this month has emboldened traders and market economists that the central bank’s next move will be a rate cut despite the governor’s warning that the fight against
- [Two charts, one crisis: Australia’s top-heavy sharemarket trap exposed](https://ppam.com.au/two-charts-one-crisis-australias-top-heavy-sharemarket-trap-exposed/) - Forget SpaceX, the biggest issue in Australian markets is the way the top-10 stocks are running away from the rest. Clear-headed fund manager Allan Gray has nailed Australia’s big equity market problem in just two charts. In the past decade, the ASX’s 10 biggest stocks have easily outperformed the 290 below them. In fact, they’ve
- [Dow climbs above 52,000 for first time as oil prices fall, but tech sell-off knocks down S&P 500](https://ppam.com.au/dow-climbs-above-52000-for-first-time-as-oil-prices-fall-but-tech-sell-off-knocks-down-sp-500/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to a record high on Tuesday as investors rotated out of chipmakers and into cyclical stocks amid declining oil prices. The 30-stock index advanced 328.64 points, or 0.64%, for a record close of 51,999.67. It scored a new all-time intraday high of 52,190.29 in the session. The S&P 500 fell 0.57% and ended
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS - Cyber Resilience, Smarter Governance & Expanding Investment Opportunities [June 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-cyber-resilience-smarter-governance-expanding-investment-opportunities-june-2026/) - “Cyber Resilience, Smarter Governance & Expanding Investment Opportunities” We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, focused on strengthening governance, enhancing client communications, leveraging technology, and exploring opportunities across private and alternative markets. Key Discussion Highlights 1. Business Growth & Strategic Development Continued growth in revenue and client activity,
- [Nvidia plans to raise at least $20 billion in first debt sale since start of AI boom](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-plans-to-raise-at-least-20-billion-in-first-debt-sale-since-start-of-ai-boom/) - Nvidia is set to issue investment-grade corporate bonds for the first time since 2021, according to an SEC filing on Monday. Nvidia is looking to raise at least $20 billion, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. An Nvidia spokesperson said that the company intends to use the proceeds from the offering for general
- [Telstra pinned as possible SpaceX loser after mega float](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-pinned-as-possible-spacex-loser-after-mega-float/) - Traders are betting that ASX-listed telco giant Telstra will face a disruptive threat from Elon Musk’s newly listed $US1.8 trillion ($2.6 trillion) giant SpaceX, which runs satellite internet operator Starlink. SpaceX listed on Friday in a blockbuster sharemarket float, and derives $US11.4 billion, or 61 per cent, of its revenue from Starlink’s connectivity services. But some investors
- [Stocks and bonds soar as Iran deal eases rate rise fears](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-and-bonds-soar-as-iran-deal-eases-rate-rise-fears/) - A tentative peace deal between the United States and Iran kicked off a rally in financial markets, sending stocks, bonds and bitcoin sharply higher on hopes that a slump in the oil price will ease inflationary pressures and lessen the need for higher interest rates. Markets cheered as US President Donald Trump said the key
- [Gina Rinehart snags $1.4b stake in SpaceX IPO](https://ppam.com.au/gina-rinehart-snags-1-4b-stake-in-spacex-ipo/) - Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, says her $1.4 billion bet on Elon Musk’s SpaceX reflects her confidence in the trillionaire founder and recognises the need for Western nations to lead the world in technology and innovation. The billionaire mining magnate snagged a more-than-$US1 billion ($1.4 billion) stake in the sought-after SpaceX IPO, which last week
- [Oil prices fall about 5% as Iran deal is set to open Hormuz Strait](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-fall-about-5-as-iran-deal-is-set-to-open-hormuz-strait/) - President Donald Trump said Sunday the Iran deal is “now complete.” The Strait of Hormuz will reopen without a toll system and the U.S. will end its naval blockade of Iran, the president said. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said earlier Sunday that the U.S. and Iran have declared an immediate and permanent termination of
- [Top Wall Street analysts are confident about the growth prospects of these 3 stocks](https://ppam.com.au/top-wall-street-analysts-are-confident-about-the-growth-prospects-of-these-3-stocks/) - Geopolitical uncertainty and macroeconomic pressures have continued to affect market sentiment in recent trading sessions. But continued volatility also presents an opportunity to find stocks trading at attractive prices and benefit from their long-term growth potential. Recommendations of top Wall Street analysts can help investors gain key insights and pick the right stocks. These experts
- [Kia’s Australian profits slide as Chinese brands grab market share](https://ppam.com.au/kias-australian-profits-slide-as-chinese-brands-grab-market-share/) - Profits at Korean car maker Kia’s Australian business fell by more than a third last year amid growing competition from Chinese-made vehicles and after a marketing campaign for its new Tasman ute failed to draw in buyers despite the backing of several high-profile sports stars. Kia took a big step out of its traditional market
- [Endeavour plots pay overhaul for Hrdlicka](https://ppam.com.au/endeavour-plots-pay-overhaul-for-hrdlicka/) - The board of pubs and bottle shops owner Endeavour is considering a shake-up in pay for chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka and her top executives, giving them a private-equity-style incentive package designed to align with the fortunes of shareholders who are weathering a depressed share price. Hrdlicka, who took over as chief executive in January, is set to
- [Forget the bad headlines, there’s money to be made in private funds](https://ppam.com.au/forget-the-bad-headlines-theres-money-to-be-made-in-private-funds/) - Something peculiar is unfolding in private markets. You can now buy a dollar’s worth of high-quality private equity businesses – portfolios compounding earnings at 8 per cent – backed by the world’s more sophisticated investors, for about 65¢. Listed private equity vehicles are currently trading at discounts to their net asset values of more than
- [From 10% chance of success to $2 trillion market cap: SpaceX’s historic IPO](https://ppam.com.au/from-10-chance-of-success-to-2-trillion-market-cap-spacexs-historic-ipo/) - SpaceX closed Friday with a market cap above $2 trillion, after Elon Musk said earlier in the day he originally gave the company less than a 10% chance to succeed. More than 500 million shares changed hands, and the debut left Alphabet with a stake in SpaceX worth close to $100 billion. “This was not
- [Oil tanker CEO sees Hormuz ship traffic quickly increasing if U.S. and Iran reach a deal](https://ppam.com.au/oil-tanker-ceo-sees-hormuz-ship-traffic-quickly-increasing-if-u-s-and-iran-reach-a-deal/) - Frontline CEO Lars Barstad said oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz should quickly increase if the U.S. and Iran reach a credible deal. The Gulf states are desperate to increase their oil exports and tankers are positioned close to the region to cash in on a reopening of Hormuz, the CEO said. But
- [High roller’s son sparked regulatory concerns after bank investment](https://ppam.com.au/high-rollers-son-sparked-regulatory-concerns-after-bank-investment/) - Australia’s prudential regulator raised serious governance concerns over a start-up bank’s handling of a multimillion-dollar investment by the son of a casino high-roller. A confidential report by Grant Thornton, obtained by The Australian Financial Review, reveals the regulator was “not satisfied” with in1bank’s due diligence of its major investor, Felix Lee. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/high-roller-s-son-sparked-regulatory-concerns-after-bank-investment-20260520-p5zz43
- [ETF giants rush to pounce on SpaceX hype with new funds](https://ppam.com.au/etf-giants-rush-to-pounce-on-spacex-hype-with-new-funds/) - The race is on for exchange-traded fund providers to launch products before Elon Musk’s blockbuster SpaceX IPO at the end of the week as they look to capitalise on the enormous demand from retail investors desperate for some exposure. Global X is the latest to launch a space ETF on the Australian sharemarket, just a
- [ASX to rise, Wall St surges on peace deal](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-wall-st-surges-on-peace-deal/) - Australian shares are set to open sharply higher, tracking a surge in New York after US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that “all parties” involved in the Middle East conflict approved a deal. Trump later told reporters at the White House that he expected a signing ceremony to take place in
- [Stock futures tick higher as Wall Street gears up for SpaceX’s historic IPO: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-tick-higher-as-wall-street-gears-up-for-spacexs-historic-ipo-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures were little changed on Thursday night as traders looked ahead to SpaceX’s historic initial public offering on Friday. S&P 500 futures added 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 70 points, or 0.1%. Stocks rallied on Thursday, following a rebound in chip stocks and President Donald Trump signaling that the
- [Volatility surge has trader eyeing one ‘stable’ stock](https://ppam.com.au/volatility-surge-has-trader-eyeing-one-stable-stock/) - With semis whipping around on every AI headline and index volatility spiking, I’m looking for a counterpoint, a stable, cash-generating business where I can sell volatility instead of buying drama. Cigna (CI) fits the bill — and I’d rather write my way into the stock than chase it. Cigna isn’t a growth story. Revenue growth is
- [Northern Star admits to takeover bids amid activist investor pressure](https://ppam.com.au/northern-star-admits-to-takeover-bids-amid-activist-investor-pressure/) - Under fire gold miner Northern Star Resources has admitted that its dismal share price performance sparked multiple takeover or merger approaches over the past year, and agreed with an activist investor’s criticism that it needs to lift its game. However, the ASX’s biggest Australian-headquartered gold miner rejected the suggestion by hedge fund Elliott Investment Management
- [Investors split on Sigma’s $14b Boots bid amid fears of UK expansion](https://ppam.com.au/investors-split-on-sigmas-14b-boots-bid-amid-fears-of-uk-expansion/) - Sigma Healthcare, owner of Australia’s biggest pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse, is ambitiously pursuing a transformational $14 billion deal to acquire the United Kingdom’s health and beauty retailer Boots, in a move that has divided investors and analysts. Sigma shares fell 5.5 per cent to $2.76 after the talks between it and Boots were revealed, even
- [ASX to fall, Wall St hit by rising war rhetoric](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-wall-st-hit-by-rising-war-rhetoric/) - Australian shares are set to open down. Wall Street fell, and oil rose after President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran “very hard”. ASX 200 futures were down 65 points or 0.8 per cent to 8601. The S&P 500 was 1.6 per cent lower in New York; industrials paced eight of the 11 industry sectors
- [Stock futures slip after U.S. launches additional strikes against Iran, oil rises: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-slip-after-u-s-launches-additional-strikes-against-iran-oil-rises-live-updates/) - Stock futures fell on Wednesday night after the U.S. launched additional attacks against Iran, sending oil prices higher. S&P 500 futures lost 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.3%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 62 points, or 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/10/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Stocks are recovering from a sell-off — but even bullish investors warn of a bumpy ride ahead](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-are-recovering-from-a-sell-off-but-even-bullish-investors-warn-of-a-bumpy-ride-ahead/) - Stocks showed tentative signs of recovery this week, after a sharp tech sell-off took hold of global equity markets on Friday. Despite the recovery, investors are warning that markets remain vulnerable to volatility. The Federal Reserve’s policy path, geopolitics and the AI cycle remain in focus. Global stock markets edged higher on Tuesday, marking a
- [This hedge fund is already preparing to sell its SpaceX stake](https://ppam.com.au/this-hedge-fund-is-already-preparing-to-sell-its-spacex-stake/) - As retail investors scramble for a slice of Elon Musk’s blockbuster SpaceX float at the end of the week, one Australian hedge fund manager is planning to cash in as soon as he can. Jack Hu, who runs the $45 million Phoenix Growth Fund, built up a 1.7 per cent position in the rocket, artificial intelligence,
- [Australian targets are sitting ducks for activist short sellers](https://ppam.com.au/australian-targets-are-sitting-ducks-for-activist-short-sellers/) - Andrew Left is not a household name in Australia. But anyone who has sat in a listed company boardroom during an activist short-seller attack knows the model. As founder of Citron Research, Left built his reputation as one of Wall Street’s most influential short sellers, using research reports, media commentary and social media to move
- [ASX to rise, Wall St ends mostly lower](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-wall-st-ends-mostly-lower/) - Australian shares are set to open modestly higher on Wednesday, following a renewed tech sell-off in New York and the threat of renewed fighting between the US and Iran after Tehran shot down an Apache helicopter near the coast of Oman. President Donald Trump said the US “must” out of necessity respond. The attack helicopter’s
- [S&P 500 and Nasdaq close lower as chip stock rebound fails](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-and-nasdaq-close-lower-as-chip-stock-rebound-fails/) - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dropped on Tuesday, even as oil prices pulled back, as a surge in chip stocks lost momentum after a one-day rally. The broad market index fell 0.26% to close at 7,386.65, while the Nasdaq Composite moved down 0.97% to 25,678.82. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 86.10 points, or 0.17%, to end at 50,872.11. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Amazon unveils latest warehouse robot as tech giants continue AI layoffs](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-unveils-latest-warehouse-robot-as-tech-giants-continue-ai-layoffs/) - Amazon is rolling out its next-generation warehouse robots that respond to natural language. The tech giant has laid off thousands of corporate workers amid plans to invest in AI. “Our experience of robots is that it’s actually driven up employment rather than the reverse,” Amazon executive John Boumphrey told CNBC. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/05/amazon-robot-proteus-warehouse-ai-layoffs.html
- [The dangerous delusion behind the oil market’s ‘creepy calm’](https://ppam.com.au/the-dangerous-delusion-behind-the-oil-markets-creepy-calm/) - Oil futures have settled below $US100 a barrel and Australia’s pumps are full. So, is the worst of the Gulf oil crisis over? Ampol boss Matt Halliday, responsible for one of Australia’s two big oil and fuel importers and refiners, says we shouldn’t get complacent: supply chains have held up well, but strategic reserves are
- [ASX to drop as Fed fears send Asia’s tech giants tumbling](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-drop-as-fed-fears-send-asias-tech-giants-tumbling/) - The Australian sharemarket is set to tumble on Tuesday after investors dumped technology stocks from Wall Street to South Korea over fears the US Federal Reserve will have to raise interest rates by the end of the year. ASX futures point to a drop of more than 100 points when the market reopens from a
- [$A hits two-month low as global shockwaves trigger rate rise warning](https://ppam.com.au/a-hits-two-month-low-as-global-shockwaves-trigger-rate-rise-warning/) - Investors dumped the Australian dollar and bonds on Monday after renewed fighting in the Middle East and a strong US jobs report raised the spectre of higher interest rates in both America and Australia in the months ahead. The Aussie, often traded as a proxy for global risk, fell 1.2 per cent to its lowest
- [Stock futures slip after chip rebound lifts S&P 500 to winning day: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-slip-after-chip-rebound-lifts-sp-500-to-winning-day-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures were slightly lower Monday night after a rally in chip stocks boosted the index. Futures tied to the broad market index were off 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures lost 0.4%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell by 84 points, or 0.2%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Dow surges nearly 900 points for record close as investors rotate away from tech names: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-surges-nearly-900-points-for-record-close-as-investors-rotate-away-from-tech-names-live-updates/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied to a fresh all-time high on Thursday, while the Nasdaq Composite underperformed as investors appeared to rotate out of chip names in favor of non-tech stocks. The 30-stock Dow jumped 874.86 points, or 1.73%, for a record close of 51,561.93. The Nasdaq lost 0.09% and ended at 26,830.96, while
- [ASX to rise, Goldman buys the dip](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-goldman-buys-the-dip/) - Australian shares are set to close the week on a positive note. In New York, the Dow leapt 1.7 per cent to reset its record high, propelled higher by UnitedHealth, Goldman Sachs and Merck. ASX 200 futures were up 48 points or 0.6 per cent to 8739. The S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent, with
- [Aussie bond market lures AI borrowers from Canberra to Dallas](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-bond-market-lures-ai-borrowers-from-canberra-to-dallas/) - The Australian bond market has established itself as a key source of funding for global companies. Now it’s enthusiastically feeding the AI funding frenzy. We were told it was coming and now it has truly arrived. The data centre debt funding rush has swamped the Australian corporate bond market as borrowers from Canberra to Dallas
- [New budget twist denies investors choice on CGT offsets](https://ppam.com.au/new-budget-twist-denies-investors-choice-on-cgt-offsets/) - Tax specialists have uncovered a sleeper clause in the federal budget legislation that will inflate tax bills by stripping investors of the right to cherry-pick how they offset capital losses against gains. The provision forces investors to exhaust their oldest capital gains first before offsetting newer ones, upending tax orthodoxy in what has been described
- [S&P 500 futures tick lower as Wall Street awaits May jobs report: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-tick-lower-as-wall-street-awaits-may-jobs-report-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures ticked lower on Thursday night as traders looked ahead to the release of May’s jobs report. Futures tied to the broad market index slipped about 0.3%, while Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.5%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were little changed. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/04/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Thursday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market in the next trading session](https://ppam.com.au/thursdays-big-stock-stories-whats-likely-to-move-the-market-in-the-next-trading-session/) - Record streaks at risk The S&P 500 fell Wednesday, putting its nine-week winning streak in jeopardy. Still, if the index finishes higher for the week, it would notch a 10th consecutive weekly gain — its longest winning streak since 1985. Apple’s streak is also on the line. The stock entered the week on pace for its 11th straight
- [Do Labor’s tax changes make shares ‘uninvestable’? We ran the numbers](https://ppam.com.au/do-labors-tax-changes-make-shares-uninvestable-we-ran-the-numbers/) - Geoff Francis, a former senior tax official at Treasury, caused a stir when he honed in on a highly technical but important point about the Albanese government’s changes to the capital gains tax discount, warning they could mean share investors pay tax rates of up to 60 per cent. Australia hasn’t had an income tax rate that
- [‘Peak pessimism’ for retail stocks lures investors back in](https://ppam.com.au/peak-pessimism-for-retail-stocks-lures-investors-back-in/) - Investors are starting to buy back into beaten-up retail stocks, tempted by significantly cheaper valuations after soaring oil prices and higher interest rates triggered a brutal rout in the first half of the year. Consumer discretionary stocks on the S&P/ASX 200 Index were one of just four of the sharemarket’s 11 sectors to record a
- [ASX to open lower](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-lower-2/) - Australian shares are set to open lower, in line with losses on Wall Street amid renewed hostilities in the Middle East after Iran attacked Kuwait with drone strikes. The attacks killed one person and injured about 60 others at Kuwait’s main airport, which was temporarily closed. Kuwait’s Defence Ministry said it destroyed over a dozen
- [Dow closes 600 points lower as rising Treasury yields and oil prices pressure stocks: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-600-points-lower-as-rising-treasury-yields-and-oil-prices-pressure-stocks-live-updates/) - Stocks fell on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 snapping a nine-day win streak, as oil prices and Treasury yields moved higher amid worries the U.S.-Iran conflict could keep lifting inflation. The 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back 620.72 points, or 1.21%, to end at 50,687.07. The broad market S&P 500 fell 0.74% to end at 7,553.68, while the
- [PACIFIC COMPASS – Navigating the Inflation Crosscurrents [February 2026 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-navigating-the-inflation-crosscurrents-january-2026-review/) - Monthly Economic & Investment Review – January 2026 Executive SummaryJanuary marked a pivotal shift in the Australian policy cycle. Following stronger-than-expected inflation data in December, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised the official cash rate, signalling renewed determination to prevent inflation expectations from becoming entrenched. Headline CPI printed at 3.8% year-on-year (monthly series), while
- [PACIFIC NAVIGATOR – Private Credit as an Investment Asset Class [May 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-navigator-private-credit-as-an-investment-asset-class-may-2026/) - Private Credit as an Investment Asset Class 1. Introduction Private credit, often referred to as private debt or direct lending, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of the alternative investment universe. It involves non-bank institutions—such as asset managers, pension funds, and insurance companies—providing loans directly to borrowers through privately negotiated agreements rather than
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Coherent, Victoria’s Secret, Marvell, HPE, Generac, Intuit & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-coherent-victorias-secret-marvell-hpe-generac-intuit-more/) - Here are the companies making headlines in midday trading. Generac — The power generator stock climbed almost 6% after the company said it would supply backup power for a “leading hyperscale data center operator.” CEO Aaron Jagdfeld said, “This agreement positions Generac at the heart of supporting essential services and the digital economy.” USA Rare Earth —
- [This ‘no-brainer’ sector still gives investors headaches](https://ppam.com.au/this-no-brainer-sector-still-gives-investors-headaches/) - The $2.5 billion sale of Estia Health has put the spotlight on aged care valuations as government funding changes underpin growth. But investors remain wary. On paper, investing in Australian aged care should be a no-brainer. The demographics are inexorable. Australia has an acute shortage of aged beds at a time when the number of
- [Welcome to the Bedout Basin, Australia’s newest oil frontier](https://ppam.com.au/welcome-to-the-bedout-basin-australias-newest-oil-frontier/) - Santos has locked in a huge drilling rig to explore a region it has described as the next North West Shelf, in a campaign that will include London-listed oil giant BP and could dramatically improve the country’s energy security. The exploration campaign set for 2027 in the Bedout Basin off Western Australia will also involve
- [ASX to rise, GDP data awaited](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-gdp-data-awaited/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, tracking modest gains on Wall Street. Oil was steady. Bitcoin tumbled below $US68,000. ASX 200 futures were up 38 points or 0.4 per cent to 8789. In New York, the S&P 500 recovered from an opening swoon to be 0.1 per cent higher at the close, paced by
- [Iran has mined ‘large segments’ of Hormuz Strait, Secretary of State Rubio says](https://ppam.com.au/iran-has-mined-large-segments-of-hormuz-strait-secretary-of-state-rubio-says/) - Secretary of State Macro Rubio indicated to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that mines in the Strait of Hormuz pose a significant threat. It is unclear how many mines Iran has laid in the sea lane, but ship traffic is unlikely to return to normal until a demining operation has taken place, analysts say. President
- [The stock market just did something eerily similar to the dot-com bubble top in 2000](https://ppam.com.au/the-stock-market-just-did-something-eerily-similar-to-the-dot-com-bubble-top-in-2000/) - Just 20 of the S&P 500 members joined the index at a record close on Friday. Bank of America points out just 20 stocks hit new highs at the very top of the internet bubble in March 2000. The firm’s investment strategist, Michael Hartnett, gave investors a post-bubble road map with a market top nearing.
- [IFM Investors lashes ‘unreasonable’ Atlas Arteria valuation](https://ppam.com.au/ifm-investors-lashes-unreasonable-atlas-arteria-valuation/) - IFM Investors says an independent expert’s valuation of takeover target Atlas Arteria is unbalanced and based on unreasonable assumptions, after it assessed the toll road group to be worth over $1 billion more than IFM’s $6.9 billion offer. Atlas Arteria, which operates motorways in the United States and Germany and has a 30 per cent
- [Oil markets trading ‘tweet-by-tweet’ but supply cliff looms](https://ppam.com.au/oil-markets-trading-tweet-by-tweet-but-supply-cliff-looms/) - In some corners of the oil market, traders are betting that a peace deal between the US and Iran is imminent which has sent future contracts that expire in June plunging by almost 20 per cent last month. But for those looking out to the end of the year, oil trading suggests the disruption to
- [ASX dogs to get some reprieve this year after CGT shake-up](https://ppam.com.au/asx-dogs-to-get-some-reprieve-this-year-after-cgt-shake-up/) - The first week of June typically kicks off a wave of selling in some of the Australian sharemarket’s biggest laggards as investors try to lower their tax bill before the end of the financial year. This so-called tax-loss selling is a tried and tested strategy where investors dump underperforming stocks to crystallise losses that can
- [Stock futures tick lower after all three major indexes close at new records](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-tick-lower-after-all-three-major-indexes-close-at-new-records/) - U.S. stock futures ticked lower on Monday night after all three major indexes rose to fresh records during the regular session. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures shed 0.3%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 109 points, or 0.2%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/01/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Josh Brown, counting on a new momentum strategy, thinks investors want more than index funds](https://ppam.com.au/josh-brown-counting-on-a-new-momentum-strategy-thinks-investors-want-more-than-index-funds/) - Josh Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management launched Porterhouse, a separately managed account named after the premium cut of steak and built to hold what he considers the market’s best opportunities. The launch comes after years of advisers steering clients toward low-cost index funds popularized by Vanguard founder Jack Bogle. Josh Brown, one of Wall Street’s
- [There are good reasons to be a market bull, starting with the dollar](https://ppam.com.au/there-are-good-reasons-to-be-a-market-bull-starting-with-the-dollar/) - Markets keep climbing a wall of worry, even as more pundits reach for the bubble narrative, but that misses the bigger picture. Liquidity is already improving and the next phase of easing may not need to come from the US Federal Reserve at all. The more important policy signals are coming from the US Treasury,
- [Australian retail investors finally break into Wall St’s exclusive deals](https://ppam.com.au/australian-retail-investors-finally-break-into-wall-sts-exclusive-deals/) - For the best part of a decade, Australian investors have watched from the sidelines as overseas traders generated a windfall from the blockbuster initial public offerings of Wall Street’s most hyped companies from Facebook – now known as Meta – to ridesharing giant Uber. Participating in an overseas IPO has been an arduous and arguably
- [ASX eyes lower open as investors await RBA speeches](https://ppam.com.au/asx-eyes-lower-open-as-investors-await-rba-speeches/) - The Australian sharemarket is set to dip on Monday as investors prepare for fresh evidence that the economy is cooling down and a flurry of central bank speeches for clues on where interest rates are heading next. Futures for the S&P/ASX 200 Index suggest a softer start to the week, pointing down 13 points, or
- [Stocks close at record highs with tech leading the way again. Nasdaq gains 8% in May](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-close-at-record-highs-with-tech-leading-the-way-again-nasdaq-gains-8-in-may/) - U.S. equities closed at record highs on Friday, while crude prices slipped, helping the major averages score a winning month, boosted by technology. The Nasdaq Composite settled up 0.2% at 26,972.62, while the S&P 500 climbed 0.22% to 7,580.06. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 363.49 points, or 0.72%, at 51,032.46. All three indexes hit fresh all-time intraday highs earlier
- [Costco says it saw ‘record-breaking’ gas volumes amid rising prices](https://ppam.com.au/costco-says-it-saw-record-breaking-gas-volumes-amid-rising-prices/) - Costco saw “recording-breaking” gas volumes at the end of its fiscal third quarter as fuel prices rise amid the war in the Middle East. The comments came as Costco reported an increase in net sales for the period, beating Wall Street revenue expectations. CEO Ron Vachris said the company has begun submitting tariff refund claims
- [Santos sharpens focus on Alaska, PNG amid domestic policy doubts](https://ppam.com.au/santos-sharpens-focus-on-alaska-png-amid-domestic-policy-doubts/) - Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher will direct more investment to the company’s oil and gas operations in Alaska and Papua New Guinea, while dialling back its allocation to some domestic projects, amid ongoing uncertainty over the government’s gas reservation policy. In a strategy update on Tuesday, Gallagher said the turmoil in global energy markets stoked
- [Aussie dollar is set to buy a few extra croissants this year](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-is-set-to-buy-a-few-extra-croissants-this-year/) - For those daydreaming about a European summer, there is some welcome news for the hip pocket: the euro is tipped to drop against the Australian dollar this year. Currency forecasters expect Europe’s economy to take a much heavier hit from the Iran war energy shock than Australia, which means the Aussie dollar should stretch just
- [Here’s how ASX investors are positioning for a peace deal](https://ppam.com.au/heres-how-asx-investors-are-positioning-for-a-peace-deal/) - Gold miners and industrial businesses like Brambles and Cleanaway Waste are tipped to be the biggest winners on the Australian sharemarket when oil eventually starts flowing through the Strait of Hormuz again. Equities from Asia to Wall Street rallied earlier this week as oil dropped below $US100 a barrel on the prospect of an imminent
- [The wealthiest investors are pulling money out of the U.S. in the ‘de-dollarization’ trade](https://ppam.com.au/the-wealthiest-investors-are-pulling-money-out-of-the-u-s-in-the-de-dollarization-trade/) - Fully 60% of family offices plan to make strategic changes to their investment allocation in the next year – about twice the level of the past five years, according to the UBS Global Family Office Report. North America is the only region where family offices plan to reduce their allocation in the next 12 months.
- [Market correction risk looks elevated as stocks hit record highs, top Europe central banker warns](https://ppam.com.au/market-correction-risk-looks-elevated-as-stocks-hit-record-highs-top-europe-central-banker-warns/) - The risk of a market correction is “quite elevated” due a variety of facts, the ECB’s vice-president told CNBC. The war in Iran, market valuations and private credit vulnerabilities all pose risks. Central bankers in Europe have repeatedly emphasized in recent months that they are committed to minimizing the impact of the U.S.′ war against
- [Project Constellation: AGL Energy ready for round two on renewables](https://ppam.com.au/project-constellation-agl-energy-ready-for-round-two-on-renewables/) - AGL Energy is looking to sell majority stakes in wind farms totalling 1.7 gigawatts to private capital, Street Talk can reveal. The country’s second-largest gentailer has put up for sale the 831-megawatt Pottinger wind farm and battery in South Australia, the 600-megawatt Hexham wind farm in Victoria, and the 304-megawatt Barn Hill wind farm, according to a sell-side presentation,
- [Bond markets dial back rate rise bets after inflation cools](https://ppam.com.au/bond-markets-dial-back-rate-rise-bets-after-inflation-cools/) - The market’s expectations of another interest rate rise from the Reserve Bank of Australia this year are starting to fade after a surprisingly cool inflation report reduced the pressure on the central bank to keep tightening monetary policy. Bond traders trimmed their rate rise bets after the monthly consumer price index for April cooled at
- [ASX to open lower](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-lower/) - Australian shares are set to open lower as Wall Street quietened after a day of records. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were muted amid choppy trading but still inched higher to new records after oil prices fell, easing pressure on households and businesses worldwide. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-open-higher-oil-suffers-second-big-fall-20260528-p601e8
- [Stock futures are little changed as Wall Street awaits key April inflation reading: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-as-wall-street-awaits-key-april-inflation-reading-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures were little changed on Wednesday night as traders looked ahead to the release of a key inflation reading. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures both rose less than 0.1%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 49 points, or 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/27/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [‘The market has spoken’: Ferrari shares fall after carmaker unveils first fully electric vehicle](https://ppam.com.au/the-market-has-spoken-ferrari-shares-fall-after-carmaker-unveils-first-fully-electric-vehicle/) - Shares of Ferrari fell sharply on Tuesday after the company unveiled its new Luce model, its first fully electric car. CEO Benedetto Vigna told CNBC that the new car, which translates as “light,” would be welcomed by both existing customers and new clientele. The launch comes even as other luxury car manufacturers have scaled back
- [‘Time to shine’ for active managers as brokers turn bearish on banks](https://ppam.com.au/time-to-shine-for-active-managers-as-brokers-turn-bearish-on-banks/) - For the past few years, fund managers have been punished for owning fewer bank shares than their passive rivals who simply buy the index. But those bearish bets may be about to pay off, as strategists warn of a major unwind for the sector from a looming economic downturn. Morgan Stanley told clients on Tuesday
- [ASX share price plunge contains a dirty tech secret](https://ppam.com.au/asx-share-price-plunge-contains-a-dirty-tech-secret/) - It’s no great surprise that shares in ASX Limited plunged as much as 13 per cent on Tuesday, after the market operator told investors that the cost of its great technology turnaround had ballooned. The update on expenses growth in the 2027 financial year – now expected to be between 18 per cent and 21 per cent
- [Superhero hires ex-Ley chief, signalling fight for young investors](https://ppam.com.au/superhero-hires-ex-ley-chief-signalling-fight-for-young-investors/) - Superhero, the online share-trading platform popular among younger investors, has hired former Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s chief of staff to head its corporate and government affairs efforts amid a continuing backlash against Labor’s budget changes that critics say will hurt wealth creation. Dean Shachar worked for then-prime minister Scott Morrison before taking the top job
- [Investors ‘afraid’ to take position on oil, data chiefs say as tankers face potential Hormuz fees](https://ppam.com.au/investors-afraid-to-take-position-on-oil-data-chiefs-say-as-tankers-face-potential-hormuz-fees/) - Brent crude prices ticked higher Tuesday amid speculation that Tehran could insist on charging vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a ceasefire deal with the U.S. Iran’s foreign ministry said navigation of the vital shipping channel “will have costs.” Global oil markets were volatile on Tuesday, reflecting investor jitters over possible
- [Americans are ‘entrenched’ in financial stress amid debt and price pressures ](https://ppam.com.au/americans-are-entrenched-in-financial-stress-amid-debt-and-price-pressures/) - Economic conditions like gas prices well above $4 a gallon, according to AAA estimates, and annual inflation nearing 4%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are pushing Americans’ financial stress levels higher. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling expects Americans’ economic stress levels to tick back up in the second quarter of the year after a slight fall in the
- [Santos venture caught in crosshairs of Labor’s gas reserve](https://ppam.com.au/santos-venture-caught-in-crosshairs-of-labors-gas-reserve/) - Gas exporters may be forced to invest in domestic gas suppliers or buy the uncontracted volumes of their peers to meet their obligations under the Albanese government’s proposed gas reservation scheme. A draft framework for the reservation system released by the government on Monday confirms it will require producers to sell the equivalent of 20
- [Electricity prices to fall despite global energy turmoil](https://ppam.com.au/electricity-prices-to-fall-despite-global-energy-turmoil/) - Household power prices are set to fall across most of Australia from July after record output from wind farms and batteries pushed down the cost of generating electricity, despite pressures on global energy prices due to the Iran war. Benchmark power prices will fall by up to 10.7 per cent across NSW, Queensland and South
- [Here’s what ASX investors should be buying in a property downturn](https://ppam.com.au/heres-what-asx-investors-should-be-buying-in-a-property-downturn/) - UBS is telling clients to get out of ASX-listed banks and real estate stocks and ramp up exposure to mining and healthcare as Australia’s once-booming property market heads for a slowdown. The broker says the economy faces a “three-pronged attack” from higher oil prices, rising interest rates, and now government plans announced in the budget to
- [Oil prices fall 7% after Trump says Iran talks are ‘proceeding nicely’](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-fall-7-after-trump-says-iran-talks-are-proceeding-nicely/) - President Donald Trump said Monday talks with Iran were “proceeding nicely,” although he warned that the U.S. could go back on the offensive if their discussions fall apart. Earlier, Trump said that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, among other issues, was largely negotiated and would be announced soon. Crude oil prices fell
- [Americans are feeling inflation’s pinch into the holiday weekend. Here’s where prices are rising the most](https://ppam.com.au/americans-are-feeling-inflations-pinch-into-the-holiday-weekend-heres-where-prices-are-rising-the-most/) - Americans will pay more for everything from gas to meat for the barbecue heading into Memorial Day weekend. Prices for travel, recreation and food saw sharp increases, giving consumers headaches as the summer unofficially kicks off. U.S. consumers will shell out more for everything from fuel to hot dogs and hamburgers heading into Memorial Day weekend as the Iran
- [Michelle Jablko and the problem of what comes next for Transurban](https://ppam.com.au/michelle-jablko-and-the-problem-of-what-comes-next-for-transurban-2/) - For Michelle Jablko, the former investment banker and ANZ finance boss who took the reins of toll road giant Transurban two years ago, the next 12 months could be make or break as investors demand a clearer picture of the company’s next phase of growth. Since succeeding Scott Charlton, who during his 11 years running Transurban lifted
- [Bond market mulls dire scenario as budget threatens property sector](https://ppam.com.au/bond-market-mulls-dire-scenario-as-budget-threatens-property-sector/) - The Australian bond market is being caught in a tug-of-war. On one side, global inflation anxiety is dragging interest rates upward. On the other, a softening local economy and a budget-induced property downturn is pulling them right back down. If the economy stalls while inflation remains high, Australia risks sliding into stagflation. It is a
- [ASX on edge as investors weigh Iran peace deal with bond sell-off](https://ppam.com.au/asx-on-edge-as-investors-weigh-iran-peace-deal-with-bond-sell-off/) - Investors are cautiously preparing to buy the dip in Australian shares on Monday after US President Donald Trump said Washington was close to reaching an agreement with Iran to end the war and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. The ASX futures market, which has been closed since Saturday morning, indicated the S&P/ASX 200 would
- [Dow adds nearly 300 points Friday for new record close; S&P 500 notches eighth winning week: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-adds-nearly-300-points-friday-for-new-record-close-sp-500-notches-eighth-winning-week-live-updates/) - Stocks rose Friday as Treasury yields eased, resulting in a winning week for Wall Street despite heightened volatility. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 294.04 points, or 0.58%, to end at 50,579.70. The 30-stock index hit an intraday all-time high and posted another record close. The S&P 500rose 0.37% to settle at 7,473.47. The Nasdaq
- [Prediction markets are fueling a high-stakes brawl between states and federal regulators](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-are-fueling-a-high-stakes-brawl-between-states-and-federal-regulators/) - Sixteen states are involved in legal proceedings with prediction market platforms, while one state has moved to ban them. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued six states to defend what it sees as its exclusive jurisdiction to regulate event contracts, which it classifies as swaps. While the commission says it will target any state
- [‘Massive disincentive’: High earners face 20-year tax high](https://ppam.com.au/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 than $280,000. The top income tax threshold now sits at the lowest inflation-adjusted level in 20 years. It would be
- [‘I’m selling’: Investors face 50pc more tax than Treasury says](https://ppam.com.au/im-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 compensating investors for underperforming stocks. A former senior Treasury tax official and a hedge fund manager both separately warned that
- [ASX to rise, oil swings on hopes for peace deal](https://ppam.com.au/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 futures were up 35 points or 0.4 per cent to 8681. The S&P 500 closed 0.2 per cent higher, paced
- [Stock futures rise slightly as S&P 500 looks toward another winning week: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-rise-slightly-as-sp-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 100 futures inched 0.2% higher. The S&P 500 is up 0.5% week to date despite increased market swings, putting the benchmark on track
- [Fed officials see rate hike ahead if inflation stays elevated, minutes show](https://ppam.com.au/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 the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee again voted to keep its benchmark rate targeted between 3.5%-3.75%, the meeting featured four “no” votes,
- [$A shot down in May, after riding high in April](https://ppam.com.au/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 below US72¢. The Australian dollar sat at US71.06¢ on Wednesday, having retreated further from last week’s risk-off rally in which it fell
- [Investors seek higher premium on Australian bonds as debt fears mount](https://ppam.com.au/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 and rising inflation. Australia’s 10-year bond yield hit 5.15 per cent this week – a peak last seen in 2011
- [Investors in Barrenjoey-backed Applied EV hit the eject button](https://ppam.com.au/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. Street Talk understands a handful of Applied EV shareholders have mandated Morgans Financial to pull together a secondary share sale.
- [S&P 500 futures tick lower as traders analyze Nvidia earnings: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-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 Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 52 points, or 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [These are the bond yield and oil levels that could break the bull market](https://ppam.com.au/these-are-the-bond-yield-and-oil-levels-that-could-break-the-bull-market/) - 22V Research sees levels for bond yields and oil prices that could throw cold water on the bull market — and the firm is warning that they’re not too far off. Dennis DeBusschere, chief market strategist at the firm, said investors he surveyed expect the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rising to 5% or oil prices topping $115
- [‘You don’t want to catch a falling knife’: Sydney property market cracks](https://ppam.com.au/you-dont-want-to-catch-a-falling-knife-sydney-property-market-cracks/) - Top property leaders say Sydney’s housing market has become the first casualty of Labor’s tax changes as investors and even first home buyers step away from an accelerating downturn. While changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount have been heavily anticipated, the confirmation in last Tuesday’s budget hit the market harder and faster than
- [Yields hit 15-year high as bond investors damn ‘radical budget’](https://ppam.com.au/yields-hit-15-year-high-as-bond-investors-damn-radical-budget/) - Bell Potter market veteran Richard Coppleson says fixed-income investors have panned Labor’s budget, triggering a sharp sell-off in 10-year bonds over fears that prolonged, heavy government spending will stoke inflation and saddle future generations with debt. The author of the Coppo Report, a much-read daily markets newsletter, said Monday afternoon’s spike in 10-year government bond yields
- [Mining stocks will rocket ASX to record within a year: Morgan Stanley](https://ppam.com.au/mining-stocks-will-rocket-asx-to-record-within-a-year-morgan-stanley/) - Morgan Stanley is tipping the Australian sharemarket will return to record levels by the middle of next year as surging commodity prices boost earnings across the materials and energy sectors, offsetting a slowdown in consumer-facing stocks. Australian equity strategist Chris Nicol predicted the S&P/ASX 200 would hit 9250 points over the next 12 months, implying
- [S&P 500 posts third straight losing session as rising yields drag down stocks: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-posts-third-straight-losing-session-as-rising-yields-drag-down-stocks-live-updates/) - Stocks closed lower Tuesday, with the S&P 500 posting its third straight losing session, as a jump in bond yields threatened the bull market. Traders also monitored the oil market following President Donald Trump’s cancellation of planned attacks on Iran. The S&P 500 closed down 0.67%, ending at 7,353.61, while the Nasdaq Composite finished 0.84% lower at 25,870.71. The Dow
- [The Fed will have to raise interest rates in July to appease ‘bond vigilantes,’ Yardeni says](https://ppam.com.au/the-fed-will-have-to-raise-interest-rates-in-july-to-appease-bond-vigilantes-yardeni-says/) - Not only does the market not believe the Fed will cut, but odds also are rising for a hike, with current pricing implying a 42% chance of an increase by the end of the year. “The Fed must catch up to the bond market to avoid losing control of borrowing costs and to appease the
- [This dividend-loving fundie has beaten the market for 20 years](https://ppam.com.au/this-dividend-loving-fundie-has-beaten-the-market-for-20-years/) - Leanne Pan says that when people find out she is a fund manager, they invariably ask her what the hot new stock is that could net them enough cash to pay for their dream holiday, their children’s school fees, a renovation, or even a house deposit. A portfolio manager at the Melbourne-based Prime Value Asset
- [Global bond markets drama spells out home truths for investors](https://ppam.com.au/global-bond-markets-drama-spells-out-home-truths-for-investors/) - Investors are rushing to the exits in long-term bond markets as a ramp-up in inflation expectations triggers a broader rethink about the reliability of the asset within portfolios. Over the weekend, the 30-year yield on US government bonds broke through 5 per cent to reach its highest closing level since July 2007, while yields on
- [Investors Flock to Commodity ETFs as Iran War Fuels Energy Inflation](https://ppam.com.au/investors-flock-to-commodity-etfs-as-iran-war-fuels-energy-inflation/) - Investors are pouring money into commodities funds as the US-Iran war stokes inflation, according to Invesco Ltd. Traders last week added almost $86 million to the Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund — a cross-commodities exchange-traded fund with a heavy weighting toward energy — in the largest daily inflow since 2022, according to data compiled
- [S&P 500 futures are flat after index posts second losing day amid tech selloff](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-are-flat-after-index-posts-second-losing-day-amid-tech-selloff/) - S&P 500 futures were little changed Monday night after a selloff in technology stocks weighed the broad market index down for the second session in a row. Futures tied to the S&P 500 were up 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.2%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advanced 23 points, or 0.05%. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted their second straight day
- [The bond market is flashing a warning over Iran. A veteran of energy geopolitics explains the risk](https://ppam.com.au/the-bond-market-is-flashing-a-warning-over-iran-a-veteran-of-energy-geopolitics-explains-the-risk/) - Concerns about energy-driven inflation has prompted a sell-off in some long-term government bonds. That situation has some market experts worried. Former Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh is among those warning of significant risks ahead to markets and the U.S. economy. He is now chief global economist at asset manager PGIM. Singh laid out his
- [Rising global bond yields halt S&P 500’s extended run](https://ppam.com.au/rising-global-bond-yields-halt-sp-500s-extended-run/) - US stocks followed their European and Asian peers lower as concerns about accelerating inflation surged, triggering a spike in global bond yields amid the likelihood of higher-for-longer oil prices and higher interest rates. There also was some profit taking during the final Wall Street session of the week. Oil spiked back above $US109 a barrel,
- [Beware pricing market risk when benchmarks aren’t behaving](https://ppam.com.au/beware-pricing-market-risk-when-benchmarks-arent-behaving/) - With so much geopolitical uncertainty, it’s been easy to feel defensive, which brings to mind an old saying that “bears sound smart, but bulls make the money”. The challenge is knowing when being defensive is warranted, and when it risks missing the bigger picture. Pricing risk in investment markets is never easy, but this year
- [ASX to dip as Nvidia earnings, rate fears loom over markets](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-dip-as-nvidia-earnings-rate-fears-loom-over-markets/) - Investors will eagerly be awaiting earnings results from chip giant Nvidia, the world’s largest company by market capitalisation, for signs of how much momentum the artificial intelligence rally has left in it after a bout of jitters. Closer to home, traders will also be focusing on a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Sarah Hunter
- [Stock futures are little changed after record-setting week for Wall Street; traders await Nvidia and retail earnings: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-after-record-setting-week-for-wall-street-traders-await-nvidia-and-retail-earnings-live-updates/) - Stock futures were little changed Sunday night following a record-setting week, with traders awaiting quarterly results from Nvidia and major U.S. retailers. Investors also kept an eye on the U.S.-Iran war. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 100 points, or 0.2%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures hovered around the flatline. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/17/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [UFC’s Dana White urges Trump to reverse gambling tax law. His letter moved the prediction market](https://ppam.com.au/ufcs-dana-white-urges-trump-to-reverse-gambling-tax-law-his-letter-moved-the-prediction-market/) - Dana White in a letter to President Donald Trump urged him to reverse a cap on gambling loss deductions approved as part of his signature tax law. Odds that the cap is reversed this year jumped on prediction markets platform Kalshi. UFC President Dana White penned a letter to President Donald Trump pleading for him
- [Bond investors go hunting for ways around endless inflation curse](https://ppam.com.au/bond-investors-go-hunting-for-ways-around-endless-inflation-curse/) - Investors are piling into inflation-linked bonds as they make bets that the shutdown of critical oil shipping channels will ultimately overwhelm the ability of central banks to tame runaway cost increases. More than $US2.6 billion ($3.6 billion) was funnelled into inflation-linked exchange-traded funds in March, the highest inflow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022,
- [Here’s why oil prices haven’t exploded (and it’s not the ceasefire)](https://ppam.com.au/heres-why-oil-prices-havent-exploded-and-its-not-the-ceasefire/) - Almost three quarters of the oil that has become gridlocked amid an ongoing stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz is being replaced by flow from the United States and China, helping cushion a devastating supply crunch and leading to fears that the full brunt of the shock could still be on its way. Investors and
- [ASX to rally after Nvidia powers Wall St to record highs](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rally-after-nvidia-powers-wall-st-to-record-highs/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher. All three US benchmarks gained, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite setting new intraday records. The Dow Jones topped 50,000, ending the session 0.3 per cent shy of its record. ASX 200 futures were up 49 points or 0.6 per cent to 8720. The S&P 500 was
- [Cramer urges investors to be more selective in the AI frenzy](https://ppam.com.au/cramer-urges-investors-to-be-more-selective-in-the-ai-frenzy/) - CNBC’s Jim Cramer said investors should be more selective in the semiconductor rally. He said he remains bullish on the AI buildout, but recommends owning established winners like Nvidia and Cisco rather than chasing overheated stocks. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said that investors need to become far more selective in the semiconductor rally. Cerebras, a chipmaker focused on
- [PACIFIC COMPASS – Stabilisation Amid Volatility: Markets Search for Direction [May 2026 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-stabilisation-amid-volatility-markets-search-for-direction-may-2026-review/) - MONTHLY ECONOMIC & INVESTMENT REVIEW: Executive Summary April 2026 marked a partial stabilisation in global financial markets following the sharp correction experienced in March. Risk sentiment improved modestly over the month as investors responded positively to signs that inflation pressures were continuing to moderate across several major economies. Equity markets recovered a portion of the
- [Bulls bet big on these three China-related stock trades during Trump visit](https://ppam.com.au/bulls-bet-big-on-these-three-china-related-stock-trades-during-trump-visit/) - President Donald Trump and a cavalcade of American business leaders landed in Beijing Wednesday for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and market bulls are following. Chinese stocks, ETFs and related themes posted some of the biggest rallies in months. Shares of e-commerce giant Alibaba surged 8% despite reporting earnings in the morning that missed most expectations,
- [The day CBA shares crashed back down to earth](https://ppam.com.au/the-day-cba-shares-crashed-back-down-to-earth/) - The ASX’s gorillas have big companies so priced to perfection that they’re sitting ducks for results day capitulations. That’s what happened to Commonwealth Bank of Australia on Wednesday. Big superannuation funds have so much passive money flooding into the top 10 stocks that it has distorted price discovery, liquidity and valuations for the entire S&P/ASX
- [Small caps, tech stocks at risk as budget hits retail investors](https://ppam.com.au/small-caps-tech-stocks-at-risk-as-budget-hits-retail-investors/) - Labor’s capital gains tax changes are expected to hit Australian small caps and growth stocks that are popular among retail investors and could even deter technology companies and start-ups from listing on the local sharemarket in favour of overseas stock exchanges, analysts warn. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/small-caps-tech-stocks-at-risk-as-budget-hits-retail-investors-20260513-p5zwb1
- [Budget turns Australia into ‘belle of the ball’ for global bond buyers](https://ppam.com.au/budget-turns-australia-into-belle-of-the-ball-for-global-bond-buyers/) - The federal government’s borrowing manager says it plans to sell $125 billion of Treasury bonds in the next financial year, making them a favourite for foreign investors seeking higher returns and greater security. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/budget-turns-australia-into-belle-of-the-ball-for-global-bond-buyers-20260513-p5zw8f
- [Wholesale inflation jumps 6% in April on annual basis, biggest increase since 2022](https://ppam.com.au/wholesale-inflation-jumps-6-in-april-on-annual-basis-biggest-increase-since-2022/) - The producer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 1.4% for the month, much higher than the 0.5% Dow Jones consensus forecast and the upwardly revised 0.7% March increase. Energy was at the root of the unexpectedly high gain in producer prices, though there was evidence that the price pain is extending beyond the gas pump.
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS - Growth, Governance & Building Resilient Portfolios [May 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-growth-governance-building-resilient-portfolios-may-2026/) - "Growth, Governance & Building Resilient Portfolios" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, focused on business growth, portfolio implementation, investment governance, and diversified portfolio construction in an increasingly complex market environment. Key Discussion Highlights 1️⃣ Portfolio Strategy & High Conviction Framework• Review and refinement of High Conviction List
- [Markets raise chances for a Fed rate hike following hot inflation report](https://ppam.com.au/markets-raise-chances-for-a-fed-rate-hike-following-hot-inflation-report/) - Traders moved further away Tuesday from expecting any Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and in fact began anticipating a higher probability that the next move would be a hike. Market pricing around noon Tuesday implied about a 37% probability of a rate increase before the end of the year. Traders moved further away Tuesday from
- [Australians scramble for Wall Street’s AI boom despite crash fears](https://ppam.com.au/australians-scramble-for-wall-streets-ai-boom-despite-crash-fears/) - Australian investors are piling into American technology giants at a furious pace as they scramble for exposure to an artificial intelligence trade that has sent Wall Street to records despite warnings from major fund managers that the market has gone into overdrive and is primed for a slump. More than $1.5 billion has been placed
- [CBA lifts bad debt buffers as quarterly profit rises](https://ppam.com.au/cba-lifts-bad-debt-buffers-as-quarterly-profit-rises/) - Commonwealth Bank said inflation and interest rate rises will weigh on household spending and business activity, as it reported a $2.7 billion cash profit for the March quarter, up 4 per cent on the prior year, and lifted its bad debt buffers amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The pre-market update did not mention Tuesday night’s
- [IFM Investors’ hostile bid spurned by Atlas Arteria shareholder](https://ppam.com.au/ifm-investors-hostile-bid-spurned-by-atlas-arteria-shareholder/) - ClearBridge Investments, a long-term shareholder in Atlas Arteria, says it will reject IFM Investors’ $6.9 billion hostile takeover offer because it undervalues the company’s assets. Andrew Chambers, portfolio manager at Melbourne-based ClearBridge who specialises in infrastructure, said IFM’s offer of $4.75 per share in cash wasn’t attractive and that he expected the tollroad group’s shares
- [The stock market isn’t ignoring Iran. It’s rising for these three very real reasons](https://ppam.com.au/the-stock-market-isnt-ignoring-iran-its-rising-for-these-three-very-real-reasons/) - The stock market is once again at all-time highs, even with higher oil prices rippling its way through the global economy. There are fundamental reasons behind the comeback, including a resilient U.S. economy that isn’t as reliant on oil as in the past, as well as energy affecting just a small part of company margins.
- [Inflation reading Tuesday expected to show prices at nearly a three-year high](https://ppam.com.au/inflation-reading-tuesday-expected-to-show-prices-at-nearly-a-three-year-high/) - An inflation reading due Tuesday is expected to show price gains at their highest level in nearly three years, setting up potential challenges for investors and Federal Reserve officials alike. April’s consumer price index, a broad gauge of the cost of goods and services across the U.S. economy, is forecast to reach an annual rate of
- [Alphabet poised to become world’s biggest company](https://ppam.com.au/alphabet-poised-to-become-worlds-biggest-company/) - Over the past year, Alphabet has gone from an artificial intelligence afterthought to the one firm in the market with dominant positions in nearly every aspect of the technology. Now it’s on the brink of overtaking AI chip giant Nvidia as the largest company in the world. “Alphabet holds a significant spot in almost every corner of
- [Stagflation risks leave Australian market trailing global peers](https://ppam.com.au/stagflation-risks-leave-australian-market-trailing-global-peers/) - The ongoing tumult in geopolitics has triggered wildly different responses across markets, with Wall Street soaring even as the local bourse slumps, and oil and bond traders brace for a protracted hit from the Iran war. After hitting a wartime low on March 30, the S&P 500 has added a staggering 16.6 per cent, equating
- [ASX to rise, S&P 500 extends its run](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-sp-500-extends-its-run/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, bolstered by further gains in New York where both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite each reset their record highs to start the week. Energy shares paced the advance as President Donald Trump told reporters the Iran ceasefire was on “massive life support”. He also said Tehran’s
- [Stock futures are little changed as traders await inflation reading, monitor Iran war developments: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-as-traders-await-inflation-reading-monitor-iran-war-developments-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures hovered near the flatline on Monday night as traders looked ahead to the release of April’s consumer price index reading. S&P 500 futures were marginally higher, and Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.1%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 24 points, or less than 0.1%. During the day’s regular session, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose to fresh
- [Nvidia embraces role of AI investor, pushing past $40 billion in equity bets this year](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-embraces-role-of-ai-investor-pushing-past-40-billion-in-equity-bets-this-year/) - This week Nvidia agreed to invest up to $3.2 billion in glass maker Corning and signed a deal for the right to invest up to $2.1 billion in data center operator IREN. It’s part of the company’s aggressive strategy to take stakes in companies up and down the AI infrastructure stack while also doing commercial
- [Meet the US investor who sold his stake in ‘Despacito’ to an ASX fund](https://ppam.com.au/meet-the-us-investor-who-sold-his-stake-in-despacito-to-an-asx-fund/) - It’s not often that pop bangers come up in conversation in the world of financial markets, but Erik Serrano Berntsen is not your typical investor. The New York-based head of Stable Asset Management visited Australia last week to complete a $US195 million ($270 million) deal with ASX-listed Navigator Global Investments, a $1.2 billion alternative asset manager run
- [S&P 500 melts up to yet another record high as momentum rules](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-melts-up-to-yet-another-record-high-as-momentum-rules/) - The S&P 500 closed at a record high, after topping 7400 for the first time, as the seemingly relentless rally in semiconductor stocks – as well as the three biggest mega-cap techs – gathered momentum. “We continue to see positive risk/reward in the S&P 500,” Fundstrat Global’s Tom Lee said. “While some investors remain wary
- [ASX to slide as Iran conflict, budget jitters weigh](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-slide-as-iran-conflict-budget-jitters-weigh/) - The Australian sharemarket is set to extend losses on Monday as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran pushed oil prices higher, sparking fears of further inflation, and as anxieties grow ahead of the federal budget. Futures suggest the S&P/ASX 200 Index will fall 0.5 per cent, or 42 points, at the open on Monday,
- [Stock futures slide as investors monitor the latest Iran war negotiations: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-slide-as-investors-monitor-the-latest-iran-war-negotiations-live-updates/) - Stock futures edged lower Sunday night, following a winning week on Wall Street, as oil prices jumped after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end the war. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 143 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures each also lost 0.3%. Sunday’s moves come after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rallied more
- [Oil prices edge lower as U.S. waits for Iran response to deal proposal](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-edge-lower-as-u-s-waits-for-iran-response-to-deal-proposal/) - Investors continue to assess the latest developments in the Middle East amid concerns over renewed tensions between Iran and the U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday Iran will be bombed “at a much higher level” if it doesn’t agree to a peace deal Oil prices edged lower on Thursday, as the U.S. waits for Iran’s response to a
- [AGL gets its power plants humming to improve profit outlook](https://ppam.com.au/agl-gets-its-power-plants-humming-to-improve-profit-outlook/) - AGL Energy says its annual profit will come in at the higher end of previous guidance thanks to improved power plant availability, and reassured that it has enough diesel storage to withstand the global fuel supply crunch for at least the next three months. The company, which updated its 2026 financial year guidance ahead of
- [Stocks set to rip once a US-Iran peace deal is reached](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-set-to-rip-once-a-us-iran-peace-deal-is-reached/) - Fund managers say an official peace deal between the United States and Iran will trigger a surge in global equities that will help return the Australian sharemarket to record levels. While the S&P/ASX 200 Index has climbed for the past two days, bolstered by optimism that Washington and Tehran are looking to end the conflict,
- [Investors deliver epic blow to ARN exec pay amid Kyle & Jackie O war](https://ppam.com.au/investors-deliver-epic-blow-to-arn-exec-pay-amid-kyle-jackie-o-war/) - ARN Media investors have delivered a stunning rebuke to the company behind the KIIS and Pure Gold radio networks, with 90 per cent voting against its executive pay amid a steeply sliding share price and a high-stakes lawsuit brought by ex-hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie Henderson. In a result that ranks among the top protest
- [S&P 500 pulls back from record as investors eye oil prices and Iran deal developments: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-pulls-back-from-record-as-investors-eye-oil-prices-and-iran-deal-developments-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 fell on Thursday after hitting a new all-time intraday high as oil prices came back from sizable losses, with traders eyeing more developments between the U.S. and Iran. The broad market index fell 0.38% to close at 7,337.11, dragged lower by losses in Amazon as well as semiconductor stocks such as Broadcom and Micron Technology. The Nasdaq Composite slid 0.13% and
- [Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: DoorDash, Zillow Group, ARM Holdings, Fortinet and more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-after-hours-doordash-zillow-group-arm-holdings-fortinet-and-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines after the bell: Arm Holdings — The semiconductor company reversed earlier gains and tumbled 7% on underwhelming guidance. Arm called for first quarter earnings of 40 cents per share, plus or minus 4 cents, on revenue of $1.26 billion, plus or minus $50 million. That compares to the FactSet estimate
- [Transurban says it made wrong call on Melbourne traffic rebound](https://ppam.com.au/transurban-says-it-made-wrong-call-on-melbourne-traffic-rebound/) - Tollroad group Transurban underestimated the rate at which traffic would rebound in Melbourne after the pandemic, with volumes on its lucrative CityLink motorway still below 2019 levels, according to chief financial officer Henry Byrne. “We called that wrong coming out of COVID,” he told the Macquarie Australia Conference in Sydney on Wednesday. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/infrastructure/transurban-says-it-made-wrong-call-on-melbourne-traffic-rebound-20260506-p5zud6
- [AGL sounds alarm on power supply as data centre demand surges](https://ppam.com.au/agl-sounds-alarm-on-power-supply-as-data-centre-demand-surges/) - AGL Energy says the market is sharply underestimating demand for power from data centres and risking a supply crunch amid the soaring needs of big technology companies and artificial intelligence developers. Damien Nicks, the chief executive of the energy giant, said significantly more had to be spent on wind-power generation to meet that demand, which
- [ASX to rise, Nasdaq resets record as techs surge](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-nasdaq-resets-record-as-techs-surge/) - Australian shares are set to rise 1 per cent at the open on Thursday, tracking similar strong gains in New York as investors reacted to heightening prospects of a peace agreement between the US and Iran. Oil briefly plunged below $US100 a barrel, while gold and silver surged. The yield on the US 10-year note
- [Will Elon Musk win his lawsuit against Sam Altman’s OpenAI? Here’s what prediction markets think](https://ppam.com.au/will-elon-musk-win-his-lawsuit-against-sam-altmans-openai-heres-what-prediction-markets-think/) - Elon Musk’s odds for winning his multibillion-dollar lawsuit against OpenAI tumbled from 60% when the trial started to as low as 34% following his testimony last week. Kalshi traders say Musk’s chance to win against OpenAI is currently just 40%. The billionaire is a hot topic on prediction markets. Kalshi has more than 150 contracts
- [Markets on edge as fresh U.S.-Iran attacks dent optimism over a peace deal](https://ppam.com.au/markets-on-edge-as-fresh-u-s-iran-attacks-dent-optimism-over-a-peace-deal/) - Hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have ramped up in the last 48 hours. The U.S.′ bid to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, dubbed “Project Freedom,” was nicknamed “Project Deadlock” by Iran. The U.S. said Monday that it sank several Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran renewed missile and drone attacks against
- [ASX to rise, Wall St rallies as oil drops](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-wall-st-rallies-as-oil-drops/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, bolstered by gains in New York as oil briefly fell below $US110 a barrel after two senior Trump administration officials argued that Iran’s latest violations did not break the ceasefire. ASX 200 futures were up 38 points or 0.4 per cent to 8719 near 6.10am AEST. The S&P
- [Markets see end in sight for RBA rate rises](https://ppam.com.au/markets-see-end-in-sight-for-rba-rate-rises/) - Bond traders and equity investors are hoping that one more rate increase from the Reserve Bank of Australia this year will be enough to bring down inflation after the central bank lifted the cash rate for a third time this year on Tuesday. After the RBA raised the cash rate by a quarter of a
- [Business warns inflation burden growing and being borne by consumers](https://ppam.com.au/business-warns-inflation-burden-growing-and-being-borne-by-consumers/) - Westpac chief executive Anthony Miller says more of the burden of the conflict in the Middle East will be borne by households rather than businesses as a US truce with Iran falters and the Reserve Bank of Australia raises interest rates for the third time since the start of the year. Miller’s comments came as
- [S&P 500 closes at a fresh record as stocks catch a tailwind from falling oil prices: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-at-a-fresh-record-as-stocks-catch-a-tailwind-from-falling-oil-prices-live-updates/) - U.S. stocks were higher on Tuesday, while oil prices slid as traders reacted to a number of solid earnings results. The S&P 500 rose 0.81%, hitting a new all-time high and closing at a record of 7,259.22. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.03%, touching a new high and notching a closing record of 25,326.13. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 356.35 points,
- [European markets fall as Trump threatens new auto tariffs](https://ppam.com.au/european-markets-fall-as-trump-threatens-new-auto-tariffs/) - LONDON — European markets declined on Monday as investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East and a potential renewal of transatlantic trade tensions. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 1% lower, reversing gains from earlier in the session. Major bourses in Frankfurt, Paris and Milan all closed in the red, while regional stocks were
- [Santos CEO signals potential 2028 exit as chairman departs first](https://ppam.com.au/santos-ceo-signals-potential-2028-exit-as-chairman-departs-first-2/) - antos chief executive Kevin Gallagher has signalled he intends to lead the oil and gas group until at least 2028 to guide it through the next stages of major projects, outlasting chairman Keith Spence who announced he would step down next April. The two have worked closely at Santos, with Spence as chairman since 2018
- [13 ASX stock picks tipped to benefit from an RBA rate rise](https://ppam.com.au/13-asx-stock-picks-tipped-to-benefit-from-an-rba-rate-rise/) - Fund managers are piling into insurers, gold miners and even some more affordable retailers, betting the stocks will be the biggest winners from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s widely expected interest rate rise this week as it battles an inflation problem exacerbated by the Iran war. Major banks from Westpac to UBS all expect the
- [The ASX is a defensive bet. So why has it fizzled during the Iran war?](https://ppam.com.au/the-asx-is-a-defensive-bet-so-why-has-it-fizzled-during-the-iran-war-2/) - The Australian sharemarket, dominated by banks and companies that dig stuff out of the ground, has long been considered a safe haven for global investors during times of extreme geopolitical uncertainty. But this year it has bucked the trend during the escalating tensions in the Middle East, joining the Japanese and Korean markets in approaching
- [Dow tumbles 550 points as oil prices rise and investors fear Iran conflict could intensify again: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-tumbles-550-points-as-oil-prices-rise-and-investors-fear-iran-conflict-could-intensify-again-live-updates/) - Stocks fell on Monday as the latest developments in the Middle East sent oil prices higher, sparking further worries about instability in the region. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 557.37 points, or 1.13%, closing at 48,941.90. The S&P 500 slid 0.41% to end at 7,200.75, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.19% to settle at 25,067.80. On Monday, the United Arab
- [Investors brace for wild confession season as war refuses to let up](https://ppam.com.au/investors-brace-for-wild-confession-season-as-war-refuses-to-let-up/) - Big investors are bracing for a particularly painful corporate confession season as the conflict in the Middle East continues and the Trump administration weighs up new strikes against Iran, hitting company earnings and increasing the likelihood of interest rate rises. More than 21 companies have already released trading updates referencing the Middle East conflict since it began
- [Australian shares just got steamrolled by a train that isn’t slowing](https://ppam.com.au/australian-shares-just-got-steamrolled-by-a-train-that-isnt-slowing/) - There should be a heavy feeling over the year’s biggest gathering of fund managers this week: Australia’s equities investors have run out of luck. The lucky country now has the highest official interest rates in the G10, below-average economic and earnings growth, consolidated industries, high energy and labour costs, a major customer who isn’t growing
- [ASX to slide as investors await crucial RBA decision](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-slide-as-investors-await-crucial-rba-decision/) - The Australian sharemarket is set to slide on Monday ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest board meeting, where investors have tipped a third consecutive cash rate rise and will be watching for clues on how much more tightening the central bank expects over the remainder of the year. Futures on the S&P/ASX 200 pointed
- [Stock futures are little changed as investors monitor latest in U.S.-Iran developments: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-as-investors-monitor-latest-in-u-s-iran-developments-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures traded close to the flatline Sunday night as investors closely eyed the latest developments in the Middle East. S&P 500 futures added 0.1%, and Nasdaq 100 futures were near flat. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81 points, or about 0.2%. On Friday, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose to new all-time intraday and closing highs.
- [Stocks making the biggest moves after hours: Robinhood, Booking Holdings, Starbucks, Visa & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-after-hours-robinhood-booking-holdings-starbucks-visa-more/) - Robinhood — The maker of the trading app saw shares tumble about 6% after first-quarter results fell short of expectations. Robinhood posted earnings of 38 cents per share on revenue of $1.07 billion. LSEG consensus estimates called for 43 cents per share and $1.18 billion. Starbucks — The coffee chain jumped nearly 5% after Starbucks raised its full-year
- [Aussie dollar to fly as RBA goes it alone on rates](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-to-fly-as-rba-goes-it-alone-on-rates/) - The world’s biggest central banks are expected to hold fire on raising interest rates when the boards gather this week, which strategists say leaves the Reserve Bank of Australia an outlier that will generate fresh momentum for the Australian dollar. The US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, the Bank of Canada and the European
- [‘Market became fed up’: MLC owner leaves ASX after 23 turbulent years](https://ppam.com.au/market-became-fed-up-mlc-owner-leaves-asx-after-23-turbulent-years/) - Insignia Financial lost the trust of public market investors following years of governance failures and business missteps, says chief executive Scott Hartley, as the MLC owner prepares to delist from the ASX following its acquisition by private equity firm CC Capital. Closure of the $3.3 billion takeover on Tuesday will end a turbulent 23-year run on
- [ASX in the doldrums but month-end rebalancing offers some respite](https://ppam.com.au/asx-in-the-doldrums-but-month-end-rebalancing-offers-some-respite/) - The Australian sharemarket has tipped into negative territory for the year despite Wall Street continuing to reset its record highs as US investors shrug off the Iran war to pile back into artificial intelligence stocks. But this divergence in performance could be a consolation prize for the S&P/ASX 200 Index. That’s because global investors this week
- [Here’s everything to expect when the Fed issues its latest interest rate decision Wednesday](https://ppam.com.au/heres-everything-to-expect-when-the-fed-issues-its-latest-interest-rate-decision-wednesday/) - In what could be Jerome Powell’s final meeting as Fed chair, he and his fellow policymakers are likely to continue their cautious approach to policy as questions linger over inflation and the labor market. The interest rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is a virtual lock to keep its benchmark short-term interest rate steady. With little
- [Prediction markets prepare to invade one of crypto’s biggest and riskiest trades](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-prepare-to-invade-one-of-cryptos-biggest-and-riskiest-trades/) - Last week, Kalshi and Polymarket were reported to be planning perpetual futures, one of the biggest and riskiest areas in crypto trading, largely restricted in the U.S. until now. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said early this year that it’s working to bring to the U.S. “true perpetual derivatives.” Analysts downplay the potential threat to
- [The AI trade is back and providing a boon for uranium stocks](https://ppam.com.au/the-ai-trade-is-back-and-providing-a-boon-for-uranium-stocks/) - As the Iran conflict drags into its ninth week, war-weary investors are piling back into the artificial intelligence trade with a vengeance that is providing a boon for ASX-listed uranium stocks. Paladin, Bannerman, and Silex Systems have all rallied by double digits in April as investors returned to the AI trade, betting that nuclear will play a
- [Amazon rides data centre boom to nearly $12b in local revenue](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-rides-data-centre-boom-to-nearly-12b-in-local-revenue/) - The global tsunami of investment in artificial intelligence powered Amazon to almost $12 billion in revenue in Australia last year, as the e-commerce, cloud computing and streaming juggernaut cashed in on a huge surge in demand for its data centres. Accounts lodged with Australia’s corporate regulator reveal Amazon’s total revenue leapt almost 50 per cent
- [ASX to fall](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall/) - Australian shares are poised to drop at the open. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reset their record highs, setting the stage for a busy week of quarterly results, particularly from US megacap tech. Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta Platforms are set to report on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), followed by Apple a day later.
- [Investors usually ‘sell in May and go away.’ Why that may not work this year](https://ppam.com.au/investors-usually-sell-in-may-and-go-away-why-that-may-not-work-this-year/) - “Sell in May and go away?” Some market participants say it could be better to wait and see this year. The old stock market adage speaks to the phenomenon in which the May-through-October stretch has seasonally borne out to be the worst six-month period of returns for stocks. With traders leaving their desks during the
- [Wall Street is getting bullish on neoclouds. These stocks hold more risk than other AI plays](https://ppam.com.au/wall-street-is-getting-bullish-on-neoclouds-these-stocks-hold-more-risk-than-other-ai-plays/) - There’s a lot of market buzz on the emerging crop of companies known as neoclouds, but these stocks are not for the faint of heart. Neoclouds are building AI-dedicated computing infrastructure and represent the risky edge of artificial intelligence investing. They stand in contrast to the hyperscalers, such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft’s Azure, which
- [America is in a staggering profit boom. Australia is nowhere](https://ppam.com.au/america-is-in-a-staggering-profit-boom-australia-is-nowhere/) - It is no surprise that Wall Street’s stunning rebound over the past three weeks – the S&P 500 index is now up 12.5 per cent from its Iran war low on March 30 – has confounded many investors, who are quite reasonably waiting for the global energy shock to show up in US share prices.
- [The explosive Triple Zero survey infuriating Australia’s telcos](https://ppam.com.au/the-explosive-triple-zero-survey-infuriating-australias-telcos/) - Australia’s telco regulator has demanded to see the entire dataset, questions, panel details and responses behind an explosive consumer survey that found one in 10 Australians has been unable to connect to Triple Zero over the past year, a finding that triggered a furious response from industry giant Telstra. A consumer group called the Australian
- [Hunting for yields: Fundies pick their top ASX dividend stocks](https://ppam.com.au/hunting-for-yields-fundies-pick-their-top-asx-dividend-stocks/) - Investors hunting for strong dividend yields as a haven from the market volatility triggered by the Middle East conflict and rising interest rates have plenty of options on the ASX, according to analysts, including car sales platforms, oil and gas companies, and a beverages giant. Morningstar on Tuesday released a list of its 23 top
- [Stock futures fall as Iran peace talks stall, oil rises: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-fall-as-iran-peace-talks-stall-oil-rises-live-updates/) - Stock futures fell in overnight trading Sunday as stalled Iran peace talks and a fresh escalation in the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher, keeping geopolitical tensions front and center heading into a pivotal week. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2%, or 130 points. S&P 500 futures declined 0.3%, while
- [Tesla shares fall after results. But this market speculation may keep the stock afloat for a while](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-shares-fall-after-results-but-this-market-speculation-may-keep-the-stock-afloat-for-a-while/) - Tesla shares were lower after its first-quarter earnings announcement on Wednesday on the company’s bigger-than-anticipated cap-ex expansion, but Wall Street is buzzing about speculation that could keep a bid under the stock for the near future. The chatter is about a potential merger with SpaceX, Elon Musk’s breakout rocket company that is set to go public later this
- [Promised buybacks less forthcoming for the ASX’s private credit funds](https://ppam.com.au/promised-buybacks-less-forthcoming-for-the-asxs-private-credit-funds/) - Two ASX-listed private credit vehicles did not carry out quarterly buybacks as expected at the end of March, prompting brokers to question why advertised capital management strategies had not been followed. MA Financial’s MA Credit Income Trust and Revolution Asset Management’s Private Credit Income Trust told investors that – like many other listed debt funds
- [Australia’s ETF market is set to hit $380b, up 400pc in six years](https://ppam.com.au/australias-etf-market-is-set-to-hit-380b-up-400pc-in-six-years/) - Younger investors are increasingly turning to exchange-traded funds, driving index tracking strategies to grow by a fifth this year alone. State Street, the largest global ETF administrator and one of the world’s big three ETF providers alongside BlackRock and Vanguard, this week forecast that the Australian market could grow to $380 billion in funds under
- [This week’s avalanche of profit downgrades is only the beginning](https://ppam.com.au/this-weeks-avalanche-of-profit-downgrades-is-only-the-beginning/) - Investors are bracing for a grim string of profit downgrades as the war in the Middle East drags on and the Reserve Bank of Australia lifts interest rates, despite brokers hanging on to bullish outlooks set months ago. Excluding energy stocks, which have soared since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and sent fuel prices
- [Stock futures are little changed after Trump announces 3-week extension to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-after-trump-announces-3-week-extension-to-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures were little changed on Thursday night after President Donald Trump said that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. S&P 500 futures were trading around flat, while Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.4%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 47 points, or 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Tesla misses on revenue but beats on profit as auto margins jump](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-misses-on-revenue-but-beats-on-profit-as-auto-margins-jump/) - Tesla reported better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter. However, revenue came in shy of analysts’ expectations as the company’s core automotive business continues to struggle. Tesla’s stock has underperformed all of its megacap tech peers this year. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/22/tesla-tsla-q1-2026-earnings-report.html
- [Cleaner energy means new skills and career paths](https://ppam.com.au/cleaner-energy-means-new-skills-and-career-paths/) - As AGL prepares to close its coal-fired power plants in NSW’s Hunter Valley and Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, it is exploring how to retrain staff who may have been running these legacy assets for 40 years so they can, for instance, operate wind farms in the future. The superior career development and psychological safety this involves means AGL has
- [Global energy markets are on the verge of a disaster](https://ppam.com.au/global-energy-markets-are-on-the-verge-of-a-disaster/) - Traders of oil futures are a sunny bunch. On April 17, after Iran’s foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open”, the price of Brent crude fell by 10 per cent, to $US90 a barrel. Within hours, Iran reversed course and attacked an Indian tanker. The next trading day, the global benchmark rose by
- [ASX to fall, Wall St rallies](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-wall-st-rallies/) - Australian shares are poised to open lower. All three major US stock benchmarks closed higher, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite advancing at least 1 per cent, paced by tech stocks. Tesla rose 4 per cent in after-hours trading after releasing its latest quarter results. Boeing leapt 5.5 per cent. Apple, Amazon and
- [Trump extends Iran ceasefire — but market focus has already drifted elsewhere](https://ppam.com.au/trump-extends-iran-ceasefire-but-market-focus-has-already-drifted-elsewhere/) - U.S. President Donald Trump indefinitely extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, just hours before it was set to expire. Markets perceive that the worst-case scenarios in this war are probably over: analysts. A notable pickup in Hormuz oil flows remains unlikely in the near term, prolonging a supply crunch that has darkened the
- [Big banks and miners increase dominance in risk to equities investors](https://ppam.com.au/big-banks-and-miners-increase-dominance-in-risk-to-equities-investors/) - The Australian sharemarket is becoming increasingly concentrated, with seven of the 10 largest stocks now miners or banks, a narrowing that has left investors more exposed than at any time over the past two decades. And the change is happening at a breakneck pace. The 10 largest companies on the S&P/ASX 200 now account for
- [Why ‘whatever it takes’ on fuel will break the RBA’s back](https://ppam.com.au/why-whatever-it-takes-on-fuel-will-break-the-rbas-back/) - Bowsers may be full, but the premium being paid for energy security is creating a ticking time bomb for inflation and interest rates. Now that we have established that our ability to pay more for fuel will keep imports flowing and bowsers full, we should probably talk about the real cost for Australians. Higher diesel
- [Markets’ bulls roar past Iran war, fuel woes](https://ppam.com.au/markets-bulls-roar-past-iran-war-fuel-woes/) - Anyone waiting for the bottom has already missed it; the first half of the rebound is done. Can Australia keep pace with the global bull run? There is still plenty of talk of a V-shaped recovery in asset prices as the Iran war fizzles, but that horse has bolted. A stunning 11 consecutive days of
- [Stock futures rise after Trump extends ceasefire with Iran: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-rise-after-trump-extends-ceasefire-with-iran-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday night after President Donald Trump extended the U.S. ceasefire in Iran. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures both added 0.4%. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 190 points, or 0.4%. All three major averages had settled lower as investors grew concerned that the U.S. and Iran would not be able
- [PACIFIC COMPASS – From Resilience to Repricing: Navigating a Risk-Off Shift [April 2026 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-from-resilience-to-repricing-navigating-a-risk-off-shift-april-2026-review/) - MONTHLY ECONOMIC & INVESTMENT REVIEW: Executive Summary March 2026 was characterised by a broad-based risk-off environment across global financial markets, driven by a combination of tightening financial conditions, renewed geopolitical uncertainty, and growing concerns around the sustainability of global growth. Equity markets declined sharply across both developed and emerging markets, with Australian equities underperforming amid
- [Amazon to invest up to another $25 billion in Anthropic as part of AI infrastructure deal](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-to-invest-up-to-another-25-billion-in-anthropic-as-part-of-ai-infrastructure-deal/) - Amazon has agreed to invest up to $25 billion in Anthropic, on top of the $8 billion that it has poured into the artificial intelligence startup in recent years. As part of the announcement, Anthropic said it’s committed to spending more than $100 billion on Amazon Web Services technologies over the next 10 years. Amazon
- [Traders bet on strait reopening as FOMO grips markets](https://ppam.com.au/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 the back and forth between Iran and the US. Hugh Dive, chief investment officer at Atlas Funds Management, said a
- [War and inflation point to $125m profit boost for Woolworths, Coles](https://ppam.com.au/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 cheaper own-brand products will also lift the bottom line. That’s according to analysts at UBS, who have raised their profit
- [ASX to edge higher, oil rises](https://ppam.com.au/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 200 futures were up 48 points or 0.5 per cent to 9023 near 7am (AEST). The S&P 500 was 0.2
- [Investors are misreading news about the Iran war, analysts say as markets whipsaw](https://ppam.com.au/investors-are-misreading-news-about-the-iran-war-analysts-say-as-markets-whipsaw/) - Investors are misreading developments in the Iran war as the status of the Strait of Hormuz continues to whipsaw markets, say analysts. The current market environment differs from President Donald Trump’s ‘liberation day’ as he is no longer fully in control of events, according to BCA. Deutsche Bank also warned that investors risk a 2022-style
- [We spoke to over 30 central bankers, policymakers and politicians. Here are their top concerns](https://ppam.com.au/we-spoke-to-over-30-central-bankers-policymakers-and-politicians-here-are-their-top-concerns/) - CNBC spoke to more than 30 policymakers at the IMF World Bank meetings in Washington, DC, this week. The U.S.-Iran war, which is nearing its eighth week, dominated conversation. Uncertainty is weighing on the global outlook, with officials saying the war is already affecting inflation and growth. 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](https://ppam.com.au/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 Index, which has see-sawed from an all-time high of 9202.9 in February to a low of 8365.9 in March. But
- [S&P and Nasdaq hit big records as Wall St ends on high](https://ppam.com.au/sp-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 Bitcoin and pushed up credit and gold. A global risk-on surge swept across Wall Street after Iran declared the Strait
- [ASX to drop as uncertainty hangs over strait](https://ppam.com.au/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 critical shipping channel only to reverse its decision over the weekend, adding fresh uncertainty to the war that the United States and
- [S&P 500 notches first close above 7,100, Nasdaq posts longest win streak since 1992: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-notches-first-close-above-7100-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 the first time. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.52% and settled at 24,468.48 for its 13th consecutive winning day and its longest positive
- [Brent oil price near $100 again with U.S.-Iran talks uncertain and Hormuz still blocked](https://ppam.com.au/brent-oil-price-near-100-again-with-u-s-iran-talks-uncertain-and-hormuz-still-blocked/) - Oil prices crept closer to $100 a barrel on Thursday as tanker traffic through the Hormuz Strait remained restricted. President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday that the U.S. and Iran will “probably” meet over the weekend for another round of negotiations. There is no official date set for the talks yet. The two-we Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/iran-war-oil-price-strait-hormuz.html
- [Santos CEO signals potential 2028 exit as chairman departs first](https://ppam.com.au/santos-ceo-signals-potential-2028-exit-as-chairman-departs-first/) - Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher has signalled he intends to lead the oil and gas group until at least 2028 to guide it through the next stages of major projects, outlasting chairman Keith Spence who announced he would step down next April. The two have worked closely at Santos, with Spence as chairman since 2018
- [This property fundie is still spotting value as interest rates rise](https://ppam.com.au/this-property-fundie-is-still-spotting-value-as-interest-rates-rise/) - Grant Berry is a director and portfolio manager of Australian real estate investment trusts at SG Hiscock. The Melbourne-based firm oversees $3.3 billion in assets. Following back-to-back interest rate rises from the Reserve Bank of Australia, many economists predict we are entering a monetary policy tightening cycle. Is now the right time to be investing
- [Investors buy the software dip as Atlassian surge comes too late](https://ppam.com.au/investors-buy-the-software-dip-as-atlassian-surge-comes-too-late/) - New data shows some retail investors piling into Australian tech companies, whose shares have been smashed by artificial intelligence fears, but a rally in Atlassian shares has come too late to save it from a costly fall from the Nasdaq 100 index. Atlassian shares soared 10 per cent on Wednesday night after a horror run
- [Why the stock market is hitting records despite Iran war](https://ppam.com.au/why-the-stock-market-is-hitting-records-despite-iran-war/) - The S&P 500 closed at a record high on Thursday for the second consecutive day. The U.S. stock index has rallied sharply since the end of March. Stocks have been resilient even as the Iran war continues and there remains a blockade on oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The stock market is forward-looking:
- [Tesla stock adds nearly 8% as Elon Musk touts chip progress](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-stock-adds-nearly-8-as-elon-musk-touts-chip-progress/) - Tesla shares rose by nearly 8% on Wednesday after the company rolled out software updates for its vehicles, and CEO Elon Musk touted chip tech progress. The spike also followed an upgrade from formerly bearish UBS analysts on Tuesday. The firm changed its rating on shares of Tesla from sell to hold and increased the
- [Petrol price spike hurts Transurban as motorway growth subsides](https://ppam.com.au/petrol-price-spike-hurts-transurban-as-motorway-growth-subsides/) - The country’s largest operator of tollroads has reported slowing growth on some of its major motorways as the conflict in the Middle East sends the price of petrol soaring and pushes drivers toward public transport. In a bid to salve investor concerns about the impact on its business, Transurban published quarterly traffic data a week
- [Investor growth expectations plunge amid stagflation fears](https://ppam.com.au/investor-growth-expectations-plunge-amid-stagflation-fears/) - Investors’ expectations for global growth plummeted in April by the most in four years due to the Iran war, with local fund managers warning that a downturn could be even more pronounced in Australia. The latest Bank of America fund manager survey showed the outlook for the global economy had dropped by the most since
- [The RBA’s fight against inflation has a new frontier – Instagram ads](https://ppam.com.au/the-rbas-fight-against-inflation-has-a-new-frontier-instagram-ads/) - First came the keynote speech and the fireside chat. Two years ago, press conferences after every monetary policy decision. Now the Reserve Bank of Australia is launching into the social media age – on Instagram. The central bank late last week rolled out three campaigns on the social media platform, and on Facebook and Threads
- [Stock futures are little changed following a record-setting day for S&P 500 and Nasdaq: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-following-a-record-setting-day-for-sp-500-and-nasdaq-live-updates/) - U.S. stock futures were little changed on Wednesday night after both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose to fresh records during the regular session. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures both traded around the flatline. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 45 points, or 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/15/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Prediction markets will grow to $1 trillion by 2030, Bernstein estimates](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-will-grow-to-1-trillion-by-2030-bernstein-estimates/) - Investment firm Bernstein estimates that by 2030, prediction market volumes will surge to roughly $1 trillion. Dollar volumes on the markets surged in 2024, spurred by the U.S. presidential election, then expanded further in 2025 thanks to sports, crypto and macro/political contracts. While a regulatory battle is brewing, Bernstein thinks it’s unlikely to deter long-term
- [Stagflation fears are making 60/40 strategies increasingly unworkable](https://ppam.com.au/stagflation-fears-are-making-60-40-strategies-increasingly-unworkable/) - Investors are being forced to rethink a decades-old rule of thumb – that bonds will save the day if sharemarkets become too choppy – with sky-high oil prices leading to stagflation fears and stymying debt markets, pushing fund managers to seek refuge in cash and commodities instead. A once-reliable relationship between stock market crashes and
- [These four charts show the risks and hopes facing choppy markets](https://ppam.com.au/these-four-charts-show-the-risks-and-hopes-facing-choppy-markets/) - An unsteady ceasefire. Marathon negotiations without a peace deal. Now a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Investors are bracing for a long period of uncertainty, unsure how the conflict in the Middle East will hit the Australian sharemarket and the broader economy. With souring consumer sentiment, rising inflation and looming interest rate increases, the
- [Wall Street Investors Block Out Market Volatility Triggered by War](https://ppam.com.au/wall-street-investors-block-out-market-volatility-triggered-by-war/) - It’s been two months since the war in Iran began, with no clear end in sight. But after some initial turbulence, Wall Street seems to be blocking out the noise. The S&P 500 Index has climbed almost 10% since March 27, heading for a third consecutive week of gains. Over the same period, the Nasdaq
- [Market volatility may ‘weigh heavily’ on Gen Z, advisor says: How young investors can adapt](https://ppam.com.au/market-volatility-may-weigh-heavily-on-gen-z-advisor-says-how-young-investors-can-adapt/) - Stock market declines can be especially unsettling for young investors “because they don’t yet have the experience of living through prior downturns and recoveries,” said certified financial planner Douglas Boneparth. Market downturns can provide disciplined young investors with the opportunity to buy stocks at a discount. Still, if you felt anxious about your investments during the
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Structure, Selection & Scaling the Investment Framework [April 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-structure-selection-scaling-the-investment-framework-april-2026/) - Meeting Date: FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 2026 "Structure, Selection & Scaling the Investment Framework" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, focused on the continued development of our high-conviction investment framework, portfolio construction methodology, and global manager insights. Key Discussion Highlights 1. High Conviction Framework & Manager Selection Completion
- [Inflation held sticky at 3% as U.S. headed into war with Iran, key Fed gauge shows](https://ppam.com.au/inflation-held-sticky-at-3-as-u-s-headed-into-war-with-iran-key-fed-gauge-shows/) - The core personal consumption expenditures price index rose a seasonally adjusted 3% in February, the Commerce Department reported. The all-items headline inflation measure increased 2.8%. In addition to the inflation readings, the report also showed consumer spending up 0.5% on the month, while personal income fell 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/core-inflation-was-3percent-in-february-as-expected-key-fed-gauge-shows.html
- [Orora shutters Middle East bottle plant and warns of big profit hit](https://ppam.com.au/orora-shutters-middle-east-bottle-plant-and-warns-of-big-profit-hit/) - Orora says earnings from its major Saverglass division will be up to a third lower than expected, and stop production at a facility in the UAE as it adjusts to the fallout from six weeks of war in the Middle East. The Ras al Khaimah plant represents about 15 per cent of Saverglass’ capacity, with
- [Nvidia shares near level where technical traders see a breakout](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-shares-near-level-where-technical-traders-see-a-breakout/) - After months of sluggish returns, Nvidia’s stock is rallying again and is close to breaking out of its narrow trading range, in a bullish signal for market technicians. Shares of the chip giant rose more than 10 per cent over the past six sessions, their longest winning streak since October. This comes after a substantial
- [Resources funds betting on ‘explosive rally’ after horror month](https://ppam.com.au/resources-funds-betting-on-explosive-rally-after-horror-month/) - Resources funds that were among the best-performing equity strategies last year are now suddenly nursing heavy double-digit losses from the Iran war, but fund managers have pounced on the rare pullback in the miners to ride an explosive rebound. Acorn Capital’s NextGen Resources Fund tumbled more than 20 per cent in March after its outsized
- [Stock futures are little changed as traders monitor fragile ceasefire between U.S. and Iran: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stock-futures-are-little-changed-as-traders-monitor-fragile-ceasefire-between-u-s-and-iran-live-updates/) - Stock futures were little changed on Thursday night as traders kept an eye on the fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures traded marginally lower. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 19 points, or less than 0.1%. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [How to save money on flights as airlines raise prices](https://ppam.com.au/how-to-save-money-on-flights-as-airlines-raise-prices/) - Airlines are raising fares, increasing fees to check bags and adding fuel surcharges to offset higher jet fuel prices amid the Iran war. The hikes will strap budget-conscious consumers, travel experts said. But there are still ways for travelers to find reasonably priced airline tickets, said those in the know. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/08/iran-war-airlines-prices-airfare-flights-how-to-save-money.html
- [AustralianSuper dumps dozens of stocks in ESG portfolio makeover](https://ppam.com.au/australiansuper-dumps-dozens-of-stocks-in-esg-portfolio-makeover/) - AustralianSuper has dumped nearly $1 billion in investments from its ESG-focused portfolio including stakes in more than 180 listed companies after cutting fossil fuels, armaments and other industries it saw as harmful. The removal of the stocks from country’s largest retirement investment fund’s so-called socially aware portfolio, revealed in new disclosures, detail how the policy
- [Trump’s latest TACO delivers reprieve for exhausted investors](https://ppam.com.au/trumps-latest-taco-delivers-reprieve-for-exhausted-investors/) - After weeks of whiplash in markets where stocks and commodities have bounced around on the US President Donald Trump’s latest social media post, a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East has given exhausted traders and fund managers some reprieve from the extreme price swings. The president’s rhetoric has swung widely since the war erupted six
- [Investors hedge their bets amid relief Iran ‘doomsday’ off the table](https://ppam.com.au/investors-hedge-their-bets-amid-relief-iran-doomsday-off-the-table/) - Investors are returning to the Australian sharemarket after weeks of pain, with a ceasefire in the Middle East driving the biggest one-day jump this year but raising a new question for fund managers – is this a momentary reprieve or will a brittle truce give way to longer lasting peace? Despite the S&P/ASX 200 surging
- [Fed officials still foresee rate cut this year, despite war impacts, minutes show](https://ppam.com.au/fed-officials-still-foresee-rate-cut-this-year-despite-war-impacts-minutes-show/) - Federal Reserve officials at their March meeting still expected to lower interest rates this year, even with a high level of uncertainty from the Iran war and tariffs, according to minutes released Wednesday. Most of the participants said the war could result in the need for easier monetary policy if rising gas prices hit the
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Apple, Arm Holdings, Broadcom, UnitedHealth & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-apple-arm-holdings-broadcom-unitedhealth-more/) - Here are the stocks posting the biggest moves in midday trading. Apple — The second-largest public company in the U.S. dropped nearly 4% Tuesday, leading the S&P 500 lower, after Nikkei Asia said Apple has suffered “setbacks in the engineering test phase” for its planned foldable version of the iPhone that could hurt mass production and product shipments. Bloomberg News,
- [Santos suffers delay in Alaska oil start-up but prices buoy sentiment](https://ppam.com.au/santos-suffers-delay-in-alaska-oil-start-up-but-prices-buoy-sentiment/) - Santos has missed its end-of-March target for starting up its $4.5 billion Pikka project in Alaska, but the surge in oil and gas prices has taken the pressure off top management ahead of the company’s annual meeting. The late start-up of Pikka comes after Santos missed its end-of-December target to begin production at its Barossa
- [Aussie dollar becomes unlikely G10 powerhouse during the war](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-becomes-unlikely-g10-powerhouse-during-the-war/) - The Australian dollar has emerged as an unlikely powerhouse during the month-long conflict in the Middle East, defying expectations of a collapse as strategists tip the currency to finish the year well north of US70¢. Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran in late February, the local currency has fallen less than 3
- [ASX set for volatile week as ceasefire hopes temper escalation risk](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-for-volatile-week-as-ceasefire-hopes-temper-escalation-risk/) - Australian shares are set for a turbulent start to the week as investors balance optimism over a potential Iran-US ceasefire with renewed threats of military escalation from US President Donald Trump. Investors are focused on talks between the US, Iran and regional mediators over a possible 45-day ceasefire, Axios reported on Monday, which could pave
- [S&P 500 ekes out a gain Tuesday, rebounding as traders hope for last-minute Iran deal: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-ekes-out-a-gain-tuesday-rebounding-as-traders-hope-for-last-minute-iran-deal-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 posted a slim gain on Tuesday as traders grew hopeful that a proposal brokered by Pakistan may result in an eleventh-hour deal between the U.S. and Iran. The broad market index inched up 0.08% and closed at 6,616.85, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.10% to settle at 22,017.85. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 85.42 points, or 0.18%,
- [Asia markets trade mixed as investors assess Trump’s Iran war comments, extended deadline](https://ppam.com.au/asia-markets-trade-mixed-as-investors-assess-trumps-iran-war-comments-extended-deadline/) - Japan and South Korean traded mixed, with several key regional markets closed for holidays. Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen Hormuz Strait, escalating threats. Oil reversed gains as investors continued to eye developments in the Middle East. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/06/asia-markets-nikkei-225-crude-oil-trump-iran-hormuz.html
- [A rival plans to take on the ASX as Australia’s third trading venue](https://ppam.com.au/a-rival-plans-to-take-on-the-asx-as-australias-third-trading-venue/) - The ASX is set to come up against another rival trading venue for stocks, as the National Stock Exchange of Australia ramps up its plans, seeking to gain support from brokers and investors to challenge the main bourse and up-for-sale competitor Cboe Australia. The NSX, acquired last year by the owner of the Canadian Securities
- [Economists fear recession as oil spike points to repeated rate rises](https://ppam.com.au/economists-fear-recession-as-oil-spike-points-to-repeated-rate-rises/) - A growing number of economists expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates at least twice again this year, warning that the war in Iran threatens to push inflation higher even as the economy sours. Most of the 38 economists polled for The Australian Financial Review quarterly survey said they expected the central bank to
- [ASX futures point to modest gain](https://ppam.com.au/asx-futures-point-to-modest-gain/) - Australian share futures are pointing to a modest opening advance. Shares closed higher in New York as oil pared an earlier advance above $US110 a barrel despite heightening rhetoric between the US and Iran. ASX 200 futures were up 5 points or 0.1 per cent to 8614. The S&P 500 closed 0.4 per cent higher.
- [JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in annual letter cites risks in geopolitics, AI and private markets](https://ppam.com.au/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-in-annual-letter-cites-risks-in-geopolitics-ai-and-private-markets/) - JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in his annual letter to shareholders noted the country’s 250th anniversary and called for a broad recommitment to American ideals. He cited risks in geopolitical conflicts, persistent inflation and AI. Dimon took particular issue with what he called “poor bank regulations,” saying aspects of recent proposals for Basel 3 Endgame
- [Polymarket removes wagers on U.S. service member rescue mission in Iran](https://ppam.com.au/polymarket-removes-wagers-on-u-s-service-member-rescue-mission-in-iran/) - Polymarket removed a forum related to the rescue mission of U.S. military service members after an F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran, saying said the wager did not meet its standards. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., called the market “DISGUSTING” and said bettors were wagering on whether American forces would be saved. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/04/polymarket-war-bet-iran-rescue-prediction-market-moulton.html
- [The high cost of your super fund’s safety-first mentality](https://ppam.com.au/the-high-cost-of-your-super-funds-safety-first-mentality/) - If you’re one of the 15 million or so Australians with retirement savings stashed away in a big superannuation fund, you can tuck into your Easter eggs this weekend knowing your fund should not perform much worse than others, even in these volatile markets. That’s good. But what about materially outperforming others? What about backing
- [What 4pc inflation could do to your retirement savings](https://ppam.com.au/what-4pc-inflation-could-do-to-your-retirement-savings/) - The warning that the Iran war could push inflation to 5 per cent this year is worrying enough for everyone, but it contains a massive wake-up call for anyone who is retired or about to retire. That’s because even an increase of a percentage point or two in average inflation will slash the nest eggs
- [The bond market offers cheap bets the RBA will fail on inflation](https://ppam.com.au/the-bond-market-offers-cheap-bets-the-rba-will-fail-on-inflation/) - The market’s prognosis on inflation in Australia is pretty grim, at least over the next 12 months. Energy prices are rising from the Iran war, and living costs are crushing households who are bearing the brunt of higher interest rates. But beneath the headlines, an “interesting picture” is emerging, according to Westpac. While government bond yields have
- [Top Wall Street analysts see strong growth potential in these 3 stocks](https://ppam.com.au/top-wall-street-analysts-see-strong-growth-potential-in-these-3-stocks/) - Tensions in the Middle East due to the U.S.-Iran war and elevated oil prices continued to impact the stock market this week. Investors with a long-term investment horizon should look beyond near-term challenges and capitalize on the ongoing volatility to pick stocks trading at attractive valuations. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/05/top-wall-street-analysts-see-strong-growth-potential-in-these-3-stocks.html
- [Market volatility poses a serious risk for new retirees. Here’s how to prepare](https://ppam.com.au/market-volatility-poses-a-serious-risk-for-new-retirees-heres-how-to-prepare/) - The major stock indexes are down so far this year, but all had double-digit returns in 2025. The order, or sequence, of gains and losses in the stock market during retirement can impact the longevity of your portfolio as you make withdrawals. While retiring into a strong market can “put the wind at your back,”
- [Sharon AI shares soar on $1.8b deal despite posting bigger loss](https://ppam.com.au/sharon-ai-shares-soar-on-1-8b-deal-despite-posting-bigger-loss/) - Australia-based artificial intelligence group Sharon AI has announced a $1.8 billion supply deal and a separate tie-up with Canva, sending its shares skywards despite delivering bigger losses in its first earnings release since floating on the Nasdaq. Sharon AI, which listed on the US exchange in February under the ticker Shaz, rents out access to equipment and
- [The ‘uncomfortable’ ASX stocks that this fundie has an eye on](https://ppam.com.au/the-uncomfortable-asx-stocks-that-this-fundie-has-an-eye-on/) - CSL has disappointed the market on a number of fronts. The sudden change of CEO clearly surprised the market. The revenue performance of CSL’s Behring unit – which makes treatments from collected plasma – was weaker than expected, thanks to challenges with albumin, a hospital drug derived from plasma, in China, US-Medicare changes and greater competitive intensity.
- [Australia’s economic pain will last long after Trump’s war ends](https://ppam.com.au/australias-economic-pain-will-last-long-after-trumps-war-ends/) - S President Donald Trump’s assault on Iran may be over within weeks, but the economic damage to Australian households and businesses from the Middle East conflict will be felt for months, and even years. The scale of this unfolding global economic shock is a big deal. It consigns Australia to a looming period of high
- [Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers as Iran war drives up energy prices](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-to-add-3-5-fuel-and-logistics-surcharge-for-sellers-as-iran-war-drives-up-energy-prices/) - With the Iran war now in its fifth week, Amazon is adding a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers in the U.S. and Canada. The surcharge takes effect April 17, according to a notice to sellers. “Elevated costs in fuel and logistics have increased the cost of operating across the industry,” Amazon wrote
- [PACIFIC COMPASS – Resilience Amid Rotation and Rising Complexity [March 2026 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-resilience-amid-rotation-and-rising-complexity-march-2026-review/) - Executive Summary February was characterised by strong performance in Australian equities, rising geopolitical tensions and growing debate around the structural implications of artificial intelligence for global markets. Australian equities materially outperformed global peers, supported by strong earnings from banks and resource companies and continued resilience in the domestic labour market. The Reserve Bank of Australia
- [Stock market is in for ‘choppy, bumpy ride’ in 2026, strategist says. Why it pays to stay invested](https://ppam.com.au/stock-market-is-in-for-choppy-bumpy-ride-in-2026-strategist-says-why-it-pays-to-stay-invested/) - Headlines tied to conflict in Iran prompted substantial market losses and gains in the past week. Investors may want to brace themselves for more dramatic swings, according to JPMorgan Asset Management. Because the market’s best days often follow the worst, investors who stay the course stand to gain the most, according to the firm’s data.
- [Here’s where Polymarket inside traders think the war is going next](https://ppam.com.au/heres-where-polymarket-inside-traders-think-the-war-is-going-next/) - Two decades ago, Barbra Streisand tried to suppress the publication of a little-known photo of her Malibu home and ended up making headlines around the world. Now the Streisand effect, as that phenomenon has come to be known, is in full effect at Polymarket, where anonymous accounts on the prediction market platform have veered into
- [Optus follows Telstra in raising mobile prices drawing ACCC concern](https://ppam.com.au/optus-follows-telstra-in-raising-mobile-prices-drawing-accc-concern/) - Optus has followed Telstra in raising the prices of its mobile plans for the second time within 12 months, far exceeding inflation and drawing concern from the competition watchdog over its impact on customers. The Singtel-owned telco started telling customers on Wednesday that their plans would increase by $5 a month from May 18, but
- [Stocks are surging in early signs of huge short squeeze](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-are-surging-in-early-signs-of-huge-short-squeeze/) - For weeks, Bell Potter Securities’ Richard Coppleson has warned readers of his popular after-market newsletter that all the ingredients were laid out for “the mother of all short squeezes” on Wall Street. Hedge funds were sitting on their largest short book – the number of stocks out on loan expected to sell off – since
- [Dow jumps 200 points to start April as traders bet Middle East conflict will soon end: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-jumps-200-points-to-start-april-as-traders-bet-middle-east-conflict-will-soon-end-live-updates/) - Stocks rose on Wednesday, while oil prices declined to start the month, as hope grew that an end to the U.S.-Iran war was on the horizon. The S&P 500 advanced 0.72% and closed at 6,575.32, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.16% and settled at 21,840.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 224.23 points, or 0.48%, to end at 46,565.74. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Stocks, bonds and commodities: How global markets have traded the Iran war](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-bonds-and-commodities-how-global-markets-have-traded-the-iran-war/) - Assets across the board have been turbulent in the month since the war began. Stocks, bonds and gold have largely sold off, while energy commodities have surged. Foreign exchange and broader metal markets have also been rattled. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/iran-war-stocks-sp500-spx-nasdaq-dow-bonds-treasurys-yields-price-markets-gold-rates.html
- [War pushes fragile aluminium markets to the brink of disaster](https://ppam.com.au/war-pushes-fragile-aluminium-markets-to-the-brink-of-disaster/) - Six months ago, US investment bank Citi warned that aluminium markets were “sleepwalking into the biggest deficit in 20 years” as China fast approached its self-imposed annual production cap of 45 million tonnes. The mandate has been a ticking time bomb since it was introduced in 2017 to curb overcapacity and cut emissions. China first
- [‘No airbag’ for ASX tech stocks after another brutal month of losses](https://ppam.com.au/no-airbag-for-asx-tech-stocks-after-another-brutal-month-of-losses/) - It has been another brutal month for investors in Australian technology stocks; about $7 billion was erased from the sector in March as the Middle East conflict and the threat of higher interest rates compounded fears of disruption from artificial intelligence. A second interest rate rise in as many months from the Reserve Bank of
- [Bond markets say a new, dangerous phase of energy shock has started](https://ppam.com.au/bond-markets-say-a-new-dangerous-phase-of-energy-shock-has-started/) - Debt buyers and commodity investors are telling us demand for oil now needs to come down. That makes the Albanese government’s excise call a curious one. For five weeks, Iran and the United States have been trading missiles and drones. Now they’re trading … financial advice? After a classic Donald Trump social media post to
- [Dow surges 1,100 points, S&P 500 posts best day since May as hopes grow for end of Iran war: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-surges-1100-points-sp-500-posts-best-day-since-may-as-hopes-grow-for-end-of-iran-war-live-updates/) - Stocks rose on Tuesday following new reports that gave investors hope that the Iran war could soon come to an end. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1,125.37 points, or 2.49%, and closed at 46,341.51. The move came after an unconfirmed report said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is open to ending the war with guarantees. The S&P
- [How the big oil and gas CEOs think the Iran war supply disruption will play out](https://ppam.com.au/how-the-big-oil-and-gas-ceos-think-the-iran-war-supply-disruption-will-play-out/) - Oil industry executives painted a grim picture of the Iran war supply disruption at S&P Global’s annual CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. They warned that the disruption is bigger than the markets understand and prices are unlikely to return to pre-war levels soon. The disruption to jet fuel, diesel and gasoline is even bigger. Shortages
- [Telstra forced to remove a third of its mobile coverage from its maps](https://ppam.com.au/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 a limit on the signal strength companies can claim works for calls and texts. After rivals Optus and TPG Telecom,
- [Stagflation fears grip markets as oil, aluminium prices soar](https://ppam.com.au/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 off, after Iran-backed Houthi militants joined the month-long conflict that has already caused a global supply crunch. Brent crude jumped
- [Super funds at risk as war triggers ‘overcrowding’ of the ASX](https://ppam.com.au/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 concentrated in a select group of ASX-listed stocks. In just four months, the concentration or combined weighting of the 10
- [Powell sees inflation outlook in check, no need to hike rates because of oil shock](https://ppam.com.au/powell-sees-inflation-outlook-in-check-no-need-to-hike-rates-because-of-oil-shock/) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that he sees inflation expectations as being grounded, even as energy prices rise. In the near term, the right move is to look beyond the short-term gyrations of the energy market and concentrate on the Fed’s goals of stable prices and low unemployment, Powell said. The central bank leader
- [Eli Lilly reaches $2.75 billion deal with Insilico to bring AI-developed drugs to the global market](https://ppam.com.au/eli-lilly-reaches-2-75-billion-deal-with-insilico-to-bring-ai-developed-drugs-to-the-global-market/) - Hong Kong-listed Insilico Medicine has reached a deal with U.S. pharma giant Eli Lilly for AI-discovered drugs. The two companies have worked together since 2023. Insilico’s CEO, Alex Zhavoronkov, said Eli Lilly has a competitive edge in certain aspects of AI. 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](https://ppam.com.au/tpg-and-optus-join-forces-to-shrink-telstras-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 Gall’s Langawirra Station sits on a little white spot between spider webs of green. North of Broken Hill in far
- [Why the super sector should be doubly worried about Iran](https://ppam.com.au/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 was passed down to the Macquarie Group chief executive by her predecessor, Nicholas Moore. It depicts a group of wizards
- [ASX to slide as Houthi strikes threaten deeper oil shock](https://ppam.com.au/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 the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil supply passes. As a result of the supply disruption, the
- [Dow tumbles almost 800 points and enters correction, S&P 500 posts fifth straight losing week: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-tumbles-almost-800-points-and-enters-correction-sp-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 traders to scoop up shares. The 30-stock Dow fell 793.47 points, or 1.73%, to close at 45,166.64. The S&P 500 lost 1.67%
- [It’s not just oil and gas. The Strait of Hormuz blockage is rattling another vital commodity](https://ppam.com.au/its-not-just-oil-and-gas-the-strait-of-hormuz-blockage-is-rattling-another-vital-commodity/) - Food insecurity warnings as Iran conflict constricts fertilizer supply and prices soar. Around one-third of the global seaborne fertilizer trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz. 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
- [Santos hit by outage at Barossa LNG just as gas faces global crunch](https://ppam.com.au/santos-hit-by-outage-at-barossa-lng-just-as-gas-faces-global-crunch/) - Santos has suffered a stoppage at its new $6 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea, cutting exports from its recently restarted Darwin LNG plant just as global gas markets face a severe squeeze because of the loss of exports from Qatar. The “temporary shutdown” of Darwin LNG was required for the replacement of
- [Markets just keep ignoring the energy shock that is already here](https://ppam.com.au/markets-just-keep-ignoring-the-energy-shock-that-is-already-here/) - There are better signs out of the Middle East, but even peace tomorrow won’t stop the existing oil and gas crisis. So why don’t investors care? For a moment there, it felt like we’d stepped through the looking glass. After 25 straight days during which the Strait of Hormuz has been shut by the conflict
- [Investors to splash $23b on battered ASX as BHP, CBA pay out](https://ppam.com.au/investors-to-splash-23b-on-battered-asx-as-bhp-cba-pay-out/) - A rebound in the Australian sharemarket could be turbocharged over the next few weeks as $23 billion worth of dividend payouts is expected to be redeployed back into beaten down stocks if tensions in the Middle East continues to de-escalate. This week a massive $12.5 billion in dividends will have been paid to investors including
- [The oil market is in ‘backwardation’ — Here’s what that means for energy prices](https://ppam.com.au/the-oil-market-is-in-backwardation-heres-what-that-means-for-energy-prices/) - Points The oil market is in backwardation: a phenomenon where futures with near-term deliveries are marketed at a premium over longer-dated contracts. Market watchers spoke to CNBC about what the backwardation says about investors’ views on the Iran war, with some warning investors may be underpricing risks. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/26/market-trends-oil-futures-backwardation.html
- [Recession odds climb on Wall Street as economy shows cracks beneath the surface](https://ppam.com.au/recession-odds-climb-on-wall-street-as-economy-shows-cracks-beneath-the-surface/) - Economists have pulled up their risk assessments of a U.S. contraction amid heightened uncertainty over geopolitical risk and a labor market that for the past year has shown strains. “I’m concerned recession risks are uncomfortably high and on the rise,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “Recession is a real threat here.” Twin
- [The ASX is a defensive bet. So why has it fizzled during the Iran war?](https://ppam.com.au/the-asx-is-a-defensive-bet-so-why-has-it-fizzled-during-the-iran-war/) - The Australian sharemarket, dominated by banks and companies that dig stuff out of the ground, has long been considered a safe haven for global investors during times of extreme geopolitical uncertainty. But this year it has bucked the trend during the escalating tensions in the Middle East, joining the Japanese and Korean markets in approaching
- [Bank investors ‘should run for exit’ if Middle East conflict worsens](https://ppam.com.au/bank-investors-should-run-for-exit-if-middle-east-conflict-worsens/) - Major banks are likely to increase their bad debt buffers in coming months as the energy price shock triggered by war in the Middle East squeezes the finances of business customers reliant on fuel. Bank sector analysts expect ANZ, Westpac, and National Australia Bank to top up provisions when they announce interim results in May,
- [Markets are gripped by an alarming cognitive dissonance](https://ppam.com.au/markets-are-gripped-by-an-alarming-cognitive-dissonance/) - Markets thrive on contradictions. Every buyer needs a seller – and each thinks they are making a good trade despite the likelihood that the other is at least as well-informed as they are. Investors know that markets are the best prediction engines out there, and try to beat them anyway. Perhaps the most useful piece
- [Dow rises 300 points as traders hope U.S. and Iran can reach ceasefire deal: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-rises-300-points-as-traders-hope-u-s-and-iran-can-reach-ceasefire-deal-live-updates/) - Stocks jumped on Wednesday as oil prices pulled back and traders hoped the U.S. and Iran could reach an agreement for a ceasefire. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 305.43 points, or 0.66%, and closed at 46,429.49. The S&P 500 rose 0.54% to 6,591.90, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.77% to end at 21,929.83. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/24/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Circle Internet Group, SAP, Netgear, Jefferies & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-circle-internet-group-sap-netgear-jefferies-more/) - Circle — Shares of the stablecoin issuer tanked about 19% after its rival Tether said it has hired an unnamed Big Four accounting company to audit its USDT reserves. SAP — The software provider’s share price slid 4% after JPMorgan trimmed its rating to neutral from overweight and dialed back its per-share price target to 175 euros
- [Telstra lifts most mobile plan prices by double digits in a year](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-lifts-most-mobile-plan-prices-by-double-digits-in-a-year/) - Telstra has unveiled sweeping price rises for its mobile plans for the second time in 10 months, pushing the cost for some customers up by as much as 17 per cent over the past year. Australia’s biggest telco revealed in a blog post on Tuesday morning that the price of its monthly postpaid basic plan,
- [‘Brace for swings on every tweet’: Investors bamboozled by peace talks](https://ppam.com.au/brace-for-swings-on-every-tweet-investors-bamboozled-by-peace-talks/) - Investors tentatively emerged from their bunkers on Tuesday to buy up everything from stocks to gold after United States President Donald Trump boosted hopes of an imminent de-escalation of the Iran war that has erased trillions of dollars from financial markets. Less than 24 hours earlier, the Australian sharemarket had tumbled to a 10-month low
- [ASX to open higher, S&P fluctuates](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-higher-sp-fluctuates/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher. US equities ended lower amid conflicting headlines about the US-Israeli war against Iran with President Donald Trump saying Iran “badly” wants to make a deal, while the US is reportedly poised to order thousands of elite troops to the Middle East. Oil briefly traded above $US104 a barrel.
- [Stagflation alarm bells ring in the euro zone as energy crunch hits the global economy](https://ppam.com.au/stagflation-alarm-bells-ring-in-the-euro-zone-as-energy-crunch-hits-the-global-economy/) - Economic activity in the euro zone slowed sharply in March, flash PMI data showed Tuesday. Economists warn stagflation — high inflation and stalling growth — is facing the region because of the Iran war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that it was time for negotiations with Iran, given the “critical” nature of
- [Trump administration plans to bring more diesel to market as fuel prices surge, Wright says](https://ppam.com.au/trump-administration-plans-to-bring-more-diesel-to-market-as-fuel-prices-surge-wright-says/) - Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC that the administration is working bring more diesel to market as fuel prices surge. Wright said earlier Monday that emergency oil stockpile releases could reach nearly 3 million barrels per day to address the disruption. The energy secretary said the U.S. is unlikely to release additional oil from the
- [Crisis a reminder fossil fuels still key to global economic health](https://ppam.com.au/crisis-a-reminder-fossil-fuels-still-key-to-global-economic-health/) - What a difference a war makes to confident predictions about the global energy market. The executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, reassured the World Economic Forum in January there were still several “certainties” in an uncertain world. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/crisis-a-reminder-fossil-fuels-still-key-to-global-economic-health-20260323-p5rnyo
- [Why last year’s safe haven assets are now getting smashed](https://ppam.com.au/why-last-years-safe-haven-assets-are-now-getting-smashed/) - Gold and silver became the defining trade of 2025 after US President Donald Trump roiled financial markets with his sweeping “liberation day” tariffs that prompted investors to pile into traditional safe-haven assets. But this year, things are looking a little different. The escalating conflict in the Middle East has sent the oil price up more than 50
- [Recession risk ignored as traders bet on triple rate rise](https://ppam.com.au/recession-risk-ignored-as-traders-bet-on-triple-rate-rise/) - Bond traders are betting on a fresh wave of interest rate rises in Australia this year as the war in the Middle East deepens and US President Donald Trump threatens to “obliterate” Iran’s energy assets. But many believe the market has gone too far and warn that any more rate increases would break the economy,
- [Volume in stock and oil futures surged minutes before Trump’s market-turning post](https://ppam.com.au/volume-in-stock-and-oil-futures-surged-minutes-before-trumps-market-turning-post/) - At around 6:50 a.m. in New York, S&P 500 e-Mini futures trading on the CME recorded a sharp and isolated jump in volume. A similar pattern was observed in oil markets. Roughly 15 minutes later, at 7:05 a.m., Trump posted a market-moving announcement about Iran on Truth Social. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/23/volume-in-stock-and-oil-futures-surged-minutes-before-trumps-market-turning-post.html
- [$166 a barrel? Middle East oil gives clue to where all prices could be headed if Iran war drags on](https://ppam.com.au/166-a-barrel-middle-east-oil-gives-clue-to-where-all-prices-could-be-headed-if-iran-war-drags-on/) - Dubai crude oil prices surpassed $150 a barrel as transit in the Strait of Hormuz was crippled by the U.S.-Iran War. Brent crude prices have surged nearly 50% since the start of the war and currently trade around the $106 mark. Because of its proximity to the conflict, traders are looking at Dubai’s price as
- [‘Nobody knows’ the economic hit from Iran, says an uncertain Powell](https://ppam.com.au/nobody-knows-the-economic-hit-from-iran-says-an-uncertain-powell/) - Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell says it’s still too early to estimate the effect of the war in Iran on the US economy, as fighting upends global energy markets and creates a fresh supply shock that undermines the central bank’s efforts to bring down above-target inflation. The bank held interest rates steady on Wednesday (Thursday
- [LNG markets could face year-long turmoil after strike on Qatar facility](https://ppam.com.au/lng-markets-could-face-year-long-turmoil-after-strike-on-qatar-facility/) - Global liquefied natural gas supplies could be disrupted for more than a year after an Iranian missile strike on Qatar’s production facilities resulted in extensive damage, deepening the turmoil in that market for Australian producers. Repairs to the world’s biggest LNG export plant are expected to take several months if not years, depending on the
- [$A the ‘belle of the ball’ as RBA gets ahead of the pack](https://ppam.com.au/a-the-belle-of-the-ball-as-rba-gets-ahead-of-the-pack/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia has put the country ahead of the pack by raising interest rates early, a move that has bolstered the Australian dollar and could save home owners money in the long run. After the central bank raised the cash rate to 4.1 per cent on Tuesday – the second consecutive increase
- [Government bonds face ‘perfect storm’ as Iran war rattles Europe’s central banks](https://ppam.com.au/government-bonds-face-perfect-storm-as-iran-war-rattles-europes-central-banks/) - The Bank of England extinguished any hopes of interest rate cuts on Thursday as the economic impact of the Iran war weighed over its rates hold. The European Central Bank also held steady, as investors now predict fresh rate hikes later this year. Bond yields have surged, and market strategists now see opportunities for tactical
- [The Fed issues its latest interest rate decision Wednesday. Here’s what to expect](https://ppam.com.au/the-fed-issues-its-latest-interest-rate-decision-wednesday-heres-what-to-expect/) - Markets are pricing in a near-zero chance that the Federal Reserve will be cutting interest rates at this meeting — or any other in the near future. Updates to economic and rate projections also aren’t expected to show anything dramatic when the decision is released Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. On top of everything else,
- [Shares of big four banks at risk after RBA rate rise](https://ppam.com.au/shares-of-big-four-banks-at-risk-after-rba-rate-rise/) - Shares of Australia’s big four banks could come under pressure after the Reserve Bank raised interest rates on Tuesday, with Morgan Stanley warning that earnings could be hit by as much as 11 per cent. Bank analyst Richard Wiles told a webinar on Wednesday that the RBA’s 25-basis-point increase to 4.1 per cent – the
- [Only one in four fund managers beat the ASX last year](https://ppam.com.au/only-one-in-four-fund-managers-beat-the-asx-last-year/) - Just one in four Australian active equity fund managers managed to beat the market last year, underscoring the challenge facing an industry that is already competing for inflows from cheaper exchange traded funds. The S&P Dow Jones Indices Australia scorecard, which rates the performance of active managers, found 74 per cent of Australian equity funds lagged
- [Oil reaches for $US110 as war escalates](https://ppam.com.au/oil-reaches-for-us110-as-war-escalates/) - Australian shares are set for an opening drop of 1.7 per cent as oil spiked toward the $US110 a barrel mark. Iran has retaliated for Israel’s attack on the South Pars gasfield by hitting Qatar’s massive LNG production facility. Separately, and as expected, policymakers at the Federal Reserve held rates steady. Chairman Jerome Powell told
- [Dow tumbles more than 750 points to new closing low for 2026, fueled by inflation woes; Fed holds steady on rates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-tumbles-more-than-750-points-to-new-closing-low-for-2026-fueled-by-inflation-woes-fed-holds-steady-on-rates/) - Stocks sold off on Wednesday after new U.S. economic data as well as comments from the Federal Reserve chief stoked concerns about persistent inflation in the country. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 768.11 points, or 1.63%, ending at 46,225.15. The index reached a new low for the year and closed below its 200-day moving average. With its month-to-date drop now
- [Oil prices top $103 as U.S. allies reluctant to escort tankers in Strait of Hormuz](https://ppam.com.au/oil-prices-top-103-as-u-s-allies-reluctant-to-escort-tankers-in-strait-of-hormuz/) - Oil prices rose as doubts lingered over a U.S.-led coalition to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump suggested that the coalition was not fully in place as he urged other countries to get involved. Oil prices rose more than 2% on Tuesday, as doubts grow that President Donald Trump will organize
- [How the Iran war could hit your electricity bill this winter](https://ppam.com.au/how-the-iran-war-could-hit-your-electricity-bill-this-winter/) - Gas plays a pivotal role in our own domestic energy system, especially in winter. If it continues, this distant war may ripple into the Australian grid. Uncertainty has again descended over global energy markets. Not only have oil routes been disrupted by the Iran war, so too have some of the world’s most important natural
- [Australia central bank hikes rates to a near 1-year high as Iran war raises inflation risks](https://ppam.com.au/australia-central-bank-hikes-rates-to-a-near-1-year-high-as-iran-war-raises-inflation-risks/) - This comes as Australia’s inflation stays above the central bank’s upper limit of 3%. While developments in the Middle East remain highly uncertain, they are likely to add to global and domestic inflation, it said. The decision on the hike though, was passed by a narrow majority Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/17/australia-central-bank-interest-rates-rise.html
- [Beware ‘the mother of all short squeezes’ brewing on Wall Street](https://ppam.com.au/beware-the-mother-of-all-short-squeezes-brewing-on-wall-street/) - Hedge funds are sitting on their largest short book against US stocks since the 2022 bear market, setting the scene for an explosive rally in the world’s biggest sharemarket if there is a sudden de-escalation in the Middle East. Speculative investors have been upping their bets against Wall Street since the Iran war broke out
- [Tesla to buy $4.3 billion of LG Energy battery cells from disbanded GM plant](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-to-buy-4-3-billion-of-lg-energy-battery-cells-from-disbanded-gm-plant/) - Tesla is expanding ties with LG Energy Solution and has agreed to buy $4.3 billion worth of battery cells for energy storage systems produced in Lansing, Michigan. The cells will be made by LG at a plant that was formerly developed for a joint venture between the Korean battery giant and General Motors before the
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Conviction, Quality & Navigating Market Disruption [March 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-conviction-quality-navigating-market-disruption-march-2026/) - Meeting Date: FRIDAY, 13 MARCH 2026 "CONVICTION, QUALITY & NAVIGATING MARKET DISRUPTION" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, which focused on reviewing a global quality-focused investment strategy, discussing the evolving impact of artificial intelligence on markets, and continuing the development of our investment research and portfolio framework.
- [The biggest oil risk is at the bottom of the barrel](https://ppam.com.au/the-biggest-oil-risk-is-at-the-bottom-of-the-barrel/) - In the oil industry, fuel oil is known as the bottom of the barrel. It’s typically cheap, unloved and, crucially, comes from the bottom of a petroleum-distillation tower – the tall piece of refining kit where crude gets heated and cracked into several petroleum products. But the Iran war has turned the industry upside down.
- [War sends investors fleeing from Wall Street onto the ASX](https://ppam.com.au/war-sends-investors-fleeing-from-wall-street-onto-the-asx/) - As the war in the Middle East rages into a third week, investors are yanking money from Wall Street and selling out of US exchange-traded funds as they look to Australia, Europe and Asia for returns. Analysis from UBS strategist Gerry Fowler showed US-focused ETFs had “almost no net inflows” in the first week of
- [RBA set to pull the rates trigger while others hold firm](https://ppam.com.au/rba-set-to-pull-the-rates-trigger-while-others-hold-firm/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia is set to be the stand-out in a busy week for central banks, with the market and economists all but pricing in a second interest rate rise to try to keep a lid on inflation. While eight major central banks are gathering this week, the RBA is the only one
- [He manages the best-performing stock mutual fund of the past 25 years—here’s his top advice for investors](https://ppam.com.au/he-manages-the-best-performing-stock-mutual-fund-of-the-past-25-years-heres-his-top-advice-for-investors/) - In investing, past performance is no guarantee of future results. But if you’re hoping to grow your money over the long term, there’s plenty to learn from investing pros who have built lengthy and impressive track records. Earlier this year, analysts at investment research firm Morningstar identified the three mutual funds that have delivered the best performance
- [Berkshire Hathaway will start repurchasing its own shares—what buybacks mean for investors](https://ppam.com.au/berkshire-hathaway-will-start-repurchasing-its-own-shares-what-buybacks-mean-for-investors/) - Greg Abel, the new CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, announced on March 5 on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that the company would start repurchasing shares of its own stock. For Berkshire, this is a relative rarity — the company hasn’t bought back shares since the second quarter of 2024. But for companies like Berkshire, a financially mature conglomerate worth
- [Do you own the asset that beat the US market by 15pc in 2025?](https://ppam.com.au/do-you-own-the-asset-that-beat-the-us-market-by-15pc-in-2025/) - In the shadow of last year’s metals boom another asset was quietly outperforming – and it looks set to continue in 2026. he last time emerging market equities roared, reality TV was in its infancy and Britney Spears was famous for the right reasons. It was the early 2000s, in the period just after the
- [S&P 500 falls, crude rises as Middle East war rages on](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-falls-crude-rises-as-middle-east-war-rages-on/) - After having rallied at the open, the S&P 500 reversed direction and closed down as the US and Israel separately said they were intensifying their attacks on Iran, denting hopes for a de-escalation. Brent Crude settled above $US103 a barrel for a second straight session. Gold slid, holding below the $US5100 mark. The US 10-year
- [ASX to extend sell-off as oil shock bolsters RBA rate rise bets](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-extend-sell-off-as-oil-shock-bolsters-rba-rate-rise-bets/) - Traders are increasingly pricing in another three interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank this year, which would take the cash rate to the highest level since 2011, as the worst supply disruption in the history of oil markets threatens to intensify a renewed wave of inflation. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-extend-sell-off-as-oil-shock-bolsters-rba-rate-rise-bets-20260313-p5oa91
- [The biggest release of emergency oil stockpiles in history was announced. Why crude may keep rising](https://ppam.com.au/the-biggest-release-of-emergency-oil-stockpiles-in-history-was-announced-why-crude-may-keep-rising/) - Oil prices have surged more than 17% since the International Energy Agency announced the largest release of crude stockpiles in its 50-year history. Brent oil prices, the global benchmark, closed above $100 per barrel for the second session in a row on Friday. The emergency stockpiles will take time to roll out, and the quantities
- [Markets’ hopes for Fed interest rate cuts are rapidly fading away](https://ppam.com.au/markets-hopes-for-fed-interest-rate-cuts-are-rapidly-fading-away/) - As both energy prices and inflation fears pop, expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts are sliding. Traders have taken even a September cut off the table and now see only one coming, in December. There are no additional cuts priced in until well into 2027 or even into the early part of 2028. As
- [Barrenjoey kicks off investor meetings for NextDC’s $500m bond](https://ppam.com.au/barrenjoey-kicks-off-investor-meetings-for-nextdcs-500m-bond/) - Street Talk understands NextDC and its bankers at Barrenjoey Capital Partners this week told fixed income investors that it is trying to obtain a credit rating from S&P, Moody’s or Fitch next year, after which it wants to push through a chunky refinancing. Source: https://www.afr.com/street-talk/barrenjoey-kicks-off-investor-meetings-for-nextdc-s-500m-bond-20260311-p5o9js
- [Australian investors offered bite at Nvidia-backed DeepSeek AI rival](https://ppam.com.au/australian-investors-offered-bite-at-nvidia-backed-deepseek-ai-rival/) - A local broker is offering Australian investors the chance to buy a stake in an Nvidia-backed American start-up that is developing “open” artificial intelligence models designed to rival China’s DeepSeek and could be valued at as much as $US30 billion ($42 billion). Shaw and Partners this week sent a note to clients inviting them to
- [Aussie dollar jumps on oil shock as big four banks tip two rate rises](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-jumps-on-oil-shock-as-big-four-banks-tip-two-rate-rises/) - The big four banks are predicting the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates next week, just as the Australian dollar climbed to its highest level in four years and the oil price jumped back above $US100 barrel. Commonwealth Bank and ANZ have joined National Australia Bank and Westpac in forecasting a rate rise next
- [Dow tumbles more than 700 points as oil jumps, closing at new 2026 low under 47,000: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-tumbles-more-than-700-points-as-oil-jumps-closing-at-new-2026-low-under-47000-live-updates/) - Stocks were under pressure on Thursday as oil prices added to their surge on supply disruption worries while the Iran war continued. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 739.42 points, or 1.56%, closing at 46,677.85. The S&P 500 lost 1.52% and settled at 6,672.62, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 1.78% to end at 22,311.98. All three indexes posted closing lows for
- [Food prices could rise as Iran conflict disrupts fertilizer supply chain](https://ppam.com.au/food-prices-could-rise-as-iran-conflict-disrupts-fertilizer-supply-chain/) - The Iran conflict is disrupting fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which could raise global food prices. Over one-third of global fertilizer trade moves through the route, and disruptions are hitting during the spring planting season. Fertilizer prices are already rising, with U.S. urea import prices up 30% in a week. The price increases
- [The bull case for (investing in) war is alive and well](https://ppam.com.au/the-bull-case-for-investing-in-war-is-alive-and-well/) - athan Rothschild, students of history may recall, once advised buying “on the sound of cannons”. The British financier may well have been right about the current conflagration in the Middle East as a brutal market meltdown this week abruptly reversed on two words from the US President. The two-week tit-for-tat with Iran, he said, was
- [Traders, major banks point to rate rise next week on Iran oil shock](https://ppam.com.au/traders-major-banks-point-to-rate-rise-next-week-on-iran-oil-shock/) - Traders and economists increasingly expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates next week as the conflict in the Middle East drags on, triggering a spike in the oil price and leaving the central bank more worried about inflation. National Australia Bank and Westpac are the first of the major lenders to forecast
- [ASX to drop; oil rises after IEA decision, Hormuz ship strike](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-drop-oil-rises-after-iea-decision-hormuz-ship-strike/) - Australian shares are poised to open down. The S&P 500 closed modestly lower as investors struggled to position amid President Donald Trump’s ever-changing war rhetoric. While market sentiment was boosted earlier by a decision by the IEA to release a historic 400 million barrels from emergency oil reserves, Trump said the US and Israel have
- [Treasury yields gain after sticky February inflation reading, oil price increase](https://ppam.com.au/treasury-yields-gain-after-sticky-february-inflation-reading-oil-price-increase/) - Treasury yields moved higher on Wednesday as investors weighed a sticky February inflation report and monitored moves in oil prices in the midst of the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose more than 8 basis points to 4.222%. The 30-year Treasury bond yield added more than 9 basis points
- [RBA deputy issues new inflation and rates warning](https://ppam.com.au/rba-deputy-issues-new-inflation-and-rates-warning/) - Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Andrew Hauser says the jump in the oil price will push inflation above the 4.2 per cent the central bank has forecast, warning that keeping interest rates too low could fuel a damaging rise in inflation expectations. Source: https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/rba-concerns-realised-inflation-expectations-hit-three-year-high-20260310-p5o903
- [Atlas Arteria’s M&A ambitions risk shareholder showdown](https://ppam.com.au/atlas-arterias-ma-ambitions-risk-shareholder-showdown/) - Atlas Arteria chief executive Hugh Wehby set the cat among the pigeons last week when he announced the toll road operator was actively looking at new opportunities across the OECD. Atlas Arteria also put some numbers behind its ambitions, shelling out $9 million on “growth-related activities” in the 2025 financial year. It intends to spend
- [CBA chairman warns AI risks ‘hollowing out’ Australia’s economy](https://ppam.com.au/cba-chairman-warns-ai-risks-hollowing-out-australias-economy/) - Commonwealth Bank chairman Paul O’Malley says the rise of the huge artificial intelligence platforms such as OpenAI and Anthropic risks hollowing out the Australian economy and sending value overseas. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/cba-chairman-warns-ai-creates-geo-economic-risk-for-australia-20260310-p5o8yc
- [How the Iran war and rising energy prices are threatening semiconductor demand](https://ppam.com.au/how-the-iran-war-and-rising-energy-prices-are-threatening-semiconductor-demand/) - A prolonged conflict in the Middle East could disrupt supplies of key chipmaking elements such as helium and bromine, analysts told CNBC. Higher energy costs could also dampen demand for AI data center buildouts which could hurt memory chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix. However, analysts said that currently, impact from the conflict remains limited
- [S&P 500 ends volatile day slightly lower as Iran conflict keeps traders on edge: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-ends-volatile-day-slightly-lower-as-iran-conflict-keeps-traders-on-edge-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 fell slightly on Tuesday in choppy trading as oil prices pulled back and traders kept an eye on the Iran war. The broad market index dropped 0.21% to end at 6,781.48. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 34.29 points, or 0.07%, and closed at 47,706.51. The Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.01% to settle at 22,697.10. The Dow had
- [Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher’s $1 million mistake](https://ppam.com.au/santos-ceo-kevin-gallaghers-1-million-mistake/) - The Santos managing director pulled the trigger on $5 million in share sales the day before Iran was bombed. War! (Huh.) What is it good for? Santos, obviously. As the rest of the ASX gets pummelled like a Tehrani bunker, panicked investors have been fleeing into the arms of Kevin Gallagher and his South Australian oil and
- [Where this early Afterpay investor is winning amid the market meltdown](https://ppam.com.au/where-this-early-afterpay-investor-is-winning-amid-the-market-meltdown/) - Sarah Lau has never been too far away from lively discussions about the next big thing in markets. She grew up listening to her family debate speculative mining stock tips over yum cha in Sydney, and it was there as a teenager that she first heard about vanadium, now highly sought after as part of
- [Bond traders already had their hands full, ‘then a war breaks out’](https://ppam.com.au/bond-traders-already-had-their-hands-full-then-a-war-breaks-out/) - Investors closed their books on a month of mounting artificial intelligence risks. Then a conflict in the Middle East raised a whole new set of worries. ven before last weekend, Pacific Investment Management’s Daniel Ivascyn was preparing for turbulence. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/bond-traders-already-had-their-hands-full-then-a-war-breaks-out-20260309-p5o8qn
- [Prediction markets face questions on Iran war bets, from regime change to nuclear detonation](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-face-questions-on-iran-war-bets-from-regime-change-to-nuclear-detonation/) - Prediction markets are facing a backlash over wagers being placed on the Iran war. Polymarket recently archived markets that had allowed bets on the timing of a nuclear detonation, after the contracts attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars and some public backlash. CEO Shayne Coplan has called it a “complicated question,” but defended prediction markets
- [The $100 oil playbook: How pro investors are investing around this energy shock](https://ppam.com.au/the-100-oil-playbook-how-pro-investors-are-investing-around-this-energy-shock/) - Professional investors are reshuffling portfolios as crude oil surges past $100 a barrel, rotating into sectors tied to commodities while adding hedges against the risk that geopolitical tensions could trigger a broader economic shock. The jump in energy prices tied to the Middle East conflict is prompting money managers to rethink positioning. Many say the focus
- [Dow falls 450 points, posts worst week in nearly a year as oil tops $90, jobs data disappoints: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-falls-450-points-posts-worst-week-in-nearly-a-year-as-oil-tops-90-jobs-data-disappoints-live-updates/) - Stocks fell Friday, adding to their weekly declines, as oil prices spiked and traders reacted to an unexpected drop in new U.S. jobs data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 453.19 points, or 0.95%, to end at 47,501.55. It was down close to 950 points, or almost 2%, at its low of the day. The S&P 500 fell 1.33% and
- [5 questions every private credit investor needs to think about now](https://ppam.com.au/5-questions-every-private-credit-investor-needs-to-think-about-now/) - There’s a major crisis of confidence in the asset class that could soon engulf Australia. Before it does, we need to do some major soul-searching. Private credit is having a moment. The hottest new asset class has exploded in popularity on the promise of safety and income. Now, if you believe the headlines, it’s a cockroach-
- [As the ASX plunged, retail investors were busy buying the dip](https://ppam.com.au/as-the-asx-plunged-retail-investors-were-busy-buying-the-dip/) - Retail investors have been pouring money into the local sharemarket this week, betting that the escalating conflict in the Middle East ripping through global equity markets and wiping billions from the ASX will ultimately prove to be a buying opportunity. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/as-the-asx-plunged-retail-investors-were-busy-buying-the-dip-20260305-p5o7t3
- [ASX sell-off intensifies as investors brace for oil shock](https://ppam.com.au/asx-sell-off-intensifies-as-investors-brace-for-oil-shock/) - The possibility of a prolonged war in the Middle East is threatening to finally crack a multi-year bull run in equity markets as investors fret that a sharp rise in energy prices will unleash a wave of inflation. Iran launched a fresh barrage of missile and drone strikes across the Gulf on Thursday (Friday AEST)
- [Will Iran war fallout end the bull market? When investors really need to worry](https://ppam.com.au/will-iran-war-fallout-end-the-bull-market-when-investors-really-need-to-worry/) - If oil trades above $100 a barrel for a while, the U.S. economy could be in for major shocks, according to Bank of America. Oil prices have surged since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran last weekend, with West Texas Intermediate futures posting their biggest ever weekly gain, soaring 35%. The benchmark U.S. crude closed at $90.90 a barrel on
- [Investors poured billions into private credit. Now many want their money back](https://ppam.com.au/investors-poured-billions-into-private-credit-now-many-want-their-money-back/) - The recent spike in private credit redemptions highlights the risks in bringing higher-yielding, illiquid assets into the mainstream retail wealth space. But Blackstone COO Jon Gray told CNBC that most investors do understand the product. Publicly-traded private asset firms have sold off in recent days as the sector traverses multiple challenges. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/05/private-credit-blackstone-blue-owl-kkr-carlyle-retail-wealth-investors-liquid.html
- [ASX to fall, crude surges](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-crude-surges/) - Australian shares are set to fall at the open, tracking widening losses in New York after oil briefly surged above $US85 a barrel, stoking inflation worries and pushing US Treasury yields higher as the war against Iran entered its sixth day with no end in sight. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-fall-s-and-p-500-lower-broadly-as-oil-surges-higher-20260306-p5o80c
- [Eli Lilly confirms oral GLP-1 weight-loss drug being evaluated by TGA](https://ppam.com.au/eli-lilly-confirms-oral-glp-1-weight-loss-drug-being-evaluated-by-tga/) - Weight-loss patients may soon have access to more GLP-1 treatments as Eli Lilly confirmed the local regulator was evaluating its new oral obesity drug, orforglipron, which a recent study showed was more effective than the oral equivalent of popular drug Wegovy. Orforglipron is under review by the Food and Drug Administration in the US, and
- [Investors turn to the ‘HALO’ trade amid war, AI jitters](https://ppam.com.au/investors-turn-to-the-halo-trade-amid-war-ai-jitters/) - As the conflict in the Middle East rages on and investors wait for the next catalyst to set in motion either a dramatic rebound in the sharemarket or a prolonged period of volatility, strategists are starting to recommend a new trade: “HALO” stocks. Defined as companies with “heavy assets and low obsolescence”, it was coined
- [The S&P 500 shrugs off 1% and 2% daily drops all the time. Investors can, too, financial advisors say](https://ppam.com.au/the-sp-500-shrugs-off-1-and-2-daily-drops-all-the-time-investors-can-too-financial-advisors-say/) - Investors should ignore even big market drops: The S&P 500 fell by 1% or more on 1,001 days since 1996, an analysis by Morningstar Direct found. The index had a 2% or bigger drop on 313 days in that period. Still, a $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 in 1996 would be worth $191,744 today.
- [Nvidia CEO Huang says $30 billion OpenAI investment ‘might be the last’](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-ceo-huang-says-30-billion-openai-investment-might-be-the-last/) - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company’s recent $30 billion investment in OpenAI “might be the last time” it invests in the AI startup as it gears up to go public. Huang was speaking during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on Wednesday. Huang also mentioned that Nvidia’s $10 billion investment in OpenAI
- [As the conflict rages on, it’s inflation, not war, worrying investors](https://ppam.com.au/as-the-conflict-rages-on-its-inflation-not-war-worrying-investors/) - Investors may have hit the panic button on Wednesday on fears of an extended conflict in Iran, but strategists are still expecting equity markets, which have until recently been trading at or near record levels, to largely look through the crisis. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/as-the-conflict-rages-on-it-s-inflation-not-war-worrying-investors-20260226-p5o5sv
- [‘Benign’ market reaction to Iran conflict threatens to turn violent](https://ppam.com.au/benign-market-reaction-to-iran-conflict-threatens-to-turn-violent/) - Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon said he was surprised that global markets did not react more violently to the wave of missile strikes between the United States, Israel and Iran given the growing likelihood that a long conflict in the Middle East will lead to a spike in inflation. The comments from one of
- [Wilson makes ‘modest profit’ betting against Australian sharemarket](https://ppam.com.au/wilson-makes-modest-profit-betting-against-australian-sharemarket/) - Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson says he has sold an investment that makes money when the Australian sharemarket falls, netting a modest profit, after Treasurer Jim Chalmers attacked him in parliament for talking down the economy. The Australian Financial Review last week reported on Wilson’s holdings in Betashares’ Australian Equities Strong Bear Complex (BBOZ), an ETF that profits
- [The U.S. is not the place to be for investors in 2026 so far. Where they are turning to for gains](https://ppam.com.au/the-u-s-is-not-the-place-to-be-for-investors-in-2026-so-far-where-they-are-turning-to-for-gains/) - The biggest winners this year are all abroad. Emerging markets stocks represented by the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) are higher by more than 6% this year, while all non-U.S. equities in the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) gaining more than 5%. The U.S. market has lagged in comparison, with the S&P
- [What’s next for global markets as oil surges and stocks plunge on Middle East conflict](https://ppam.com.au/whats-next-for-global-markets-as-oil-surges-and-stocks-plunge-on-middle-east-conflict/) - Assets from stocks to bonds sold off across the globe on Tuesday, as the intensifying conflict in the Middle East fueled risk-off sentiment. It came as the U.S.-Iran war entered its fourth day, marked by more missile and drone strikes across the region and a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump that the conflict could stretch
- [March rate rise on the cards after Bullock’s reality check](https://ppam.com.au/march-rate-rise-on-the-cards-after-bullocks-reality-check/) - Bond traders have ramped up their bets for another interest rate increase in Australia this month after Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock issued a warning to the market that every policy decision was “on the table”. Speaking at The Australian Financial Review Business Summit on Tuesday, the RBA chief pushed back against the market’s long held
- [Global gas supply crunch looms as Qatar halts production](https://ppam.com.au/global-gas-supply-crunch-looms-as-qatar-halts-production/) - Australia’s LNG exporters are set to benefit from a surge in prices after the escalating war in the Middle East forced major gas producer Qatar to halt operations, but industry analysts say their capacity to fill the potential supply gap is limited. The bulk of Australian liquefied natural gas from producers including Woodside Energy and
- [ASX to tumble as conflict escalates; Oil spike rattles Wall Street](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-tumble-as-conflict-escalates-oil-spike-rattles-wall-street/) - Australian shares are poised to tumble by more than 1 per cent at the open as fears of a widening Middle East war roiled global markets and sent the oil price soaring. ASX 200 futures were down 124 points or 1.4 per cent to 8910 by the close at Wall Street after earlier tumbling more
- [Dow closes down 400 points after falling as much as 1,200 points as Iran conflict volatility continues: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-down-400-points-after-falling-as-much-as-1200-points-as-iran-conflict-volatility-continues-live-updates/) - Stocks had another wild session on Tuesday as concerns around a prolonged U.S.-Iran conflict rattled markets, though comments from President Donald Trump appeared to somewhat assuage those worries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 403.51 points, or 0.83%, and ended at 48,501.27. The S&P 500 slipped 0.94% to close at 6,816.63, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 1.02% to settle at 22,516.69. At their
- [PACIFIC NAVIGATOR – De-Dollarization: What is it and should investors be concerned? [March 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-navigator-de-dollarization-what-is-it-and-should-investors-be-concerned-march-202/) - Executive Summary Over the last 2 years, the US dollar has fallen against its major trading partners (chart 1). So, what’s going on with the US dollar and why it matters for Australian Investors? All currencies are affected by a range of factors both short and long term in nature. Most economists concern themselves with
- [How high can oil and gas prices go because of the Iran war? Here are the scenarios](https://ppam.com.au/how-high-can-oil-and-gas-prices-go-because-of-the-iran-war-here-are-the-scenarios/) - How high oil and gas prices rise depends on whether the Iran war disrupts supplies for a prolonged period. The last time oil prices broke $100 per barrel was after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Gasoline prices hit an all-time high of $5.016 per gallon nationally by June. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/iran-oil-gas-prices-strait-hormuz.html
- [Retail investors pile into beaten up tech stocks – and get whacked](https://ppam.com.au/retail-investors-pile-into-beaten-up-tech-stocks-and-get-whacked/) - etail investors were hammered on Monday after they piled into the bombed-out technology stocks over the past few weeks, only to watch those investments get sold off again after US strikes on Iran triggered a broad sell-off across equity markets. ASX-listed payments group Zip was Commsec’s most traded stock by individuals for two weeks in a row,
- [Financial market technology upgrade could unlock $24b a year](https://ppam.com.au/financial-market-technology-upgrade-could-unlock-24b-a-year/) - Banks and other financial firms and investors could be $24 billion better off every year if the technology underpinning the country’s financial markets is upgraded, a group of influential academics has found. Modernising core technology infrastructure underpinning markets will boost productivity and international competitiveness, the Digital Finance Co-operative Research Centre argues in a research paper
- [RBA’s Bullock warns of Iran risk as inflation tops nation’s worries](https://ppam.com.au/rbas-bullock-warns-of-iran-risk-as-inflation-tops-nations-worries/) - Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has warned that an oil price shock from the conflict in Iran could increase local inflation, which research conducted for the first time for the central bank reveals is the top economic concern for Australians. In a keynote speech at The Australian Financial Review Business Summit on Tuesday, Bullock said days
- [Gold price jumps on Middle East turmoil. What to know before investing](https://ppam.com.au/gold-price-jumps-on-middle-east-turmoil-what-to-know-before-investing/) - The price of gold jumped due to geopolitical concerns raised by the escalating war in the Middle East. J.P. Morgan analysts said in a new research note that they remain bullish on gold and expect it to hit $6,300 by the end of 2026. If you plan to invest in gold, it should be a
- [U.S.-Israel strikes Iran: What we know as markets brace for turmoil](https://ppam.com.au/u-s-israel-strikes-iran-what-we-know-as-markets-brace-for-turmoil/) - The Middle East has been thrust into a widening conflict, causing investors to brace for risk-off trades once markets reopen. The U.S. and Israel attacked Iranian targets over the weekend, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with an unprecedented wave of strikes across the Middle East, targeting several nearby countries that host U.S. military
- [Energy stocks, gold producers to surge as Iran strikes rattle markets](https://ppam.com.au/energy-stocks-gold-producers-to-surge-as-iran-strikes-rattle-markets/) - Energy stocks and gold miners are set to rally after an American strike killed Iran’s leader and left the Middle East on the brink of more serious conflict, with the only certainty being a rush for safe assets and a higher oil price. Despite the outbreak of missile and drone attacks across Iran, Israel and the
- [Crypto market hedges Iran war risks with 24/7 oil and gold trading](https://ppam.com.au/crypto-market-hedges-iran-war-risks-with-24-7-oil-and-gold-trading/) - One of crypto’s favourite 24/7 trading venues has become an unlikely hotspot for commodities and traditional asset classes this weekend, as traders scramble for round-the-clock hedges amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Perpetual swap futures – a type of futures contract that does not expire – tied to oil jumped about 5 per cent to
- [Time for Australia’s super funds to rethink how they invest](https://ppam.com.au/time-for-australias-super-funds-to-rethink-how-they-invest/) - Investing in a data centre should not be debated solely as “real estate” or “infrastructure”, but rather how it can improve the portfolio. Every few years, markets tend to anoint a hot new trend, and this season is all about the total portfolio approach. But before we get carried away, let’s remember crop tops and
- [How the attack on Iran could impact the global oil market and economy](https://ppam.com.au/how-the-attack-on-iran-could-impact-the-global-oil-market-and-economy/) - The U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran raises the risk that the Islamic Republic could try to make the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for commercial traffic in retaliation. About a third of seaborne oil exports and 20% of liquid natural gas exports pass through the strait. Those exports go mostly to big Asian economies like China. A
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Resilience, Rotation & Return Realism [February 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-resilience-rotation-return-realism-february-2026/) - Meeting Date: THURSDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2026 "Resilience, Rotation & Return Realism" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, centred on portfolio positioning for 2026, ETF integration, and evolving return expectations in a more complex market environment. Key Discussion Highlights 1. Portfolio Strategy & 2026 Positioning Model portfolios have
- [Market watchers back Jensen Huang’s view that investors are ‘wrong’ on SaaSpocalypse](https://ppam.com.au/market-watchers-back-jensen-huangs-view-that-investors-are-wrong-on-saaspocalypse/) - Nvidia’s Jensen Huang was right when he told CNBC investors “got it wrong” over AI fears that drove them to sell off software stocks, market watchers have said. Software stocks have been caught up in a sell-off that dragged the sector into bear market territory, amid fears AI could make software as a service —
- [Before the Bell: Nvidia fails to quell AI angst](https://ppam.com.au/before-the-bell-nvidia-fails-to-quell-ai-angst/) - Australian shares are set to open modestly higher, with futures reversing earlier losses after New York pared its losses late. Still, both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq ended lower as Nvidia’s blockbuster quarterly results failed to offset concerns AI is poised for further disruption. Oil gave up all its earlier gains after the US
- [The best way to invest a windfall (based on 50 years of ASX data)](https://ppam.com.au/the-best-way-to-invest-a-windfall-based-on-50-years-of-asx-data/) - he agenda was fairly straightforward when Ophir Asset Management founder Andrew Mitchell visited the home of a prospective billionaire client: win a multimillion-dollar private mandate for Ophir’s small-cap fund. The deal was done within an hour, but the meeting ran 15 minutes over schedule when the billionaire asked a parting question that prompted lively debate.
- [Investment banker John Wylie hits the bid](https://ppam.com.au/investment-banker-john-wylie-hits-the-bid/) - John Wylie’s pain of late has been shared across a host of Tanarra Capital’s most prominent positions. News of the price at which Bapcor would raise $200 million of new equity this week showed the automotive parts supplier must be feeling like a dagger. Source: https://www.afr.com/rear-window/investment-banker-john-wylie-hits-the-bid-20260226-p5o5r1
- [S&P 500 closes lower Thursday as Nvidia post-earnings slump hangs over market: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-lower-thursday-as-nvidia-post-earnings-slump-hangs-over-market-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 pulled back on Thursday as the latest results from tech titan Nvidia and software giant Salesforce weren’t enough to boost the broader market. The broad market index fell 0.54% to end at 6,908.86, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.18% and closed at 22,878.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 17.05 points, or 0.03%, to settle at 49,499.20. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/25/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Normally staid bond investors have a new biggest worry: An AI bubble](https://ppam.com.au/normally-staid-bond-investors-have-a-new-biggest-worry-an-ai-bubble/) - An AI bubble is now seen as the top investor risk for the first time ever, according to a new survey from Bank of America Global Research. Investors of high-grade credit now expect $285 billion in issuance by hyperscalers this year. Fears over artificial intelligence are now hitting bond investors, according to the latest credit
- [Rate rise risk for March looms large after inflation surprise](https://ppam.com.au/rate-rise-risk-for-march-looms-large-after-inflation-surprise/) - Investors are starting to weigh the very real possibility of an interest rate increase by the Reserve Bank of Australia when policymakers gather next month. That is after yet another hot monthly inflation report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed the consumer price index stuck at 3.8 per cent – well above the
- [Reprieve for tech investors as stocks rally, but can it last?](https://ppam.com.au/reprieve-for-tech-investors-as-stocks-rally-but-can-it-last/) - Soothing words from artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic breathed new life into the technology sector on Wednesday as it told a jittery market it was trying to build partnerships rather than replace existing services. But investors were still deciding whether the rebound in tech stocks around the world, including in Australia, was a “dead cat bounce”
- [The RBA is on inflation alert. It should watch Woolies shoppers, too](https://ppam.com.au/the-rba-is-on-inflation-alert-it-should-watch-woolies-shoppers-too/) - While the Reserve Bank remains watchful about the ratio of signal to noise in the monthly consumer price index, the latest numbers on Wednesday confirmed that inflation remains too high for comfort. Source: https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/the-rba-is-on-inflation-alert-it-should-watch-woolies-shoppers-too-20260225-p5o5go
- [S&P 500 posts back-to-back gains, Dow jumps 300 points as Nvidia rises: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-posts-back-to-back-gains-dow-jumps-300-points-as-nvidia-rises-live-updates/) - U.S. equities rose on Wednesday, supported by Nvidia and Oracle, as stocks built on the gains from the prior trading day. The S&P 500 added 0.81% and closed at 6,946.13, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.26% to 23,152.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 307.65 points, or 0.63%, and settled at 49,482.15. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/24/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Workday stock sinks on weak revenue guidance](https://ppam.com.au/workday-stock-sinks-on-weak-revenue-guidance/) - Workday’s quarterly guidance trailed consensus. The company has been caught in downward pressure on software stocks in recent weeks. CEO Carl Eschenbach stepped down earlier this month, and Aneel Bhusri, a co-founder, replaced him. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/24/workday-wday-q4-earnings-report-2026.html
- [From AI to pet food, investors are eyeing up these Chinese stocks](https://ppam.com.au/from-ai-to-pet-food-investors-are-eyeing-up-these-chinese-stocks/) - Australian investors are eyeing up China’s equity markets as the country returns from the week-long Lunar New Year celebrations, emboldened by a favourable US Supreme Court ruling against President Donald Trump that reduces the punishing tariffs faced by Chinese exporters. Fund managers say China’s move to decouple from the world’s largest economy, together with a
- [Australian dollar to spike as investors pile into ‘carry trade’](https://ppam.com.au/australian-dollar-to-spike-as-investors-pile-into-carry-trade/) - The country’s $4.5 trillion superannuation sector is bracing for a further rally in the Australian dollar as yield-hungry investors pile into the local bond market lured by the so-called “carry trade”. Expectations of higher interest rates in Australia have lit a fire under the bond market, pushing yields well above their US counterparts, from three-month
- [ASX to rise, CPI awaited](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-cpi-awaited/) - Australian shares are poised to advance, tracking a tech recovery in New York as a sell-off triggered by yet more concerns about AI disrupting a wider range of sectors reversed, somewhat. ASX 200 futures were pointing up 61 points or 0.7 per cent to 9042 near 8am AEDT. The S&P 500 closed 0.8 per cent
- [Nvidia earnings report collides with Wall Street skepticism over AI spending](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-earnings-report-collides-with-wall-street-skepticism-over-ai-spending/) - Nvidia is the lone megacap tech stock to notch gains so far this year, as investors have turned more cautious on the hefty amounts of AI infrastructure spending. As the biggest tech companies ramp up their artificial intelligence ambitions, a huge portion of their spending goes directly to Nvidia, which dominates the market for advanced
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: KKR, Blackstone, CrowdStrike, International Paper & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-kkr-blackstone-crowdstrike-international-paper-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Financials — The financials sector of the S&P 500 slid more than 3% in midday trading, the worst performer in the broad market. Alternative asset managers KKR and Blackstone slid roughly 9% and 7%, respectively, after activist hedge fund Saba Capital Management and Cox Capital Partners said they plan tender offers to buy
- [Metcash allegedly walked finance executive out over bonus stoush](https://ppam.com.au/metcash-allegedly-walked-finance-executive-out-over-bonus-stoush/) - Metcash allegedly marched a senior finance executive out of the building after she sent a reply-all email raising concerns about the grocery and alcohol wholesaler’s decision to suddenly scrap bonuses. Delia Sparkes, Metcash’s former group treasurer, is one of two former senior finance executives suing the company and its chief financial officer, Deepa Sita, over
- [Which side of the AI trade are you on? Credit investors are undecided](https://ppam.com.au/which-side-of-the-ai-trade-are-you-on-credit-investors-are-undecided/) - Credit investors are now confronting a new question: how does the artificial intelligence revolution reshape risk and opportunity? In the coming years, a major determinant of outcomes in credit markets will be which side of the AI trade you are on. Equity investors have been grappling with this reality for some time, but debt investors
- [Aurizon to keep Queensland rail network after review](https://ppam.com.au/aurizon-to-keep-queensland-rail-network-after-review/) - Aurizon rejected offers for minority stakes in its Queensland rail network because the company believes investors will reap higher returns by retaining it. The company is keeping its existing integrated model, which includes the 2670-kilometre Central Queensland coal network, after an extensive review that considered whether to sell a minority stake of up to 49
- [Dow drops 800 points as AI disruption fears and tariff woes weigh on markets: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-drops-800-points-as-ai-disruption-fears-and-tariff-woes-weigh-on-markets-live-updates/) - U.S. equities tumbled on Monday as investors grappled with persistent fears around artificial intelligence disruptions to various industries and President Donald Trump’s decision to raise his global tariffs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 821.91 points, or 1.66%, to close at 48,804.06, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.13% and ended at 22,627.27. The S&P 500 shed 1.04% and closed at 6,837.75, putting it into the red
- [S&P 500 rises, Dow gains 200 points after Supreme Court strikes down Trump emergency tariffs: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-rises-dow-gains-200-points-after-supreme-court-strikes-down-trump-emergency-tariffs-live-updates/) - Stocks rose on Friday after the Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump’s tariffs, potentially providing relief for companies burdened by higher costs from the duties and easing concern about sticky inflation still plaguing the U.S. economy. The S&P 500 advanced 0.69% and closed at 6,909.51, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9% and settled at 22,886.07. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added
- [Transurban’s toll road profits back in the black](https://ppam.com.au/transurbans-toll-road-profits-back-in-the-black/) - Transurban’s new West Gate Tunnel in Melbourne is attracting fewer vehicles than analysts expected, the toll group’s financial statements show as it swung back into the black with an interim profit of $343 million. The $10.2 billion tunnel, which opened in mid-December after eight years of construction and more than $3 billion worth of cost
- [ASX braces for shock as Trump imposes 15pc universal tariffs](https://ppam.com.au/asx-braces-for-shock-as-trump-imposes-15pc-universal-tariffs/) - If Australian investors were hoping for a quiet Monday morning, Donald Trump has other plans. The local sharemarket is bracing for a wobbly start as the White House doubled down on its trade agenda, raising universal tariffs to 15 per cent in a defiant response to the US Supreme Court. It leaves the market in
- [The hidden cost of the passive investing boom](https://ppam.com.au/the-hidden-cost-of-the-passive-investing-boom/) - In tough times active fund managers have to stick together, and that’s precisely what a trio of the world’s top funds are doing in this week in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Baillie Gifford, MFS and Orbis, who oversee around $1.5 trillion of assets, are hosting their third joint gathering in six years to promote the
- [Market volatility trap? Why this income-first strategy may ‘leave a lot on the table’](https://ppam.com.au/market-volatility-trap-why-this-income-first-strategy-may-leave-a-lot-on-the-table/) - The market volatility may be leading retail investors astray. According to Kathmere Capital Management’s Nick Ryder, they shouldn’t use the current backdrop as an excuse to dive into defensive trades — including dividend-paying stocks and bonds. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/21/market-volatility-trap-this-investment-strategy-may-hurt-investors-.html
- [These stocks can insulate investors from AI risk — and they pay dividends, says Jenny Harrington](https://ppam.com.au/these-stocks-can-insulate-investors-from-ai-risk-and-they-pay-dividends-says-jenny-harrington/) - Investors looking to insulate themselves from artificial intelligence risks may want to consider certain dividend stocks, according to investor Jenny Harrington. In fact, dividend payers have been outperforming so far this year as investors rotate from large cap names into “old economy” stocks, she said. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/19/these-dividend-stocks-can-insulate-investors-from-ai-risk-says-jenny-harrington.html
- [APA’s $480m gas grid splurge questioned ahead of government reforms](https://ppam.com.au/apas-480m-gas-grid-splurge-questioned-ahead-of-government-reforms/) - APA Group chief executive Adam Watson has been grilled by analysts over the pipeline giant’s decision to commit almost half a billion dollars to expand its east coast gas grid before the Albanese government’s reforms to the market have been finalised. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/apa-group-commits-480m-to-gas-grid-expansion-despite-uncertainty-20260213-p5o234
- [Telstra cautions on overinvestment in AI and the risk of lower returns](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-cautions-on-overinvestment-in-ai-and-the-risk-of-lower-returns/) - Australia’s largest telecommunications company has cautioned against overinvestment in artificial intelligence, warning the costs could be higher than the benefits, as global business spending on the technology surges. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/telstra-expands-share-buyback-as-net-profit-jumps-9pc-20260218-p5o39j
- [‘Not as dynamic, not as attractive’; big super downbeat on ASX](https://ppam.com.au/not-as-dynamic-not-as-attractive-big-super-downbeat-on-asx/) - One of the country’s biggest superannuation funds says the Australian sharemarket is becoming less attractive for investors as an influx of passive money from rival funds has created a top-heavy and sluggish market when compared to overseas. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/not-as-dynamic-not-as-attractive-big-super-downbeat-on-asx-20260218-p5o3a1
- [Blue Owl curbs investor liquidity following asset sale, shares slide almost 6%](https://ppam.com.au/blue-owl-curbs-investor-liquidity-following-asset-sale-shares-slide-almost-6/) - Blue Owl Capital will tighten investor liquidity in its retail-focused Blue Owl Capital Corporation II Fund after offloading $600 million of portfolio assets. The move comes as part of a larger $1.4 billion sale by the private asset manager of assets to a number of North American pension fund and insurance investors. The deal follows
- [Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Nvidia, New York Times, Palantir & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-premarket-nvidia-new-york-times-palantir-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines before the bell. Nvidia — The chipmaker ticked up 2% after Meta expanded its partnership with Nvidia to use millions of the company’s AI chips, including standalone central processing units, for its data center build-out. The New York Times Company — The stock rose 3% after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire
- [Santos to cull 10pc of workforce, may sell assets](https://ppam.com.au/santos-to-cull-10pc-of-workforce-may-sell-assets/) - Santos will cut 10 per cent of jobs and has flagged potential sales of Australian assets, including the Narrabri gas project in NSW, in a bid to streamline its business and lift shareholder returns. The reduction of about 400 jobs is part of a fresh push to lower costs and upgrade the portfolio as two
- [QR ordering platform Me&u invests for growth as maiden profit looms](https://ppam.com.au/qr-ordering-platform-meu-invests-for-growth-as-maiden-profit-looms/) - Me&u, a mobile ordering start-up used in pubs and cafes around the country, says it has the funds to start investing in its first consumer app after booking figures showing a path to a maiden profit, following a period of significant losses and redundancies. Chief executive Kim Teo, who co-founded Mr Yum and led its
- [ASX to rise; Wesfarmers ups payout, Telstra expands buyback to $1.25b](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-wesfarmers-ups-payout-telstra-expands-buyback-to-1-25b/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher, though gains in futures faded in line with Wall Street after US Federal Reserve minutes suggested some policymakers had raised the risk of an interest rate hike. ASX 200 futures were up 41 points or 0.5 per cent to 9005 near 8.20am. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 per
- [Fed officials split on where interest rates should go, minutes say](https://ppam.com.au/fed-officials-split-on-where-interest-rates-should-go-minutes-say/) - Divided Fed officials at their January meeting indicated that further interest rate cuts should be paused for now and could resume later in the year only if inflation cooperates, minutes released Wednesday showed. Some officials even entertained the notion that rate hikes could be on the table and wanted the post-meeting statement to more closely
- [Amazon snaps 9-day losing streak during which it lost more than $450 billion in value](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-snaps-9-day-losing-streak-during-which-it-lost-more-than-450-billion-in-value/) - Amazon snapped 9 days of consecutive share losses, a stretch that wiped out more than $450 billion in market valuation. Investors went on a selling spree after Amazon said it expects to spend $200 billion this year on artificial intelligence initiatives. Amazon shares closed up more than 1% on Tuesday, snapping a nine-day slide that shaved
- [Phil Lowe’s anti-woke plan to simplify rules for ASX companies](https://ppam.com.au/phil-lowes-anti-woke-plan-to-simplify-rules-for-asx-companies/) - The ASX’s new corporate governance body, led by Philip Lowe, will focus on diversity of experience and thought – not personal characteristics such as sexuality, Indigenous heritage and disabilities – when it sets out new rules for boards he expects to be finalised this year. In his first media interview as head of the new
- [Global fund managers still bullish, though capex ‘too hot’](https://ppam.com.au/global-fund-managers-still-bullish-though-capex-too-hot/) - Global fund managers remain “uber-bullish” – the most optimistic since June 2021 – and as a result, it will be much harder for asset prices to rise this quarter when everyone is positioned for that, Bank of America said. “Our broadest measure of ... sentiment, based on cash levels, equity allocation, and global growth expectations,
- [Mining and gaming to lead next wave of foreign ASX debuts](https://ppam.com.au/mining-and-gaming-to-lead-next-wave-of-foreign-asx-debuts/) - Australia is becoming an unlikely haven for foreign companies looking to raise money from the sharemarket, attracted by the massive pools of retirement savings that often helps lure more listings to the ASX than London and New York. Data from the ASX shows a sharp rise in activity last year, with 16 international listings that
- [CFTC defends its right to prediction market enforcement as states challenge platforms](https://ppam.com.au/cftc-defends-its-right-to-prediction-market-enforcement-as-states-challenge-platforms/) - Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael Selig said the agency has filed an amicus brief in federal court to assert its authority over prediction market enforcement and regulation. The move comes just three weeks after Selig said he was prepared to draft new, clear rules to govern event contracts. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are
- [Consumer prices rose 2.4% annually in January, less than expected](https://ppam.com.au/consumer-prices-rose-2-4-annually-in-january-less-than-expected/) - The consumer price index for January accelerated 2.4% from the same time a year ago, down 0.3 percentage point from the prior month and the lowest since May 2025. Excluding food and energy, the core CPI was up 2.5%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for an annual rate of 2.5% for both
- [Michelle Jablko and the problem of what comes next for Transurban](https://ppam.com.au/michelle-jablko-and-the-problem-of-what-comes-next-for-transurban/) - For Michelle Jablko, the former investment banker and ANZ finance boss who took the reins of toll road giant Transurban two years ago, the next 12 months could be make or break as investors demand a clearer picture of the company’s next phase of growth. Since succeeding Scott Charlton, who during his 11 years running Transurban lifted
- [Telstra warns of higher mobile bills over $7.2b fee](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-warns-of-higher-mobile-bills-over-7-2b-fee/) - Telstra has warned of higher mobile phone bills if the Albanese government presses ahead with plans to charge telcos $7.2 billion to access mobile phone networks in Australia. In a rare pre-budget submission to Treasury, the country’s biggest telco said it would be forced to pay $1.3 billion more than was fair under a new
- [AGL and Origin have sent a clear message about the energy transition](https://ppam.com.au/agl-and-origin-have-sent-a-clear-message-about-the-energy-transition/) - Those seeking a reality check on the energy transition can’t go past the latest financial results from Origin Energy, the country’s largest energy retailer, and AGL Energy, the owner of Australia’s largest portfolio of electricity generation assets. Both companies saw their share prices pop after beating market expectations and releasing relatively bullish outlook statements founded
- [European markets close higher as investors digest key points from Munich Security Conference](https://ppam.com.au/european-markets-close-higher-as-investors-digest-key-points-from-munich-security-conference/) - European markets closed higher on Monday, as investors digested the key points from this year’s Munich Security Conference. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.1% by market close, with major bourses and most sectors in the region in positive territory. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/16/europe-markets-stoxx-600-ftse-100-msc-defense.html
- [The January CPI inflation report is due out Friday morning. Here’s what it’s expected to show](https://ppam.com.au/the-january-cpi-inflation-report-is-due-out-friday-morning-heres-what-its-expected-to-show-2/) - The consumer price index, a broad measure of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, is expected to show a 2.5% gain from a year ago. If that ends up being accurate, it would bring the gauge back to its May 2025 level — a month after President Donald Trump enacted his “liberation day”
- [The market’s biggest tech bear is finally growling](https://ppam.com.au/the-markets-biggest-tech-bear-is-finally-growling/) - Rajiv Jain admits he had his fair share of sleepless nights over the past year. The founder and key stock picker at $US170 billion ($240 billion) fund manager GQG Partners had decided to dump tech stocks on the basis that the economics of artificial intelligence didn’t add up and that a big, ugly accident was
- [Surging demand has helped Australia’s bond market finally come of age](https://ppam.com.au/surging-demand-has-helped-australias-bond-market-finally-come-of-age/) - Australia has always punched above its weight in financial markets. The country accounts for less than 2 per cent of the global economy, yet the currency has been the fifth or sixth most actively traded since the 1983 float. And a combination of strong governance, a stable economy and demand for foreign capital (at least
- [ASX eyes record high as 80 companies prepare to report](https://ppam.com.au/asx-eyes-record-high-as-80-companies-prepare-to-report/) - Australia’s sharemarket could hit a record high this week but investors are preparing for a potentially volatile Monday as the reporting season peaks with 80 companies set to release their results over the week. The S&P/ASX 200 Index is set to start the week 0.6 per cent higher, or 51 points, extending the market rally
- [Dow slides 600 points, S&P 500 falls for a third day as AI disruption fears rattle markets: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-slides-600-points-sp-500-falls-for-a-third-day-as-ai-disruption-fears-rattle-markets-live-updates-2/) - Stocks dropped on Thursday as investors began to worry about the negative side of the artificial intelligence buildout, which threatens to disrupt the business models of whole industries and raise unemployment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 669.42 points, or 1.34%, to end at 49,451.98. The index was led lower by Cisco Systems, which slid 12% after the
- [The January CPI inflation report is due out Friday morning. Here’s what it’s expected to show](https://ppam.com.au/the-january-cpi-inflation-report-is-due-out-friday-morning-heres-what-its-expected-to-show/) - The consumer price index, a broad measure of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, is expected to show a 2.5% gain from a year ago. If that ends up being accurate, it would bring the gauge back to its May 2025 level — a month after President Donald Trump enacted his “liberation day”
- [Investors back ANZ CEO’s strategy after solid first quarter result](https://ppam.com.au/investors-back-anz-ceos-strategy-after-solid-first-quarter-result/) - When the tough-talking Nuno Matos took over as ANZ’s chief executive last year, the drastic downsizing he undertook of the bank stunned staff, investors and analysts. The former HSBC executive announced he would implement a strategy, known as ANZ 2030, which included slashing 3500 jobs. He wanted to simplify the bank, cut duplication, accelerate the integration
- [RBA board appointee argued for higher interest rates](https://ppam.com.au/rba-board-appointee-argued-for-higher-interest-rates/) - Bruce Preston, one of the nation’s top academic monetary policy economists and the new appointee to the Reserve Bank of Australia board, has in the past argued for higher interest rates. His appointment by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Thursday meant that Labor has now placed a clear majority of the members on the nine-person interest
- [ASX’s departing boss says listings pipeline can withstand higher rates](https://ppam.com.au/asxs-departing-boss-says-listings-pipeline-can-withstand-higher-rates/) - The Australian Securities Exchange’s outgoing boss Helen Lofthouse says the pipeline for new listings is strong and expects growth to continue even as rising interest rates make for a more challenging environment. The ASX’s net profit rose 8.3 per cent to $263.6 million in the half-year to December, driven by strong trading volumes in the
- [Dow slides 600 points, S&P 500 falls for a third day as AI disruption fears rattle markets: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-slides-600-points-sp-500-falls-for-a-third-day-as-ai-disruption-fears-rattle-markets-live-updates/) - Stocks dropped on Thursday as investors began to worry about the negative side of the artificial intelligence buildout, which threatens to disrupt the business models of whole industries and raise unemployment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 669.42 points, or 1.34%, to end at 49,451.98. The index was led lower by Cisco Systems, which slid 12% after the
- [Investor Einhorn said he bought Peloton again on this latest dip. Here’s what else he’s buying](https://ppam.com.au/investor-einhorn-said-he-bought-peloton-again-on-this-latest-dip-heres-what-else-hes-buying/) - Hedge fund manager David Einhorn said he bought Peloton Interactive after its latest dip, along with some other bets. The Greenlight Capital founder said investors have overreacted to Peloton’s latest earnings results, after the connected fitness company’s worse-than-expected holiday quarter caused the connected fitness stock to plunge 26% on Thursday. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/investor-einhorn-said-he-bought-peloton-again-on-this-latest-dip-heres-what-else-hes-buying.html
- [AGL seeks wind project partners, sells telco arm to Aussie Broadband](https://ppam.com.au/agl-seeks-wind-project-partners-sells-telco-arm-to-aussie-broadband/) - GL Energy is hunting for funding partners to develop a 2 gigawatt-plus portfolio of wind farms, as it seeks to free up capital to accelerate the deployment of clean energy projects to replace coal power stations. Australia’s largest energy retailer also set a $50 million target of cost reductions for the next financial year, which
- [Get ready for wild markets as earnings season kicks off with a bang](https://ppam.com.au/get-ready-for-wild-markets-as-earnings-season-kicks-off-with-a-bang/) - t’s been a wild start to the year for ASX investors, with the market soaring one day, only to sell off the next. Many will hope it is just passing turbulence, but industry veterans warn that given so much money is crowded into a handful of stocks and with the earnings season in Australia just
- [ASX chair won’t be rushed on finding new CEO, despite huge task ahead](https://ppam.com.au/asx-chair-wont-be-rushed-on-finding-new-ceo-despite-huge-task-ahead/) - ASX chairman David Clarke says the sharemarket operator’s board won’t be rushed in its efforts to appoint a new chief executive to tackle its regulatory and technology issues, as some investors urge the board to focus on external candidates for the leadership refresh. Incumbent chief executive Helen Lofthouse will step down from her role and part
- [Dow snaps three-day win streak as excitement over strong jobs report fizzles out: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-snaps-three-day-win-streak-as-excitement-over-strong-jobs-report-fizzles-out-live-updates/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped on Wednesday and snapped a three-day win streak after the better-than-expected January jobs report failed to spark a sustainable advance. The blue-chip index lost 66.74 points, or 0.13%, and closed at 50,121.40. The S&P 500 inched down less than a point to 6,941.47. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.16% to end at 23,066.47. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/10/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Ford reports worst quarterly earnings miss in four years, guides for better 2026](https://ppam.com.au/ford-reports-worst-quarterly-earnings-miss-in-four-years-guides-for-better-2026/) - Ford Motor reported its first quarterly miss since 2024 and its largest quarterly earnings miss in four years. The earnings miss was largely due to unexpected tariff costs of roughly $900 million related to credits for auto parts not taking effect as early as expected, the company said. Ford executives will host an earnings conference
- [ASX to rise; AGL beats forecasts, sells telco unit](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-agl-beats-forecasts-sells-telco-unit/) - The Australian sharemarket is poised to open higher, though a potential extended slump in CSL could dent the opening advance. ASX Ltd and Commonwealth Bank are also in focus. CSL shares plunged 5 per cent late in Tuesday’s session after the sudden exit of its chief executive in the final minutes of trading, dragging the market lower after the
- [AFR interim profit season calendar and results 2026](https://ppam.com.au/afr-interim-profit-season-calendar-and-results-2026/) - Here, The Australian Financial Review has compiled the dates for companies reporting in this year’s interim earnings season. This list will be updated daily with links to major company results from our specialist reporting teams across financial services, markets, property and technology. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/afr-interim-profit-season-calendar-and-results-2026-20260204-p5nzgb
- [CSL announcement dragged down market, leaving investors furious](https://ppam.com.au/csl-announcement-dragged-down-market-leaving-investors-furious/) - CSL shares slumped, dragging down the market, after the healthcare giant mis-timed the announcement of its chief executive’s departure, leaving investors furious. At 4.05pm, just minutes before the closing bell, CSL said chief executive Paul McKenzie would retire after seven years with the company, including three in the top job. Gordon Naylor, who is on
- [Alphabet calls out new AI-related risks, as it taps debt market to fund build-out](https://ppam.com.au/alphabet-calls-out-new-ai-related-risks-as-it-taps-debt-market-to-fund-build-out/) - Alphabet has added new AI risks to its annual report, including a potential impact on advertising. The company also noted risks of “large, long-duration commercial” contracts for AI infrastructure. Alphabet is planning to raise $20 billion from a bond sale, including a 100-year bond, according to people familiar with the matter. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/09/alphabet-highlights-new-ai-related-risks-in-tapping-debt-market.html
- [Market rotation: Investors are selling 21st century ‘innovators’ to buy 19th century businesses](https://ppam.com.au/market-rotation-investors-are-selling-21st-century-innovators-to-buy-19th-century-businesses/) - Whether it’s truly better to be lucky than good, it’s undeniably best to be both whenever possible. The S&P 500′s bumpy path to a 1.3% gain in the year’s first five weeks surely shows impressive resilience among risk-seeking capital staying engaged in the equity market — while also reflecting plenty of good fortune. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/09/market-rotation-investors-are-selling-21st-century-innovators-to-buy-19th-century-businesses.html
- [RBA issues dire warning on economic growth](https://ppam.com.au/rba-issues-dire-warning-on-economic-growth/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia has forecast the worst medium-term economic growth ever, which economists warn will erode Australians’ living standards and put more pressure on the federal government’s deteriorating budget. The latest central bank forecasts, showing the economy is expected to grow just 1.6 per cent over the year to June 2028, came as
- [Investors are ditching the ASX for Asia’s tech giants](https://ppam.com.au/investors-are-ditching-the-asx-for-asias-tech-giants/) - Global investors are turning their backs on the Australian sharemarket in favour of North Asia, lured by the artificial intelligence revolution and an ongoing shake-up in corporate governance that has catapulted the region’s equity markets to be among the world’s best performers. The shift into countries such as South Korea and Taiwan also marks a
- [S&P 500 scores back-to-back gains as tech rises, Dow touches new record: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-scores-back-to-back-gains-as-tech-rises-dow-touches-new-record-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 rose on Monday, boosted by technology stocks, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new heights as investors awaited critical economic data and another batch of earnings reports following a volatile week that ended with the 30-stock index reaching a key milestone. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Global week ahead: Tech rotation puts European stocks back in play](https://ppam.com.au/global-week-ahead-tech-rotation-puts-european-stocks-back-in-play/) - Stoxx 600 holds near record highs despite AI-led tech rout UniCredit and Commerzbank lead bank earnings in Europe this week Medical groups Philips and AstraZeneca also set to release earnings L’Oreal sales in focus amid recovery in U.S. and Chinese demand Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/08/global-week-ahead-tech-rotation-puts-european-stocks-back-in-play.html
- [Paying staff with shares is getting tougher for burnt software giants](https://ppam.com.au/paying-staff-with-shares-is-getting-tougher-for-burnt-software-giants/) - Revenues are going up, momentum is strong and yet investors are turning bearish when it comes to big tech. And stock-based compensation is in the firing line. Mizuho’s veteran technology analyst Gregg Moskowitz summed up the state of utter bewilderment during Atlassian’s earnings call on Friday morning. The Nasdaq-listed software firm’s shares had plunged 40
- [Matcha inflation is a thing, and it’s getting in the RBA’s way](https://ppam.com.au/matcha-inflation-is-a-thing-and-its-getting-in-the-rbas-way/) - Has the smashed avo brigade been quietly displaced at the top of the inflation pecking order? For what it’s worth, I am betting on overpriced frozen yoghurt, or the new and improved Yo-Chi Gen Zs, to feature strongly in the takeaway and fast foods section of the Consumer Price Index this year. Anecdotally, call it a
- [ASX to roar back as investors prepare for wild earnings season](https://ppam.com.au/6381-2/) - Australian shares are set to be swept up in a relief rally on Monday, but investors are still bracing for heightened volatility as the reporting season ramps up with results from blue chips including CSL, Commonwealth Bank and James Hardie. Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 will gain 1.2 per cent, or 102 points, at the
- [This week provided more evidence that a softening labor market is the economy’s biggest threat](https://ppam.com.au/this-week-provided-more-evidence-that-a-softening-labor-market-is-the-economys-biggest-threat/) - Evidence is piling up of a weakening labor market that could dampen an otherwise sanguine U.S. economic outlook this year while also paving the way for more interest rate cuts. Together, the data points buttress worries from some Federal Reserve policymakers that the coast is far from clear for the labor market. “The soft labor
- [Amazon stock falls 10% on $200 billion spending forecast, earnings miss](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-stock-falls-10-on-200-billion-spending-forecast-earnings-miss/) - Amazon posted mixed results for the fourth quarter. The company also said it expects capital expenditures to hit roughly $200 billion in 2026. Tech companies have aggressively ramped up their spending forecasts to seize artificial intelligence demand. Amazon shares plunged more than 10% in extended trading Thursday after the company posted mixed fourth-quarter earnings, and boosted its full-year
- [Can punters beat the market this earning season? Polymarket thinks so](https://ppam.com.au/can-punters-beat-the-market-this-earning-season-polymarket-thinks-so/) - Prominent Australian-based global investors such as Plato’s Dave Allen are already using the platforms to help pick stocks. Prediction markets are, perhaps, the final frontier of gambling. Want to bet on Taylor Swift releasing an album this year, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being ousted as supreme leader of Iran by the end of July or that
- [Wealthy Aussies rush to invest in Musk’s SpaceX and xAI](https://ppam.com.au/wealthy-aussies-rush-to-invest-in-musks-spacex-and-xai/) - Australia’s wealthiest investors are scrambling to get a slice of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket company and his artificial intelligence group xAI, with one family office raising more than $US50 million ($72 million) to invest in the world’s richest man as he seeks to develop data centres in space. BFA Global Investors, a private assets investment
- [ASX to fall, bitcoin losses grow](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-bitcoin-losses-grow/) - Australian shares are poised to fall at the open in line with extended losses in New York. Bitcoin plunged below $US64,000 as its rout showed no sign of tapering. Silver shed as much as 18 per cent before paring that loss in half. Volatility spiked. The NYSE Fang + Index, which tracks the US megacap
- [Dow surges 500 points as traders look past rout in precious metals and bitcoin: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-surges-500-points-as-traders-look-past-rout-in-precious-metals-and-bitcoin-live-updates-2/) - U.S. equities rose on Monday as Wall Street began a new month of trading, with investors looking past the recent losses in silver and bitcoin. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 515.19 points, or 1.05%, closing at 49,407.66, while the S&P 500 was up 0.54% and settled at 6,976.44. The Nasdaq Composite also gained 0.56% and ended at 23,592.11. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/01/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
- [Carney’s middle powers agenda leaves Canberra squirming](https://ppam.com.au/carneys-middle-powers-agenda-leaves-canberra-squirming/) - Anthony Albanese said last weekend that he agreed with the Canadian PM. But it is highly unlikely he or any of his national security ministers would give the same kind of speech. For months now, Canadians have been waking up to images of their country’s map being blanketed by the American Stars and Stripes. How
- [AustralianSuper begins to leak members to its retirement fund rivals](https://ppam.com.au/australiansuper-begins-to-leak-members-to-its-retirement-fund-rivals/) - AustralianSuper members are switching to rival superannuation funds faster than ever before, leaving the country’s largest retirement savings manager some $250 million worse off over the last year. While that figure is small compared to the $400 billion the fund has under management, it is the first time there have been net outflows from members
- [The big four is becoming the big two, plus Macquarie](https://ppam.com.au/the-big-four-is-becoming-the-big-two-plus-macquarie/) - Over the past year, three banks have pulled away to dominate the mortgage market. Breaking their stranglehold won’t be easy. With bank valuations still well above long-term averages, and every investor and their dog talking about the rotation away from financials and into resources, the question of what rate rises will mean for Australian bank
- [A tech exit in reverse: The $3b deal to save the ASX from itself](https://ppam.com.au/a-tech-exit-in-reverse-the-3b-deal-to-save-the-asx-from-itself/) - ASX listings boss Darren Yip owes Perth software company Qoria’s whole board a drink. Not content with life as a bombed-out tech play in ASX small caps-land, the board has got shareholders a bid from a materially bigger US player backed by a couple of handy venture capital funds. But instead of flying the coop
- [RBA chief tempers rate rise bets as yields, $A jump](https://ppam.com.au/rba-chief-tempers-rate-rise-bets-as-yields-a-jump/) - The Australian dollar and bond yields jumped after the Reserve Bank unanimously voted to raise the cash rate for the first time since 2023, though traders were left in the dark as to just how much further the central bank would go to bring inflation under control. The decision by all nine members of the
- [Nvidia shares are down after a report that its OpenAI investment stalled. Here’s what’s happening](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-shares-are-down-after-a-report-that-its-openai-investment-stalled-heres-whats-happening/) - Nvidia’s shares slipped on Monday after a deal between the chip giant and OpenAI appeared to be in question. The tech giant had announced plans in September to invest up to $100 billion into the AI startup. However, Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, recently criticized OpenAI’s business strategy and cast doubt on how much will be
- [TPG Telecom, Telstra losing internet customers to cheaper rivals](https://ppam.com.au/tpg-telecom-telstra-losing-internet-customers-to-cheaper-rivals/) - Telstra and TPG Telecom, which owns the Vodafone and iiNet brands, are losing broadband customers to alternative providers with a better service and cheaper prices, according to research by JPMorgan analysts. The Wall Street investment banking giant warned clients not to buy into TPG in particular, citing its declining share of the national broadband market
- [A year after $TRUMP craze, the memecoin market is struggling for life](https://ppam.com.au/a-year-after-trump-craze-the-memecoin-market-is-struggling-for-life/) - Just over a year ago, $TRUMP was worth $24 billion, then $11 billion. Now the US president’s official crypto token is valued at just $1.3 billion. The entirety of Melania Trump’s own memecoin – as the entirely speculative, largely useless tokens are known – is worth just $29 million. In only 12 months, the crypto frenzy that
- [ASX to rise, RBA set to lift cash rate](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-rba-set-to-lift-cash-rate/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher, bolstered by somewhat calmer trading in metals and expectations that the Reserve Bank will on Tuesday afternoon lift the cash rate by 25 basis points. All three major US benchmarks rallied to start New York’s trading week after a report showed that US manufacturing activity expanded in January
- [Dow surges 500 points as traders look past rout in precious metals and bitcoin: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-surges-500-points-as-traders-look-past-rout-in-precious-metals-and-bitcoin-live-updates/) - U.S. equities rose on Monday as Wall Street began a new month of trading, with investors looking past the recent losses in silver and bitcoin. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 515.19 points, or 1.05%, closing at 49,407.66, while the S&P 500 was up 0.54% and settled at 6,976.44. The Nasdaq Composite also gained 0.56% and ended at 23,592.11. Bitcoin dropped below $80,000 for
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Newmont, Apple, Sandisk, Deckers Outdoor & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-newmont-apple-sandisk-deckers-outdoor-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan — The metals miners dropped 9.6% and 7.6%, respectively, as gold and silver faltered from record levels. The moves come after President Donald Trump picked Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair, easing fears that the central bank would lose independence. Apple — Shares
- [5 reasons the RBA could keep rates on hold](https://ppam.com.au/5-reasons-the-rba-could-keep-rates-on-hold/) - The jump in inflation this week spooked many economists into predicting that the Reserve Bank of Australia would be forced to hand mortgage holders their first interest rate increase in more than two years. With inflation remaining well above the central bank’s target range and the unemployment rate at a low 4.1 per cent, major
- [Blaming inflation for the slide in tech stocks? Think again](https://ppam.com.au/blaming-inflation-for-the-slide-in-tech-stocks-think-again/) - It’s the perfect narrative. Inflation data is released, the market expects a cash rate rise, and the ASX’s rate-sensitive technology sector suffers. But fund managers say worsening sentiment and investor ire at stock-based compensation are bigger problems for the ASX’s technology companies. And that’s not to mention the uncertainty created by the arrival of artificial
- [ASX set to fall ahead of expectations that RBA will increase rates](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-to-fall-ahead-of-expectations-that-rba-will-increase-rates/) - The sharemarket is poised for a subdued start on Monday as robust economic data fuels expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates this week. The S&P/ASX 200 Futures Index indicates a fall of 60 points, or 0.7 per cent, in the sharemarket, continuing last week’s decline. Still, overall, it finished up
- [Political risk: How Trump 2.0 is affecting investment in U.S. assets](https://ppam.com.au/political-risk-how-trump-2-0-is-affecting-investment-in-u-s-assets/) - Heightened political risk might become the backdrop for U.S. stocks for the foreseeable future. January saw the U.S. attack Venezuela and President Donald Trump attempt to annex Greenland, threatening new tariffs on eight European allies. By the end of the month, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group was sailing toward Iran after Trump signaled possible military strikes against the Islamic Republic, and
- [Tesla sold $430 million worth of its Megapack backup batteries to Musk’s xAI in 2025](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-sold-430-million-worth-of-its-megapack-backup-batteries-to-musks-xai-in-2025/) - In Tesla’s annual financial filing on Thursday, the company said that last year it sold $430 million worth of its energy storage products to xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup. Those sales accounted for about 3.4% of Tesla’s energy business revenue in 2025. The OpenAI rival previously announced it was using Tesla Megapacks to help
- [Economists fret that reading the RBA is becoming harder, not easier](https://ppam.com.au/economists-fret-that-reading-the-rba-is-becoming-harder-not-easier/) - For years, the Reserve Bank of Australia stayed behind closed doors, releasing only short, dry notes after every interest rate call. Today, RBA governor Michele Bullock holds televised press conferences after every decision, and the central bank has put plenty of work into modernising how it communicates to the market and to the millions of
- [New iPhone failures on Telstra network compound Triple Zero crisis](https://ppam.com.au/new-iphone-failures-on-telstra-network-compound-triple-zero-crisis/) - Technology giant Apple was scrambling on Thursday to ensure some of its older iPhones could make regular and emergency calls on Telstra’s network in the latest in a series of Triple Zero failures. Technological problems emerged during the 3G shutdown when Australia shifted to 4G networks. Bloomberg Apple temporarily stopped software updates released earlier this
- [JP Morgan banker bonuses pop as Wall Street bank goes on hiring spree](https://ppam.com.au/jp-morgan-banker-bonuses-pop-as-wall-street-bank-goes-on-hiring-spree/) - JP Morgan’s Australian investment banking division is expanding its team in financial sponsors and two sectors after staff were handed bigger bonuses following a solid year for the local franchise. Bankers were informed of their bonuses last week, and people briefed on the matter who requested anonymity as they were not permitted to comment said
- [Amazon could invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI in coming weeks, source says](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-could-invest-up-to-50-billion-in-openai-in-coming-weeks-source-says/) - Amazon is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, CNBC confirmed. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy have been engaging in the discussions directly, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The details of Amazon’s talks with OpenAI are still fluid and the final total is subject to
- [Tesla tops estimates for quarter, but wraps up first annual revenue drop on record](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-tops-estimates-for-quarter-but-wraps-up-first-annual-revenue-drop-on-record/) - Tesla reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter. Revenue fell for the third time in three quarters, and sales for the full year declined for the first time on record. Net income plunged 61% from a year ago in the quarter, as operating expenses jumped 39%. Tesla reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results after the bell
- [Surging Australian dollar set to keep rising as rate increases near](https://ppam.com.au/surging-australian-dollar-set-to-keep-rising-as-rate-increases-near/) - The Australian dollar has smashed through the US70¢ barrier for the first time in three years, as a “perfect storm” of a crumbling greenback and hot domestic inflation fuels bets of an interest rate rise next week. The local currency reached a high of US70.22¢ on Wednesday, a level last seen in February 2023, having
- [Rate rise next week firms after surprise inflation jump](https://ppam.com.au/rate-rise-next-week-firms-after-surprise-inflation-jump/) - Treasurer Jim Chalmers has denied increased government spending has contributed to higher than expected inflation after a spike in the consumer price index greatly increased the prospects of a first interest rate rise in more than two years. Just over a year since the government declared that “the worst is behind us,” new inflation data
- [Blue-chip takeovers and few IPOs put ASX on track to shrink this year](https://ppam.com.au/blue-chip-takeovers-and-few-ipos-put-asx-on-track-to-shrink-this-year/) - Three big takeovers could see the Australian sharemarket shrink for the first time in more than two decades and wane in relevance among global exchanges as private capital becomes more attractive to companies. A string of proposed mega-mergers and takeovers – including Macquarie Asset Management’s $11.6 billion bid for logistics company Qube and a $13.2
- [S&P 500 briefly surpasses 7,000, then closes little changed as Fed keeps rates steady: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-briefly-surpasses-7000-then-closes-little-changed-as-fed-keeps-rates-steady-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 reached a milestone level on Wednesday, hitting 7,000 for the first time, before pulling back as the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and upped its economic growth assessment. The broad market index ended the day down 0.01% at 6,978.03. Earlier, the S&P 500 was up 0.3% on the day, hitting an all-time intraday high of
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Amazon, Reddit, Pinterest, Sysco & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-amazon-reddit-pinterest-sysco-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Amazon — The e-commerce giant said it would sunset its Fresh and Go brick-and-mortar store, marking a pivot in its grocery strategy. Amazon shares rose more than 1% in midday trading, while shares of rival grocers were lower. Kroger and Albertsons shares were both down about 3%. Micron — The memory and storage
- [Trump shrugs off US dollar decline as $A surges 1pc](https://ppam.com.au/trump-shrugs-off-us-dollar-decline-as-a-surges-1pc/) - Donald Trump has shrugged off concerns about US dollar weakness, as the world’s reserve currency slid to its weakest level in nearly four years amid policy risks and a resurgent yen. “No, I think it’s great,” Trump told reporters in Iowa when asked if he was worried about losses in the dollar. “I think the
- [Value stocks are back. Goldman Sachs has 13 picks as ASX rally runs](https://ppam.com.au/value-stocks-are-back-goldman-sachs-has-13-picks-as-asx-rally-runs/) - Commodity stocks, particularly gold miners, have led value stocks out of the wilderness in the past six months. But Goldman Sachs thinks the rally can broaden. Value stocks are having a moment. But this time, it’s a little bit different. Goldman Sachs’ local equity strategist Matthew Ross says the bank’s basket of ASX-listed value stocks
- [ASX to rise, $A surges to 2023 high, Ampol refiner margins soar](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-a-surges-to-2023-high-ampol-refiner-margins-soar/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, extending their rally from Tuesday. The S&P 500 reset its record high in morning trade in New York as tech stocks pressed higher before a raft of earnings releases this week. The benchmark index reset its record high at 6988.82, then slightly pared its advance. Information technology paced
- [The Fed releases its latest interest rate decision Wednesday. Here’s what to expect](https://ppam.com.au/the-fed-releases-its-latest-interest-rate-decision-wednesday-heres-what-to-expect/) - Judging by market expectations and policymakers’ comments, there’s virtually no chance the Fed will change its benchmark interest rate when its meeting concludes Wednesday. The near-term stance likely will be one of patience as a series of cuts made last year work their way through the economy. However, the market focus most certainly will look
- [These are the European startups Nvidia backed in 2025, as it ramped up investing in the continent’s AI companies](https://ppam.com.au/these-are-the-european-startups-nvidia-backed-in-2025-as-it-ramped-up-investing-in-the-continents-ai-companies/) - In 2025, Nvidia hugely upped its investments in European tech companies, taking part in 14 funding rounds, compared to seven in 2024. The chip giant invested in leading European startups, including Mistral, Revolut and Lovable. The investments “mirror its broader, global strategy of taking its excess cash and reinvesting in the AI ecosystem across a
- [Rate hike expectations send Australian dollar soaring](https://ppam.com.au/rate-hike-expectations-send-australian-dollar-soaring/) - A holiday to Tokyo, New York or Vancouver may be on the cards after the Australian dollar surged to multi-month highs against the US, Japanese and Canadian currencies buoyed by hopes of local interest rate rises. The Australian dollar was at US69.31¢, its highest level since September 2024, on Monday, having climbed 3.2 per cent
- [Wild weekend turns global markets into a powderkeg](https://ppam.com.au/wild-weekend-turns-global-markets-into-a-powderkeg/) - While most of us in Australia were celebrating the long weekend with a lamington and something cold, investors have been trying to wrap their heads around a stunning string of events that set markets up for yet another dramatic week. Source: https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/markets-on-edge-over-japan-a-new-credit-cockroach-and-old-ai-fears-20260125-p5nwwg
- [ASX to surge, gold soars above $US5100](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-surge-gold-soars-above-us5100/) - Australian shares are poised to open sharply higher after a three-day break, bolstered by surging precious metals prices. Gold briefly broke through $US5100 an ounce for the first time, while silver topped $US114 an ounce. Goldman Sachs says, “risk appetite is now very elevated”, with the firm’s risk appetite indicator at its highest level since
- [Another day another high: Gold surges past $5,100 as investors seek shelter from global risks](https://ppam.com.au/another-day-another-high-gold-surges-past-5100-as-investors-seek-shelter-from-global-risks/) - Gold climbed to a fresh all-time high above $5,100 an ounce on Monday. Gold’s rally reflects mounting flashpoints from Greenland and Venezuela to the Middle East, reinforcing its role as a hedge amid structurally higher geopolitical risk. Gold climbed to a fresh all-time high, crossing $5,100 an ounce on Monday and extending its record-breaking run
- [Crypto markets ‘will reach an all-time high’ this year, says Ripple CEO](https://ppam.com.au/crypto-markets-will-reach-an-all-time-high-this-year-says-ripple-ceo/) - The cryptocurrency market is set to reach all-time highs this year, according to Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of blockchain company Ripple. Garlinghouse said that interest in crypto from large financial institutions is not priced into the market as much as he would have expected. Crypto is “settling into a really nice opportunity to grow for the
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Execution, Discipline & Building for Scale [January 2026]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-execution-discipline-building-for-scale-january-2026/) - Meeting Date: Friday, 21 JANUARY 2026 "EXECUTION, DISCIPLINE & BUILDING FOR SCALE" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of our latest Investment Committee Meeting, focused on business momentum, portfolio strategy, and the continued development of our high-conviction investment framework. Key Discussion Highlights 1. Business Progress & Operational Focus Continued improvements to systems, reporting,
- [From Bill Gates to Emmanuel Macron: How the world’s most powerful people communicate and exert influence](https://ppam.com.au/from-bill-gates-to-emmanuel-macron-how-the-worlds-most-powerful-people-communicate-and-exert-influence/) - World leaders and CEOs including U.S. President Donald Trump and Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang attended this year’s World Economic Forum’s flagship conference in Davos, Switzerland. The event is a masterclass in the art of communication and public speaking, as the world’s most powerful people use various tactics to influence their audience. Experts shared with CNBC
- [Unleash challenge to big three telcos, OECD tells Australia](https://ppam.com.au/unleash-challenge-to-big-three-telcos-oecd-tells-australia/) - Australians would pay lower prices for mobile phone services if the government encouraged competition by setting aside radio waves for a fourth telco operator, says the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The nation’s three mobile services providers – Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom – are gearing up for a battle this year over spectrum,
- [Rieder’s market support, Fed plans seen as boon for nomination](https://ppam.com.au/rieders-market-support-fed-plans-seen-as-boon-for-nomination/) - Rick Rieder’s Wall Street bona fides and openness to making changes at the Federal Reserve have bolstered his candidacy for the central bank’s top job, according to people familiar with the White House deliberations. The BlackRock executive is seen as looking the part of a central banker, and also grabbed President Donald Trump’s attention with his
- [Australia’s top equity funds for 2025 revealed](https://ppam.com.au/australias-top-equity-funds-for-2025-revealed/) - Resources funds may have dominated the list of top-performing equity portfolios last year, but a lesser known strategy that claims to invest in future champions has burst onto the scene, trouncing nearly all of its rivals. Tectonic Investment Management’s Opportunities Fund returned a whopping 146.4 per cent last year, earning it a podium finish in
- [S&P 500 ends Friday little changed, but posts second straight losing week amid wild trading](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-ends-friday-little-changed-but-posts-second-straight-losing-week-amid-wild-trading/) - U.S. equities were mixed on Friday, as the Nasdaq Composite extended its gains amid easing geopolitical fears and the Dow Jones Industrial Average underperformed. The tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced 0.28% and settled at 23,501.24, while the blue-chip Dow lost 285.30 points, or 0.58%, closing at 49,098.71. A nearly 4% slide in Goldman Sachs weighed on the 30-stock index. The broad market S&P 500 eked
- [Intel stock falls 6% after company offers soft first-quarter guidance](https://ppam.com.au/intel-stock-falls-6-after-company-offers-soft-first-quarter-guidance/) - Intel reported fourth-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations but offered soft guidance for the current quarter. The company provided guidance for first-quarter revenue and earnings per share that came in below analysts’ expectations. Intel said it had a net loss of $600 million, or 12 cents per diluted share. In the year-ago period, Intel
- [Santos to ship first cargo from long-awaited Barossa gas project](https://ppam.com.au/santos-to-ship-first-cargo-from-long-awaited-barossa-gas-project/) - Santos will ship the first cargo of LNG from its $6.1 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea in the coming days after the company said it had resolved issues with key infrastructure that had threatened further delays to the long-awaited development. Gas from Barossa, about 300 kilometres off the coast of Darwin, began
- [The stocks this small-cap fundie is backing despite rate rise talk](https://ppam.com.au/the-stocks-this-small-cap-fundie-is-backing-despite-rate-rise-talk/) - Michael Steele is the co-portfolio manager of Yarra Capital Management’s Australian Smaller Companies Fund. The Melbourne firm manages about $20 billion in assets. Will 2026 be another big year for small-cap investors? After two years of earnings declines, the 2025 financial year was an inflection point which saw the small-caps market return to earnings growth
- [Fed’s main gauge shows inflation at 2.8% in November, edging further away from target](https://ppam.com.au/feds-main-gauge-shows-inflation-at-2-8-in-november-edging-further-away-from-target/) - The personal consumption expenditures price index, a measure the Fed uses as its main forecasting tool, showed inflation at 2.8% for the month both for headline and core in November. The readings were in line with market expectations but showed inflation still above the central bank’s 2% target. Personal income rose 0.1% in October and
- [Before the Bell: ASX to slip, Wall St advances](https://ppam.com.au/before-the-bell-asx-to-slip-wall-st-advances/) - Australian shares are poised for a quiet open to end the trading week with futures modestly lower after earlier edging up. Shares rallied in New York after data confirmed strong US economic growth at the end of 2025. The S&P 500 was 0.6 per cent higher near 3.15pm in New York (7.15am AEDT), paring an
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Netflix, Teledyne, Lucid, Kraft Heinz, Intel & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-netflix-teledyne-lucid-kraft-heinz-intel-more/) - Check out some of the biggest movers in midday trading. Lucid — The electric vehicle manufacturer’s shares surged about 14%. Rockwell Automation announced a collaboration with Lucid, using its enterprise software product to support the car maker’s growing manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia. Rockwell shares were up 2% in midday trading. Halliburton — Shares of the oil services company advanced more
- [The 7 stocks this LIC giant is buying to recover after ‘perfect storm’](https://ppam.com.au/the-7-stocks-this-lic-giant-is-buying-to-recover-after-perfect-storm/) - Everything went wrong for listed investment giant Australian Foundation Investment Company in the December half. Here’s how it’s fighting back. Markets can be cruel sometimes. Just days after it emerged British stock picker Sir Christopher Hohn had delivered the biggest ever annual gain in the history of the hedge fund sector by focusing exclusively on old-fashioned high-quality
- [Regal’s private fund is investing in water – and making strong returns](https://ppam.com.au/regals-private-fund-is-investing-in-water-and-making-strong-returns/) - Water has become one of Regal Partners’ largest allocations in its multi-strategy fund that along with a surge in small caps has helped the high-profile money manager post 20 per cent returns a year since its launch just two years ago. Regal, co-founded by Phil King, told clients in an update of the fund this
- [Before the Bell: ASX to open higher](https://ppam.com.au/before-the-bell-asx-to-open-higher/) - Australian shares are set to open sharply higher after futures reversed earlier double-digit losses. Gold, which earlier leapt to a record high above $US4800 an ounce, pared its jump. Bitcoin turned, as did US Treasury yields. Shares advanced in New York, in a relief rally, after President Donald Trump said he would not use force
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: NetApp, Nvidia, Expand Energy, Intel and more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-netapp-nvidia-expand-energy-intel-and-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Expand Energy — One of the largest independent natural gas producers saw shares jump more than 4% as natural gas prices soared Tuesday. Prices surged 25% to $3.89 per million British thermal units, on pace for the best day in four years. Heating demand is expected to spike due
- [Telcos knew some phones wouldn’t be able to reach Triple Zero on 4G](https://ppam.com.au/telcos-knew-some-phones-wouldnt-be-able-to-reach-triple-zero-on-4g/) - Australia’s three big telco companies did not initially block mobile phones they knew could not connect with Triple Zero services when the nation switched to 4G networks, arguing it would cut people off from family and friends. The failure of tens of thousands of mobile phone handsets to reach emergency services after Australia shut down
- [Greenland jitters hit ASX, banks; BHP hit by Jansen blowout](https://ppam.com.au/greenland-jitters-hit-asx-banks-bhp-hit-by-jansen-blowout/) - The Australian sharemarket fell for a second straight session on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland continued to weigh on risk appetite. The S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 0.7 per cent, or 58.60 points, to 8815.90, with seven of 11 sectors finishing lower. Wall Street, closed on Monday for Martin Luther King
- [This fundie just made $28b in a year. His 3 rules will surprise you](https://ppam.com.au/this-fundie-just-made-28b-in-a-year-his-3-rules-will-surprise-you/) - No hedge fund manager in history has made more money in a year than Sir Christopher Hohn. We would also wager the British billionaire is the only hedge fund manager who speaks openly – and frequently – about whether stock pickers have souls, and why it matters. Hohn’s fund, TCI Fund Management, made a gain
- [Dow slides 870 points, S&P 500 drops 2% for worst day since October on Trump tariff threat over Greenland: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-slides-870-points-sp-500-drops-2-for-worst-day-since-october-on-trump-tariff-threat-over-greenland-live-updates/) - U.S. equities suffered big losses Tuesday after President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric on Greenland, threatening to impose new tariffs on countries opposing the sale of the Danish territory to the United States. U.S. Treasury yields spiked and the U.S. dollar declined as Trump’s threat caused a flight from U.S. assets. Danish pension operator AkademikerPension said Tuesday that it is exiting U.S. Treasurys because
- [European markets fell after Trump’s Greenland tariffs threat; autos and luxury sell off](https://ppam.com.au/european-markets-fell-after-trumps-greenland-tariffs-threat-autos-and-luxury-sell-off/) - LONDON — European stocks were lower on Monday as traders reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to hike tariffs on European countries if they oppose his bid to buy Greenland. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was preliminarily 1.23% lower the closing bell in London, with most sectors in negative territory. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/19/european-markets-stoxx-600-ftse-dax-cac-davos-wef-week.html
- [‘Deeply analytical’: Meet the investor behind Australia’s $15b fund](https://ppam.com.au/deeply-analytical-meet-the-investor-behind-australias-15b-fund/) - Back in 2015, prominent investor and former Packer family adviser Ashok Jacob was toying with the idea of placing a bigger bet on the rise of Asia. China’s Tencent and Alibaba were on the rise and Jacob’s Ellerston Capital had made some promising investments in the region, so why not establish a standalone fund? So,
- [‘Show us the money’: The stocks Pengana has been busy buying](https://ppam.com.au/show-us-the-money-the-stocks-pengana-has-been-busy-buying/) - Rhett Kessler, who leads the firm’s Australian equities team, is bullish on “boring” companies that have turned cheap, including takeover target BlueScope Steel. For nearly two decades, Pengana Capital’s head of Australian equities, Rhett Kessler, has had one simple message for company boards and management teams pitching their stock: show us the money. It is
- [Start early, switch off devices: How to manage stress like a CEO](https://ppam.com.au/start-early-switch-off-devices-how-to-manage-stress-like-a-ceo/) - Exercise is the key, but Australia’s corporate leaders have a raft of other tips, tricks and hobbies to help them hold it together. Nuno Matos swims. Leah Weckert has a “one hour a day, one day a week” no-work rule. Anthony Miller and Sukhinder Singh Cassidy take an early morning moment with a cup of
- [Gold and silver surge to fresh highs as investors digest Trump’s push for Greenland and flock to safer assets](https://ppam.com.au/gold-and-silver-surge-to-fresh-highs-as-investors-digest-trumps-push-for-greenland-and-flock-to-safer-assets/) - Gold and silver have been on a tear as geopolitical uncertainty drives investors to safer assets. Donald Trump’s use of tariffs to pressure Europe could result in a tit-for-tat trade war. As metals reached fresh highs on Monday, European autos and luxuries sold off. Gold and silver surged to fresh highs just days after breaking
- [Alternative Asset Management](https://ppam.com.au/alternative-asset-management/) - Pacific Alternative Asset ManagementDownload
- [S&P 500 futures are little changed after benchmark closes above 6,600: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-futures-are-little-changed-after-benchmark-closes-above-6600-live-updates/) - S&P 500 futures are near flat Monday night after the benchmark index surpassed a milestone in the preceding session. Futures tied to the broad index and Nasdaq 100 futures each ticked down 0.1%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slid 37 points, or 0.1%. Monday night’s action follows a winning day on Wall Street. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite notched all-time closing highs, with the
- [Dow scores first close above 48,000, buoyed by expected end of government shutdown](https://ppam.com.au/dow-scores-first-close-above-48000-buoyed-by-expected-end-of-government-shutdown/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average notched its first record close above 48,000 on Wednesday, extending its gains from the previous session, as Wall Street looked ahead to a potential end to the record-breaking U.S. government shutdown. The 30-stock Dow closed up 326.86 points, or 0.68%, at 48,254.82. The index also hit a fresh all-time intraday high in
- [ASX set to drop as S&P 500 slides 1pc; ALS lifts profit 12pc](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-to-drop-as-sp-500-slides-1pc-als-lifts-profit-12pc/) - Australian shares are poised to open lower. In New York, shares turned down in afternoon trade as volatility persisted amid uncertainty about the path for interest rates and pre-Nvidia earnings nervousness. Nvidia will report quarterly results after Wednesday’s closing bell (Thursday AEDT). The results “will set the tone for the wider tech sector over the
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Abercrombie & Fitch, Nvidia, Coinbase, Symbotic & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-abercrombie-fitch-nvidia-coinbase-symbotic-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines midday. Abercrombie & Fitch — The apparel retailer jumped 33% after posting better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, driven by strength at its Hollister brand. Hollister’s sales grew 16%, offsetting a 2% drop at its namesake Abercrombie & Fitch label. For the holiday quarter, the company expects Hollister to continue to drive
- [Cramer’s week ahead: Earnings from Netflix, Intel, Capital One, McCormick](https://ppam.com.au/cramers-week-ahead-earnings-from-netflix-intel-capital-one-mccormick/) - As earnings season continues, CNBC’s Jim Cramer walked investors through next week on Wall Street. He highlighted quarterly reports from companies including Netflix, Intel, Capital One Financial and McCormick. “It’s an awfully odd week, this second week of earnings season, as light as the next week is heavy,” Cramer said. “Except for a couple of
- [Trump is attacking the Fed, yet markets are remarkably calm (for now)](https://ppam.com.au/trump-is-attacking-the-fed-yet-markets-are-remarkably-calm-for-now/) - “Don’t fight the Fed” has been one of the most reliable mantras in modern markets. It has been proven over many periods, including the Greenspan put, during the global financial crisis, the long era of quantitative easing and even the post pandemic inflation shock. It captured a simple truth: when the central bank commits to
- [The foxes that raided public markets are needed to restock them](https://ppam.com.au/the-foxes-that-raided-public-markets-are-needed-to-restock-them/) - The great irony of Australia’s shrinking ASX problem is that the private-equity foxes are now in charge of the IPO henhouse. The same funds that have been picking meaningful business off the ASX for years – Bain Capital, TPG Capital etc – and contributing to the shrinking ASX, are now Australia’s best bet for restocking
- [ASX to open flat as investors brace for a Trump bombshell at Davos](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-flat-as-investors-brace-for-a-trump-bombshell-at-davos/) - Investors are eagerly waiting to see whether there is any substance behind the rumours that Donald Trump plans to roll out a significant housing stimulus package when the US president takes the stage in Davos. While closer to home, the key data point for the week ahead will be the release of local employment figures,
- [Top Wall Street analysts are confident about these three stocks for the long term](https://ppam.com.au/top-wall-street-analysts-are-confident-about-these-three-stocks-for-the-long-term/) - Investors contended with bank earnings and geopolitical tensions this week, but the ongoing volatility may help uncover a few attractive stock picks. Stock ratings from top Wall Street analysts can help inform investors as they search for opportunities in the market. These experts arrive at their recommendations following a thorough analysis of the macro and
- [Amazon threatens ‘drastic’ action after Saks bankruptcy, says $475M stake is now worthless](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-threatens-drastic-action-after-saks-bankruptcy-says-475m-stake-is-now-worthless/) - Amazon filed an objection to Saks Global’s bankruptcy financing plan on the grounds it could harm creditors and push the tech company further down the repayment pecking order. The tech company invested $475 million into Saks’ acquisition of Neiman Marcus, a stake it said is now effectively “worthless.” Amazon threatened more “drastic remedies” if Saks
- [ASX to slip; oil falls 4pc on easing Iran tensions](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-slip-oil-falls-4pc-on-easing-iran-tensions/) - Australian shares are poised to open modestly lower. In New York, shares were higher, paced by Goldman Sachs and a renewed artificial intelligence trade. Oil tumbled more than 4 per cent after US President Donald Trump tempered his threat to attack Iran. The S&P 500 was up 0.2 per cent near 3.20pm, fading some of
- [RBA spared ‘gangland-style pressures’ facing Fed, but risks lurk](https://ppam.com.au/rba-spared-gangland-style-pressures-facing-fed-but-risks-lurk/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia is not under the “gangland-style” pressures put on the US Federal Reserve by Donald Trump – to borrow a phrase from former board member Warwick McKibbin – but former central bank insiders are wary that the possibility of partisan appointments and rising government debt could pose risks to the central
- [Goldman’s profit beats on record stock trading](https://ppam.com.au/goldmans-profit-beats-on-record-stock-trading/) - New York | Goldman Sachs’ fourth-quarter profit beat Wall Street expectations, driven by a surge in dealmaking and trading, as it expressed optimism for investment banking in the year ahead. A friendlier regulatory environment under US President Donald Trump, lower interest rates and excess cash have led companies to pursue more deals. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/goldman-s-profit-beats-on-record-stock-trading-20260116-p5nugv
- [Stocks close higher Thursday as chip, bank stocks rally: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-close-higher-thursday-as-chip-bank-stocks-rally-live-updates/) - The major averages climbed Thursday, rebounding from back-to-back losses as chip and bank stocks rallied. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 292.81 points, or 0.60% to 49,442.44, boosted by gains in Goldman Sachs and Nvidia. The S&P 500 rose 0.26% to 6,944.47, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.25% to 23,530.02. The major averages ended the session off their highs. Earlier in
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Biogen, Rivian, Bank of America, Airbnb & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-biogen-rivian-bank-of-america-airbnb-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Biogen — The biotech’s stock tumbled more than 4% after the company warned it would need to take a $222 million pretax charge in the fourth quarter. The company said the charge, which includes research-and-development expenses and milestone payments, will lower its net income by about $1.26 per share.
- [Telstra did not inform rival of death related to Triple Zero failure](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-did-not-inform-rival-of-death-related-to-triple-zero-failure/) - Australia’s biggest telecommunications group, Telstra, did not inform rival operator TPG Telecom of a death linked to Triple Zero failures on TPG’s Vodafone network, new emails reveal, further exposing major flaws in the nation’s emergency call systems. The emails have been released by Telstra to senators probing Australia’s Triple Zero failings following Optus’ September 19
- [There’s a reason ‘big oil’ won’t keep beating the crude market](https://ppam.com.au/theres-a-reason-big-oil-wont-keep-beating-the-crude-market/) - John Rockefeller, the godfather of the modern oil industry, called his tactic of purposely crashing oil prices and sending the stocks of his rivals into a tailspin “a good sweating”. Soon after, he’d conveniently buy shares cheaply. For the following century, one of the few certainties of petroleum investing was that low crude prices are
- [Short sellers are targeting ASX tech stocks on ‘distorted’ prices](https://ppam.com.au/short-sellers-are-targeting-asx-tech-stocks-on-distorted-prices/) - Short sellers are ramping up their bets against technology stocks on the ASX amid toppy valuations and lingering inflation concerns in Australia that have left the possibility of interest rate increases on the table. While technology companies are typically more sensitive to higher borrowing costs, Plato Asset Management’s David Allen said the main driver behind the
- [Why the stock market keeps shrugging as Trump sows more political chaos](https://ppam.com.au/why-the-stock-market-keeps-shrugging-as-trump-sows-more-political-chaos/) - The S&P 500 made up ground and closed at all-time highs Monday despite the criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Conventional market wisdom suggests that political turmoil can drive down stocks in the near-term as traders hedge bets. Traders appear to be trying to decide what is a short-term flareup versus a long-term
- [Here’s the inflation breakdown for December 2025 — in one chart](https://ppam.com.au/heres-the-inflation-breakdown-for-december-2025-in-one-chart/) - The consumer price index rose 2.7% in December 2025 from 12 months earlier, unchanged from November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Tariffs put some upward pressure on prices for consumers, economists said. The data is also somewhat difficult to decipher due to distortions caused by the recent government shutdown, they said. The inflation
- [GQG faces ‘redemption risks’ as anti-tech bet scares off investors](https://ppam.com.au/gqg-faces-redemption-risks-as-anti-tech-bet-scares-off-investors/) - Investors yanked $US2.1 billion ($3.1 billion) from GQG Partners at the end of last year as chief investment officer Rajiv Jain’s controversial call to avoid technology stocks continued to backfire on the high-profile fund manager, weighing on returns across the business. Jain has been among the most vocal sceptics in the tech rally and the
- [CBA faces uphill battle to win back investors in 2026](https://ppam.com.au/cba-faces-uphill-battle-to-win-back-investors-in-2026/) - Commonwealth Bank is bracing for what analysts expect will be a tough year ahead for Australia’s biggest bank as it struggles to shake off its new status as the laggard of the sharemarket’s big four lenders. For a bank that is used to driving the sector and ASX higher, 2026 is shaping up to be
- [ASX set for muted open](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-for-muted-open/) - Australian shares are poised for a flat open. Shares were lower in late trade in New York as the US reporting season kicked off cautiously and December’s CPI data failed to move the needle on bets for lower interest rates. Also not helping sentiment on Wall Street, President Donald Trump called the North American trade
- [Jim Cramer reveals his favorite big-cap stock to own now, sees 20% upside ahead](https://ppam.com.au/jim-cramer-reveals-his-favorite-big-cap-stock-to-own-now-sees-20-upside-ahead/) - CNBC’s Jim Cramer is doubling down on Alphabet, arguing the stock can build on its strong 2025 rally with another 20% jump. “I don’t think Google stops here,” Cramer said Tuesday on “Squawk on the Street.” “I think Alphabet goes straight shot to $400.” Shares of the Google parent Alphabet hit another all-time Tuesday, rising 2%
- [Alphabet hits $4 trillion market capitalization ](https://ppam.com.au/alphabet-hits-4-trillion-market-capitalization/) - Google parent company Alphabet has become the fourth member of the $4 trillion club Alphabet’s stock climbed to record highs after investment firms said they see more upside for Google in 2026. Apple said Monday that Google’s Gemini will be the foundation for its artificial intelligence models and will power the next generation of Siri.
- [And the next Federal Reserve chairman is … Donald Trump](https://ppam.com.au/and-the-next-federal-reserve-chairman-is-donald-trump/) - Unscheduled weekend statements from the Federal Reserve are, to put it mildly, not generally a good sign. In the past couple of decades, they have been rare, and have come only in response to dire emergencies: the collapse of Bear Stearns and then of Lehman Brothers in 2008, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and the
- [AI dreams blind investors to the nightmare of a politicised Fed](https://ppam.com.au/ai-dreams-blind-investors-to-the-nightmare-of-a-politicised-fed/) - It has largely paid for investors to ignore President Donald Trump and his public policy moves in the United States and beyond. Although noisy, Trump’s bark is worse than his bite. His tariffs, for example, were far less damaging than first thought. His intervention in Venezuela, the potential to get involved in Iran and threats
- [Black Friday sales blitz muddying interest rate signals for RBA](https://ppam.com.au/black-friday-sales-blitz-muddying-interest-rate-signals-for-rba/) - The growth of rampant pre-Christmas sales periods such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday is distorting economic data and making it more difficult for the Reserve Bank of Australia to read the pulse of consumer spending and inflation. Economists said the RBA would need to brush off the two-year-high consumer spending spree, driven by a
- [S&P 500, Dow climb to closing records as traders look past Fed independence risk: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-dow-climb-to-closing-records-as-traders-look-past-fed-independence-risk-live-updates/) - Stocks rallied off their session lows, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting new all-time highs as investors shook off the Department of Justice opening a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The S&P 500 rose 0.16% to end at 6,977.27, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked up 86.13 points, or 0.17%, and settled at 49,590.20. Both indexes
- [Top Wall Street analysts recommend these dividend stocks for consistent income](https://ppam.com.au/top-wall-street-analysts-recommend-these-dividend-stocks-for-consistent-income/) - In a time of geopolitical tensions and macro uncertainty, dividend-paying stocks can offer investors some steady portfolio income. In this regard, recommendations of top Wall Street analysts can help investors pick attractive stocks of companies that generate solid cash flows to support continued dividend payments. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/11/top-wall-street-analysts-recommend-these-dividend-stocks-for-consistent-income.html
- [Origin Energy, AGL court private capital for billions in green assets](https://ppam.com.au/origin-energy-agl-court-private-capital-for-billions-in-green-assets-2/) - Woodside, BHP, Goodman Group, and now the country’s two biggest utility companies. Private capital’s raging love affair with capital-hungry assets owned by ASX-listed giants has two new candidates to appraise. Street Talk understands the $20 billion Origin Energy’s boss Frank Calabria has mandated Barrenjoey Capital Partners to run an equity process for Yanco Delta, a 1.5
- [S&P 500 resets record high in broad rally](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-resets-record-high-in-broad-rally/) - The S&P 500 rallied to a record closing high, putting the 7000-point mark within reach, with nine of its 11 industry sectors advancing after December’s mixed jobs data led traders to pare bets for a January interest rate cut. The benchmark rose 0.7 per cent to 6966.28 in New York; it earlier reached 6977.60. The
- [Stocks will keep climbing in 2026, but not enough to appease the bulls](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-will-keep-climbing-in-2026-but-not-enough-to-appease-the-bulls/) - Last year was not an easy one for investing. Frequent market rotations meant that what was good one month, often looked poor the next. While this is part and parcel of investing, the momentum pushed stocks much higher and much lower than the fundamentals would suggest which made for a stomach-churning ride. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/stocks-will-keep-climbing-in-2026-but-not-enough-to-appease-the-bulls-20260105-p5nrp1
- [Wall Street’s start to 2026 is going exactly according to plan. Are investors too confident?](https://ppam.com.au/wall-streets-start-to-2026-is-going-exactly-according-to-plan-are-investors-too-confident/) - Like a brilliant football coach’s scripted first drive in a playoff game, Wall Street’s start to 2026 has gone exactly according to plan, the offense in rhythm with a balanced attack resulting in an early lead for the bulls. Not only is the S&P 500 up 1.7% but the tape has broadened just as nearly every play
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Bloom Energy, Costco Wholesale, Alphabet & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-bloom-energy-costco-wholesale-alphabet-more/) - Check out some of the stocks posting the biggest moves in midday trading. Alphabet — Shares of the Google parent jumped more than 1% and hit a new all-time high. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded the Google and YouTube parent to overweight from neutral, citing the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities. Google also announced the addition of more Gemini AI features to Gmail
- [Woodside’s ammonia plans face uncertain future under new leadership](https://ppam.com.au/woodsides-ammonia-plans-face-uncertain-future-under-new-leadership/) - Woodside Energy’s search for a new chief executive is fuelling expectations the company will scale back its $7.5 billion plan to push further into the cleaner fuels market, despite the oil and gas producer’s imminent entry into the global ammonia supply chain. Former chief executive Meg O’Neill, who resigned on December 18 after being poached by
- [Fed’s Miran wants 150 points of rate cuts to boost jobs](https://ppam.com.au/feds-miran-wants-150-points-of-rate-cuts-to-boost-jobs/) - Federal Reserve governor Stephen Miran said he is looking for 150 basis points of interest-rate cuts this year to boost the labour market. Describing monetary policy as restrictive, Miran said underlying inflation is likely running at 2.3 per cent, which means Fed officials have room to cut further. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/fed-s-miran-wants-150-points-of-rate-cuts-to-boost-jobs-20260109-p5nspj
- [ASX dogs bite back, handing momentum investors a rare defeat](https://ppam.com.au/asx-dogs-bite-back-handing-momentum-investors-a-rare-defeat/) - It is usually a good bet to simply buy the previous year’s winners. But 2025 proved very different, with the worst performers of 2024 back with a vengeance. For decades, investors have generated solid returns from simply buying the previous year’s winners and selling the losers. Last year, however, dealt a brutal reality check to
- [Dow closes 270 points higher, Nasdaq slips as investors rotate out of tech: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-270-points-higher-nasdaq-slips-as-investors-rotate-out-of-tech-live-updates/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose on Thursday, while the Nasdaq Composite came under pressure as investors moved away from technology stocks. The 30-stock Dow climbed 270.03 points, or 0.55%, and ended at 49,266.11. The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 0.44% and settled at 23,480.02. The S&P 500 advanced 0.01% and closed at 6,921.46. Among the 11 S&P 500 sectors, information technology was
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Positioning for 2026: Discipline, Conviction & Execution [December 2025]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-positioning-for-2026-discipline-conviction-execution-december-2025/) - We are pleased to share a high-level summary of the latest Pacific Private Asset Management Investment Committee Meeting, focused on reviewing 2025 progress and confirming our strategic direction for the year ahead. Key Discussion Highlights 1. Investment Strategy & Portfolio Positioning Confirmation of PPAM’s new Strategic Playbook, translating macro views into dynamic asset allocation decisions.
- [Cramer warns the January rally is driven by emotion and not all stocks will hold up](https://ppam.com.au/cramer-warns-the-january-rally-is-driven-by-emotion-and-not-all-stocks-will-hold-up/) - Jim Cramer said early January market gains are being driven by emotion, momentum buying and turnaround optimism. He warned that momentum rallies, especially in AI-linked stocks, can reverse quickly once supply catches up. Cramer said his preferred opportunities are “mistaken identity” stocks like Amazon that never should have lagged. CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Tuesday that early January
- [Inflation falls to 3.4pc, eases pressure on RBA for rate rise](https://ppam.com.au/inflation-falls-to-3-4pc-eases-pressure-on-rba-for-rate-rise/) - Inflation cooled faster than anticipated to 3.4 per cent in November, as a wave of retail discounting helped ease the pressure on household budgets during the holiday period and bolstered the case for the Reserve Bank to hold interest rates steady next month. While the Australian Bureau of Statistics noted persistent heat in housing, food
- [ASX to open lower as commodities fall; Ansell CEO to step down, replacement announced](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-lower-as-commodities-fall-ansell-ceo-to-step-down-replacement-announced/) - Australian shares are poised to slip at the open amid mixed trading in New York where both oil and gold were lower and amid profit-taking after a fast start to the year for both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones. Futures indicate the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is set to open down 4 points or
- [‘Stop sugar-hit spending’: Top CEOs on how to get the economy moving](https://ppam.com.au/stop-sugar-hit-spending-top-ceos-on-how-to-get-the-economy-moving/) - Monetary policy has already done much of the work to get inflation down, so now it’s time to show discipline and focus on structural reform rather than broad new stimulus. Targeted support for those genuinely struggling is important, but if governments keep adding to demand, the RBA will have no choice but to keep rates higher
- [Alphabet’s market cap surpasses Apple’s for first time since 2019](https://ppam.com.au/alphabets-market-cap-surpasses-apples-for-first-time-since-2019/) - Google parent company Alphabet saw its market capitalization surpass Apple’s for the first time since 2019. Alphabet’s market cap closed at $3.88 trillion on Wednesday, while Apple’s market cap closed Wednesday at $3.84 trillion The positional inversion in market cap underscores the different directions that Alphabet and Apple are heading in when it comes to their
- [PACIFIC COMPASS – Balancing Risk as Markets Transition into 2026 [December 2025 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-balancing-risk-as-markets-transition-into-2026-december-2025-review/) - MONTHLY ECONOMIC & INVESTMENT REVIEW - DECEMBER 2025: Executive Summary Global markets closed out 2025 on a cautious note amid quieter holiday trading and rotation out of high‑beta sectors. Major equity benchmarks experienced modest declines late in the month, yet remain significantly higher on the year. Safe‑haven assets, especially precious metals, posted exceptional gains as
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Johnson Controls, TransUnion, SoFi, AIG & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-johnson-controls-transunion-sofi-aig-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Credit score stocks — Shares of credit score providers were trading lower after Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte criticized the companies’ pricing in a post on X. Shares of TransUnion lost 4%, and Equifax fell more than 5%. Fair Isaac stock slipped nearly 4%. Cooling equipment makers — Shares of Trane Technologies, Johnson Controls and Modine
- [Nvidia’s $6 trillion-dollar stock rally threatened](https://ppam.com.au/nvidias-6-trillion-dollar-stock-rally-threatened/) - The world’s most valuable company is on shaky stock market footing as 2026 gets underway. Nvidia shares are down about 8 per cent since hitting a record on October 29, well underperforming the S&P 500 Index, as investors grow concerned about the sustainability of artificial intelligence spending and the chip giant’s grip on the market. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/nvidia-s-6-trillion-dollar-stock-rally-threatened-20260107-p5ns6m
- [The stocks that pushed WAM’s Active fund to a 41pc return](https://ppam.com.au/the-stocks-that-pushed-wams-active-fund-to-a-41pc-return/) - Wilson Asset Management’s active listed investment company smashed the Australian sharemarket by more than 30 per cent last year as the dazzling rally in metal prices helped offset a substantial write-down in Corporate Travel Management. The double-digit returns came down to a hefty 11.4 per cent position in rare earths and bauxite miner Lindian Resources,
- [The Fed’s six big challenges in 2026](https://ppam.com.au/the-feds-six-big-challenges-in-2026/) - In coming months, markets will undoubtedly obsess over President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve and whether this will give him the control he seeks over interest rates. Yet, that’s not the only challenge the world’s most powerful central bank will face in 2026. Source: https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/the-fed-s-six-big-challenges-in-2026-20260107-p5ns6j
- [S&P 500 notches fresh record, Dow adds nearly 500 points for first close above 49,000: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-notches-fresh-record-dow-adds-nearly-500-points-for-first-close-above-49000-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new heights on Tuesday as investors moved past the recent U.S. attack on Venezuela. The broad market index rose 0.62%, notching a record close of 6,944.82. It also posted a new all-time high during the session. The blue-chip Dow advanced 484.90 points, or 0.99%, likewise reaching an intraday all-time high and closing at a
- [Nvidia partner Foxconn reports 22% revenue surge as AI buildout ramps up](https://ppam.com.au/nvidia-partner-foxconn-reports-22-revenue-surge-as-ai-buildout-ramps-up/) - Foxconn reported revenues of $2.6 trillion Taiwan dollars ($83 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2025. The figure is a 22% increase on earnings year-on-year and tops analyst and company expectations. The company is the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer, assembling Apple’s iPhone and making the servers that hold chips in data centers. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/05/nvidia-partner-foxconn-revenue-surge-tops-expectations.html
- [Rapid, repeated interest rate rises coming this year, economists say](https://ppam.com.au/rapid-repeated-interest-rate-rises-coming-this-year-economists-say/) - Inflation will remain stubbornly high over the next year, forcing the Reserve Bank of Australia to increase interest rates at least twice, according to a survey of the country’s major economists, some of whom predict the official cash rate to rise as early as February. Seven of the 38 economists polled in The Australian Financial Review’s
- [Equity investors could not be more optimistic, and it is terrifying](https://ppam.com.au/equity-investors-could-not-be-more-optimistic-and-it-is-terrifying/) - As the loudest voices spruik another stellar 15 per cent year for the sharemarket, it is well worth considering – and preparing for – what could go wrong. Markets start the year punch-drunk on artificial intelligence. Equity investors, bond investors, private markets, public markets – everyone’s expecting to make a motza from this never-before-seen spending
- [ASX to rise; SGH confirms tilt at BlueScope with US giant](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-sgh-confirms-tilt-at-bluescope-with-us-giant/) - The Australian sharemarket is to track a rally on Wall Street that was paced by the Dow Jones hitting an all time record and a jump in energy stocks after a US military strike that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Futures indicated that the S&P/ASX 200 Index is set to open up 30 points or
- [What investors are watching after Venezuela: Five signals that matter for markets](https://ppam.com.au/what-investors-are-watching-after-venezuela-five-signals-that-matter-for-markets/) - Investors are eyeing a handful of signals as they look to distinguish between headline shock and economic transmission following the U.S. strike on Venezuela. Fibonacci Asset Management’s CEO told CNBC that the movements so far reflect “modest hedging rather than flight-to-safety.” Markets are weighing whether the Venezuela episode marks a turning point in how political
- [Tesla reports 418,227 deliveries for the fourth quarter, down 16%](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-reports-418227-deliveries-for-the-fourth-quarter-down-16/) - Tesla reported 418,227 vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter. The electric vehicle maker faces steep competition across the globe from companies including BYD, Kia, Hyundai and Volkswagen. In the U.S., a $7,500 federal government incentive for EVs came to an end on Sept. 30. Tesla posted its fourth-quarter 2025 vehicle production and deliveries report on Friday, marking a second
- [After a busy year, here are Australia’s top private capital dealmakers](https://ppam.com.au/after-a-busy-year-here-are-australias-top-private-capital-dealmakers/) - rivate capital in Australia was on a bullet train to nowhere for much of the year until new entrants swung hard and core-plus investors began calling the shots – leaving dealmakers in good spirits at the finish line. But it was also a year of significant change. This time 12 months ago, HMC Capital managing
- [I’ve never bought shares. How do I start investing?](https://ppam.com.au/ive-never-bought-shares-how-do-i-start-investing/) - Investing for the first time feels a bit like going bouldering. It looks fun, but the fear of falling on your face and breaking a bone seems reason enough to stay away. The good news is that it’s far less scary than you’d imagine, and there are many ways to protect against the financial equivalent
- [ASX to edge up, shares to grind higher in 2026 as rate talk dominates](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-edge-up-shares-to-grind-higher-in-2026-as-rate-talk-dominates/) - Equity markets are expected to grind higher this week despite the risk to the oil price from the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as investors await key pieces of economic data that could determine the next moves on interest rates. Given the recent slump in the price of crude to around $US60 ($90)
- [S&P 500 closes higher on first trading day of 2026 as chip stocks offer small boost to the market](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-higher-on-first-trading-day-of-2026-as-chip-stocks-offer-small-boost-to-the-market/) - The S&P 500 closed slightly higher on Friday, the first trading day of 2026, as gains in semiconductor names kept the index afloat. The benchmark closed up 0.19% at 6,858.47, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.03% to finish at 23,235.63. The two had been solidly positive earlier in the day, with the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq trading
- [Google wraps up best year on Wall Street since 2009, beating megacap peers as AI story strengthens](https://ppam.com.au/google-wraps-up-best-year-on-wall-street-since-2009-beating-megacap-peers-as-ai-story-strengthens/) - Alphabet shares jumped 65% in 2025, their sharpest rally since 2009, when the stock doubled coming out of the financial crisis. After a tough first few months this year, Google picked up momentum with a number of AI products and announcements. “We come away believing Google can further accelerate search revenue in 4Q25, which we
- [Santos misses end-of-year deadline for first Barossa LNG cargo](https://ppam.com.au/santos-misses-end-of-year-deadline-for-first-barossa-lng-cargo/) - Santos has missed its end-of-year deadline to ship the first cargo of LNG from its $6.1 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea, creating an early threat to a forecast big lift in the oil and gas producer’s output in 2026. When Santos gave the go-ahead for construction in March 2021, production from the
- [Wall Street’s biggest winners and losers in 2025](https://ppam.com.au/wall-streets-biggest-winners-and-losers-in-2025/) - The S&P 500 Index is poised to end 2025 up more than 17 per cent as the bull market continues for a third year driven by enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. The AI trade broadened out this year, as chip stocks again led the S&P 500 but were joined by the shares of companies tied to building
- [Sovereign funds push into tech as assets swell to $22.5trn](https://ppam.com.au/sovereign-funds-push-into-tech-as-assets-swell-to-22-5trn/) - Sovereign wealth funds globally amassed a record $US15 trillion ($22.5 trillion) in assets under management in a year when many deepened their technology investments and profited from buoyant markets, according to a new report by Global SWF. Overall, sovereign owned investors ploughed $US66 billion into investments in artificial intelligence and digitalisation in 2025, the data firm
- [Economist Mark Zandi sees the Fed surprising with three rate cuts in first half of 2026](https://ppam.com.au/economist-mark-zandi-sees-the-fed-surprising-with-three-rate-cuts-in-first-half-of-2026/) - Labor market weakness, uncertainty about inflation and political pressure will push the Fed to lower rates aggressively in the early part of 2026, according to Moody’s Analytics economist Mark Zandi. Zandi’s forecast is at least a step ahead of both market and Fed expectations, both of which point to a slower pace of reductions. Labor
- [Fed minutes show officials were in tight split over December rate cut](https://ppam.com.au/fed-minutes-show-officials-were-in-tight-split-over-december-rate-cut/) - “Most participants judged that further downward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate would likely be appropriate if inflation declined over time as expected,” the document said. With that, though, came misgivings over how aggressive the FOMC should be in the future. “With respect to the extent and timing of additional adjustments
- [Tesla publishes downbeat analysts’ car sales estimates](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-publishes-downbeat-analysts-car-sales-estimates/) - Tesla published a compilation of analyst estimates for vehicle deliveries to its website, and the averages for the current quarter are more pessimistic than those gathered by Bloomberg. By Tesla’s count, analysts on average expect the company to deliver 422,850 cars in the fourth quarter, down 15 per cent from a year earlier. That compares
- [4 ways to squeeze more into super in 2026](https://ppam.com.au/4-ways-to-squeeze-more-into-super-in-2026/) - If you want to give yourself a Christmas present that lasts for years, maximising your super contributions is the gift that keeps on giving. Whether your account is below average for your age or retirement is creeping closer and needs attention, there’s still plenty of time to squeeze more into super in 2026. Source: https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/4-ways-to-squeeze-more-into-super-in-2026-20251110-p5n92o?collection=p5nk3w
- [6 charts ASX investors need to see before 2026](https://ppam.com.au/6-charts-asx-investors-need-to-see-before-2026/) - A new global tariff regime, the world’s first $US5 trillion company, three rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia and the S&P/ASX 200 topping a landmark 9000 points. 2025 has had its fair share of surprises for investors and set the stage for a potentially tumultuous 2026. With that in mind, here are six
- [S&P 500 posts third consecutive losing day as year-end approaches: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-posts-third-consecutive-losing-day-as-year-end-approaches-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 fell modestly on Tuesday, notching a third consecutive losing session. The broad market S&P 500 lost 0.14% and closed at 6,896.24, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.24% and settled at 23,419.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 94.87 points, or 0.20%, and ended at 48,367.06. The three major averages have slumped to start the week, dragged down by losses in
- [S&P 500 coasts to a third year of superior returns. Three key questions for Wall Street entering 2026](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-coasts-to-a-third-year-of-superior-returns-three-key-questions-for-wall-street-entering-2026/) - When it comes to projecting a year ahead for stocks, all the probabilities and most of the incentives rest with the bulls. The S&P 500 has been positive in three-quarters of all calendar years since 1958, when the index was created in its modern form. The market has gained at least 20% in more years (19) than
- [Santos names Lachlan Harris CFO after shake-up in top ranks](https://ppam.com.au/santos-names-lachlan-harris-cfo-after-shake-up-in-top-ranks/) - Santos has named its acting chief financial officer, Lachlan Harris, to the permanent position, closing out the shake-up in the top ranks caused by the abrupt departure of Sherry Duhe in October. Harris, who joined Australia’s second-largest listed oil and gas producer from KPMG in 2010, was deputy to Duhe, who resigned after a clash with
- [Origin Energy, AGL court private capital for billions in green assets](https://ppam.com.au/origin-energy-agl-court-private-capital-for-billions-in-green-assets/) - Woodside, BHP, Goodman Group, and now the country’s two biggest utility companies. Private capital’s raging love affair with capital-hungry assets owned by ASX-listed giants has two new candidates to appraise. Street Talk understands the $20 billion Origin Energy’s boss Frank Calabria has mandated Barrenjoey Capital Partners to run an equity process for Yanco Delta, a 1.5
- [ASX to jump; gold, oil prices rally](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-jump-gold-oil-prices-rally/) - The Australian sharemarket is expected to open a shortened trading week stronger, tracking gains last week on Wall Street, as strong earnings from Micron Technology helped ease concerns around lofty valuations and high debt levels Futures tied to the ASX 200 index were last up by 41 points, or 0.5 per cent to 8640. With
- [Three top Wall Street analysts stay bullish on Nvidia stock. Here’s why](https://ppam.com.au/three-top-wall-street-analysts-stay-bullish-on-nvidia-stock-heres-why/) - Chip giant Nvidia (NVDA) is considered to be one of the key beneficiaries of the artificial intelligence boom, thanks to robust demand for its advanced graphics processing units (GPUs). The stock has been under pressure recently due to concerns about valuations of AI plays and growing competition in the AI chip space from rivals like Broadcom (AVGO),
- [S&P 500 snaps 4-day losing streak, boosted by cooler-than-expected inflation data: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-snaps-4-day-losing-streak-boosted-by-cooler-than-expected-inflation-data-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 snapped a four-day slide on Thursday, boosted by lighter-than-expected inflation data that brightened the outlook for lower interest rates in 2026 and blowout guidance from chipmaker Micron Technology. The broad market index jumped 0.79% to settle at 6,774.76, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.38% to 23,006.36. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 65.88 points, or 0.14%, to end the
- [Buckle up: the RBA is set to lead the world on rate rises](https://ppam.com.au/buckle-up-the-rba-is-set-to-lead-the-world-on-rate-rises/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia looks set to be the first major central bank to pivot to interest rate increases after inflation accelerated in the past few months, catching policymakers off guard. RBA governor Michele Bullock surprised everyone last week, leaving the cash rate on hold at 3.6 per cent and suggesting that borrowing costs could head
- [Fundie says market missed a trick on this online business](https://ppam.com.au/fundie-says-market-missed-a-trick-on-this-online-business/) - Jack McManus is a portfolio manager at Canopy Investors, a Sydney-based global equities boutique. He previously spent a decade working at Magellan Funds Management. Which stock in the fund is being most undervalued by the market? Auto Trader Group is the UK’s dominant online car marketplace with 10 times more user engagement than its nearest
- [ASX to rise; WiseTech takes no further action on White](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-wisetech-takes-no-further-action-on-white/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, taking direction from Wall Street after November CPI data helped to revive hopes for a January US rate cut. Tesla paced each of the seven mega-cap techs higher. The S&P 500 was up 0.9 per cent near at 3.22pm in New York, bolstered by Micron Technology’s post-results surge.
- [Friday could be a wild day of trading on Wall Street. Here’s why](https://ppam.com.au/friday-could-be-a-wild-day-of-trading-on-wall-street-heres-why/) - More than $7.1 trillion in notional options exposure is set to expire this Friday, according to Goldman. December options expirations are typically the biggest of the year, but this one eclipses all prior records. Wall Street could be in for a volatile end to the week as traders brace for what Goldman Sachs says will
- [PACIFIC 2026 - Investment Strategy & Playbook](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-2026-investment-strategy-playbook/) - 📩 Want the Full 2026 Investment Playbook?This provides only a high-level summary. For the complete version — including detailed analysis and strategic recommendations — please get in touch directly, and we’ll send you the full report.
- [Prediction markets could hit a trillion dollars in trading volume by the end of this decade, new report says](https://ppam.com.au/prediction-markets-could-hit-a-trillion-dollars-in-trading-volume-by-the-end-of-this-decade-new-report-says/) - Prediction markets could trade a trillion dollars in volume annually by the end of this decade, according to Eilers & Krejcik. Sports is fueling the growth and is forecasted to make up 44% of volume as prediction markets mature. Legal and regulatory challenges could present obstacles to exponential growth. Prediction markets could reach a trillion
- [Santos gears up for another LNG financing after paying off PNG early](https://ppam.com.au/santos-gears-up-for-another-lng-financing-after-paying-off-png-early/) - Santos is nearing a major commitment to a large new LNG project next year amid nervousness about a softening in global gas prices and worries about the cost of an investment that was last put at more than $27 billion. Kevin Gallagher, the oil and gas giant’s chief executive, said a “significant” part of the
- [AustralianSuper CIO Mark Delaney to retire, marking end of an era](https://ppam.com.au/australiansuper-cio-mark-delaney-to-retire-marking-end-of-an-era/) - AustralianSuper chief investment officer Mark Delaney will depart the $400 billion pension giant after more than 20 years, a period in which he helped transform the fund, and its predecessor Superannuation Trust of Australia, into the country’s biggest asset manager and a global investment powerhouse. His resignation at the end of June next year, announced
- [S&P 500 posts four-day losing streak, Nasdaq tumbles 1.8% as Oracle sells off: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-posts-four-day-losing-streak-nasdaq-tumbles-1-8-as-oracle-sells-off-live-updates/) - Stocks declined on Wednesday as investors continued to rotate out of key artificial intelligence names, sparked by a report that Oracle’s primary investor pulled out of one of its data center projects. The S&P 500 fell 1.16% to 6,721.43, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.81% to end the session at 22,693.32. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 228.29 points, or 0.47%, to settle
- [Nasdaq moves to make trading nearly 24 hours. Why some on Wall Street say that’s a bad idea](https://ppam.com.au/nasdaq-moves-to-make-trading-nearly-24-hours-why-some-on-wall-street-say-thats-a-bad-idea/) - Nasdaq is moving closer to around-the-clock stock trading, a shift that some on Wall Street are calling unnecessary — and potentially destabilizing. The exchange said it plans to submit paperwork to the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow U.S.-listed equities and exchange-traded products to trade nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week. If approved,
- [Telcos to pay billions more for spectrum after backlash](https://ppam.com.au/telcos-to-pay-billions-more-for-spectrum-after-backlash/) - Australia’s three big mobile phone operators will have to pay billions of dollars more to use the radio waves that transmit mobile phone calls after their regulator increased the price it plans to charge them. The cost of telecommunications companies’ licences for spectrum – the frequencies used by wireless services – has been questioned by
- [Wall Street investors to unleash war chest on bitcoin in 2026](https://ppam.com.au/wall-street-investors-to-unleash-war-chest-on-bitcoin-in-2026/) - A wall of money from some of the America’s biggest institutional investors is expected to be pumped into bitcoin in 2026, just so long as the US Federal Reserve keeps cutting interest rates. That’s according to crypto exchange giant Coinbase, which is predicting that the trillions of dollars currently sitting in US money market funds
- [Tesla stock closes at record as investors rally around Musk’s robotaxi hype despite slow EV sales](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-stock-closes-at-record-as-investors-rally-around-musks-robotaxi-hype-despite-slow-ev-sales/) - Tesla’s stock hit a record, surpassing its prior all-time high reached almost exactly a year ago. The latest rally is in part due to optimism that the company will finally make good on its promise to turn existing electric vehicles into robotaxis. It’s been a rollercoaster year for Tesla investors after the stock plummeted 36%
- [Tesla stock closes at 2025 high after Musk confirms driverless Robotaxi tests underway in Austin](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-stock-closes-at-2025-high-after-musk-confirms-driverless-robotaxi-tests-underway-in-austin/) - Tesla execs said over the weekend that the EV maker is testing its driverless cars on Austin public roads with no people on board. Texas currently allows autonomous vehicle makers to test or operate ridehailing services on public roads as long as their cars adhere to traffic laws. Since June, Tesla has been operating a
- [Jocks, nerds and rock stars: The best of this year’s Monday Fundie](https://ppam.com.au/jocks-nerds-and-rock-stars-the-best-of-this-years-monday-fundie/) - It was another brutal year as investors navigated the chaos of US President Donald Trump, the ever inflating artificial intelligence bubble, gold’s remarkable run and some blue chip blow ups. Fund managers were hoping and dreaming of a so-called stock pickers market, and now that it’s finally come, it turns out it’s no fun at
- [Citi touts February rate hike in a bold call for the RBA](https://ppam.com.au/citi-touts-february-rate-hike-in-a-bold-call-for-the-rba/) - Citi is the first major bank to forecast an interest rate hike in Australia as soon as February after a run of hot economic data on inflation and consumer spending, joining a small cohort calling for a policy pivot in 2026. Citi, which was one of a few to correctly predict the Reserve Bank of
- [Before the Bell: ASX to slip, Wall St lower](https://ppam.com.au/before-the-bell-asx-to-slip-wall-st-lower/) - Australian shares are poised to edge lower at the open. Shares were modestly lower in New York, paced by the energy sector and lingering tech weakness. Morgan Stanley’s Michael Wilson said risks persist for US equities given concerns that the Federal Reserve “may not be doing enough … yet”. “While there’s some buy-in from market
- [S&P 500 closes slightly lower as AI plays weigh on market: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-slightly-lower-as-ai-plays-weigh-on-market-live-updates/) - The S&P 500 ended Monday slightly lower as key stocks in the artificial intelligence trade came under pressure. The broad market index lost 0.16% to settle at 6,816.51 after beginning the session in positive territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 41.49 points, or 0.09%, to finish at 48,416.56, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.59% to 23,057.41. Certain AI stocks bogged down
- [Oracle shares tank 11%, dragging down Nvidia, CoreWeave, Micron](https://ppam.com.au/oracle-shares-tank-11-dragging-down-nvidia-coreweave-micron/) - Oracle shares sank on Thursday after revenue earnings missed analyst expectations. Other AI-related names like Nvidia, Micron and CoreWeave fell alongside it. Investors have questioned Oracle’s AI infrastructure plans and colossal amount of debt. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/11/oracle-shares-plummet-dragging-down-ai-stocks-nvidia-coreweave.html
- [Fed hits pause on rate reductions after divisive decision to cut](https://ppam.com.au/fed-hits-pause-on-rate-reductions-after-divisive-decision-to-cut/) - Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell says the central bank will pause its interest rate-cutting cycle for now to assess how three consecutive reductions support employment in the cooling job market, in a stance that could antagonise US President Donald Trump. The Fed board’s rate-setting committee reduced the official rate range by a quarter of a percentage point,
- [Telstra, Vodafone bosses hauled before Triple Zero inquiry](https://ppam.com.au/telstra-vodafone-bosses-hauled-before-triple-zero-inquiry/) - The chief executives of Telstra and TPG Telecom, which owns the Vodafone network, will face senators in person this week as the crisis over Australia’s Triple Zero capabilities spreads beyond Optus to the entire telecommunications industry. Communications minister Anika Wells, who has been criticised by the Coalition for flying to New York shortly after Optus’ September 18
- [Fed-RBA rate divide spells good news for the $A](https://ppam.com.au/fed-rba-rate-divide-spells-good-news-for-the-a/) - The diverging interest rate outlook between the Reserve Bank of Australia and the US Federal Reserve has catapulted the Aussie dollar to the highest level in three months after the US central bank cut its policy rate for the third time in a row. The world’s most influential central bank lowered interest rates by a quarter of
- [Costco tops Wall Street’s sales and revenue expectations](https://ppam.com.au/costco-tops-wall-streets-sales-and-revenue-expectations/) - Costco beat Wall Street’s fiscal first-quarter sales and revenue expectations. Sales rose 8.2% and digital sales jumped 20.5% compared with the year-ago quarter. The warehouse club does not share a full-year outlook. Costco on Thursday surpassed Wall Street’s quarterly expectations as its sales rose 8.2% year over year. The warehouse club does not share a full-year
- [Fed still forecasts just one rate cut for next year](https://ppam.com.au/fed-still-forecasts-just-one-rate-cut-for-next-year/) - The Federal Reserve still sees just one rate cut in 2026, unchanged from its last forecast about three months ago. The central bank’s so-called dot plot, which anonymously shows 19 individual members’ expectations, indicates a median estimate of 3.4% for the federal funds rate at the end of 2026, a quarter point lower than the current range between
- [The world’s biggest investors are split on who wins from AI spendathon](https://ppam.com.au/the-worlds-biggest-investors-are-split-on-who-wins-from-ai-spendathon/) - Vanguard and BlackRock, the world’s two largest asset managers, have outlined diverging views of how billions of dollars being invested in artificial intelligence will drive the market and which companies stand to benefit. The two asset management giants oversee some $US36 trillion ($54 trillion) between them. Detailing its view about the year ahead to investors
- [Top female fund managers share their stock picks](https://ppam.com.au/top-female-fund-managers-share-their-stock-picks/) - Top performing female fund managers have revealed their best stock picks for Future Generation Woman for 2026, spotlighting companies that back female safety, digital inclusion and long-term economic opportunity. Minotaur Capital’s Armina Rosenberg, ECP Asset Management’s Annabelle Miller and First Sentier’s Dawn Kanelleas picked the stocks for the investment trust and are waiving their fees to
- [Dow closes nearly 500 points higher after Fed cuts rates: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-nearly-500-points-higher-after-fed-cuts-rates-live-updates/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve decided to cut interest rates once again this year and as traders bet more easing was ahead next year. The 30-stock average gained 497.46 points, or 1.1%, to close at 48,057.75. The S&P 500 advanced 0.7% to end the day at 6,886.68 and briefly traded above its previous record
- [Private credit is beginning to look like the bond market — and that comes with red flags](https://ppam.com.au/private-credit-is-beginning-to-look-like-the-bond-market-and-that-comes-with-red-flags/) - Private credit is increasingly resembling the public debt market as rapid growth blurs the traditional divide between the two. The industry’s size stood at about $3 trillion in early 2025, up from $2 trillion in 2020, according to Morgan Stanley. Private credit is starting to resemble the public bond market, as the rapid growth and
- [Supercharging financial advice to meet demand](https://ppam.com.au/supercharging-financial-advice-to-meet-demand/) - Tackling the issue of unmet demand for financial advice in Australia has spurred a superannuation fund to harness the power of AI to boost productivity to free up time to get more customers in front of experts. Aware Super COO Sally Collins says demand outstrips supply in terms of financial advisers and there is also
- [ASX to lift as US stocks waver; Australia set for 3m ETF investors](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-lift-as-us-stocks-waver-australia-set-for-3m-etf-investors/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher after markets swung from negative to positive following the Reserve Bank’s interest rate decision, and Governor Michele Bullock warning that cuts are unlikely in future. SPI futures were down 31 points before reversing course to rise 23 points or 0.3 per cent. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/asx-to-drop-as-rba-hangover-continues-wall-st-drifts-20251204-p5nkob
- [The Fed decision is expected to feature a rate cut and a lot more. Here’s what to expect](https://ppam.com.au/the-fed-decision-is-expected-to-feature-a-rate-cut-and-a-lot-more-heres-what-to-expect/) - The Federal Reserve is poised to deliver its third straight interest rate cut Wednesday, while simultaneously firing a warning shot about what’s ahead. The rate-setting FOMC is split between members who favor cuts to head off further weakness in the labor market against those who think easing has gone far enough and threatens to aggravate
- [Global week ahead: Fed’s December decision to inform world’s central banks](https://ppam.com.au/global-week-ahead-feds-december-decision-to-inform-worlds-central-banks-2/) - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates this week, setting the scene for other central banks’ final policy meetings for 2025. Swiss National Bank delivers policy update on Thursday, with the Bank of England and European Central Bank meeting Dec. 18. The Bank of Japan follows on Dec. 19. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/07/global-week-ahead-feds-december-decision-to-inform-worlds-central-banks.html
- [LNG giants make last ditch concessions to avert export controls](https://ppam.com.au/lng-giants-make-last-ditch-concessions-to-avert-export-controls-2/) - A consortium of major gas exporters in Queensland has offered to cut purchases of gas from local suppliers and trim LNG shipments in a last-minute bid to head off more onerous obligations to supply the domestic market being considered by the Albanese government. The concessions offered by Santos’ GLNG venture were discussed at high-level meetings
- [Climate investors bet on $40m home electrification start-up](https://ppam.com.au/climate-investors-bet-on-40m-home-electrification-start-up-2/) - Ecotone Partners’ The Planet Fund, a climate-focused fund backed by Robyn Denholm’s Wollemi Capital and the Milgrom’s family office, has bet on a start-up that is seeking to electrify Australian households. The Planet Fund has put up half of Electric Futures’ $10 million debt and equity raise, in a funding round that valued the company
- [ASX to fall on rate rise fears even as Wall Street cheers Fed cuts](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-on-rate-rise-fears-even-as-wall-street-cheers-fed-cuts-2/) - Local shares are set to fall further behind their US counterparts this week as traders ramp up bets the Reserve Bank of Australia will lift interest rates next year, while Wall Street cheers further easing by the Federal Reserve. Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 will open 0.2 per cent lower on Monday, extending its 5.3
- [S&P 500 closes lower as investors tap brakes before Fed decision this week](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-lower-as-investors-tap-brakes-before-fed-decision-this-week/) - The S&P 500 pulled back on Monday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of the year later this week. The broad market index fell 0.35% to close at 6,846.51, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.14% to settle at 23,545.90. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 215.67 points, or 0.45%, to finish at 47,739.32. Weighing on stock sentiment was the 10-year
- [Global week ahead: Fed’s December decision to inform world’s central banks](https://ppam.com.au/global-week-ahead-feds-december-decision-to-inform-worlds-central-banks/) - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates this week, setting the scene for other central banks’ final policy meetings for 2025. Swiss National Bank delivers policy update on Thursday, with the Bank of England and European Central Bank meeting Dec. 18. The Bank of Japan follows on Dec. 19. The arrival of December has
- [LNG giants make last ditch concessions to avert export controls](https://ppam.com.au/lng-giants-make-last-ditch-concessions-to-avert-export-controls/) - A consortium of major gas exporters in Queensland has offered to cut purchases of gas from local suppliers and trim LNG shipments in a last-minute bid to head off more onerous obligations to supply the domestic market being considered by the Albanese government. The concessions offered by Santos’ GLNG venture were discussed at high-level meetings
- [Climate investors bet on $40m home electrification start-up](https://ppam.com.au/climate-investors-bet-on-40m-home-electrification-start-up/) - Ecotone Partners’ The Planet Fund, a climate-focused fund backed by Robyn Denholm’s Wollemi Capital and the Milgrom’s family office, has bet on a start-up that is seeking to electrify Australian households. The Planet Fund has put up half of Electric Futures’ $10 million debt and equity raise, in a funding round that valued the company
- [ASX to fall on rate rise fears even as Wall Street cheers Fed cuts](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-on-rate-rise-fears-even-as-wall-street-cheers-fed-cuts/) - Local shares are set to fall further behind their US counterparts this week as traders ramp up bets the Reserve Bank of Australia will lift interest rates next year, while Wall Street cheers further easing by the Federal Reserve. Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 will open 0.2 per cent lower on Monday, extending its 5.3
- [S&P 500 closes higher, notching four-day win streak and nearing record after light inflation reading](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-closes-higher-notching-four-day-win-streak-and-nearing-record-after-light-inflation-reading/) - The S&P 500 edged higher on Friday, securing its fourth straight winning day, as traders digested inflation data that could provide further incentive for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates next week The broad market index closed 0.19% higher at 6,870.40, putting the index about 0.7% off its intraday record. Friday also marked its ninth positive
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Microsoft, Netflix, Marvell Technology, GitLab & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-microsoft-netflix-marvell-technology-gitlab-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Genius Sports — The sports analytics company jumped 8% after setting lofty 2028 targets at its investor day. Genius sees “group revenue” totaling $1.2 billion by then, along with free cash flow of $220 million. Netflix — Shares declined 5% as investors waited to see how much the
- [It took just three hours for the RBA’s big problem to be exposed](https://ppam.com.au/it-took-just-three-hours-for-the-rbas-big-problem-to-be-exposed/) - It’s easy to dismiss Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock’s regular appearances before Senate estimates as political point-scoring exercises, mainly because they are. But inadvertently, the questions in Wednesday morning’s session, which came just ahead of the release of the September quarter GDP numbers at 11.30am, did underscore the central bank’s big problem: it
- [There are still cheap, quality stocks out there. Here’s where to look](https://ppam.com.au/there-are-still-cheap-quality-stocks-out-there-heres-where-to-look/) - Amid mounting fears of an artificial intelligence-led bubble, many investors feel trapped between the optimists who say high valuations for stock prices make sense because AI is the biggest tech revolution ever, and the pessimists who say this time is no different and any bubble eventually deflates. The trap feels deeper for lack of options,
- [ASX sounds warning to bitcoin hoarders as stock de-lists](https://ppam.com.au/asx-sounds-warning-to-bitcoin-hoarders-as-stock-de-lists/) - The ASX has warned that companies that hoard bitcoin like Michael Saylor’s Strategy were unlikely to be welcomed on the bourse after delivery start-up Locate Technologies said it would have been booted from the exchange if it kept buying up the digital asset. Locate made history in May when it became the first ASX-listed company
- [Microsoft stock sinks on report AI product sales are missing growth goals](https://ppam.com.au/microsoft-stock-sinks-on-report-ai-product-sales-are-missing-growth-goals/) - Microsoft refuted a report that the company lowered growth targets for AI products after salespeople missed goals. The stock initially slid more than 2% on the news. Multiple Microsoft sales teams missed growth goals for the Azure Foundry product in the last fiscal year, according to The Information. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/03/microsoft-stock-ai-foundry-sales.html
- [Asset-backed finance is growing fast and drawing new scrutiny](https://ppam.com.au/asset-backed-finance-is-growing-fast-and-drawing-new-scrutiny/) - The asset-backed finance market is expected to top $9 trillion by 2029, according to KKR. ABF involves lending against a specific asset, income stream, or loan rather than lending to a company based on its cash flow. Some experts say that the flood of capital pouring into private credit and ABF strategies has resulted in
- [Fear and loathing come for bitcoin as big investors ponder selling](https://ppam.com.au/fear-and-loathing-come-for-bitcoin-as-big-investors-ponder-selling/) - Never sell your bitcoin. That was Michael Saylor’s advice in February as the price of the world’s most popular cryptocurrency soared. Saylor’s business, Strategy, was arguably at the centre of the market rally, accumulating more than $US100 billion ($152 billion) in bitcoin holdings. Originally known as MicroStrategy and specialising in data mining, Saylor had pivoted
- [APA revs up gas power ambitions with $1b commitment](https://ppam.com.au/apa-revs-up-gas-power-ambitions-with-1b-commitment/) - Gas pipeline giant APA Group will join Queensland state-owned CS Energy in a $1 billion-plus gas power plant to be built in the Western Downs, representing an expansion in a type of generation expected to have an enduring role through the transition to low-carbon energy. APA will own 80 per cent of the 400-megawatt Brigalow
- [RBA rate hike bets jump amid global bond sell-off](https://ppam.com.au/rba-rate-hike-bets-jump-amid-global-bond-sell-off/) - Bond yields climbed to multi-month highs on Tuesday, heaping more pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to increase the cash rate as traders tracked a global sell-off and Japan hinted at a possible interest rate hike as early as this month Australia’s policy-sensitive three-year bond rate climbed 6 basis points to 3.94 per cent,
- [Tesla CEO Elon Musk defends H-1B visas, says tariffs distort markets](https://ppam.com.au/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-defends-h-1b-visas-says-tariffs-distort-markets/) - Elon Musk said U.S. has been a beneficiary of talent from India. He added the H-1B visa program has been misused by companies. Musk raised concerns over Trump’s policy of tariffs and said it “distort the markets.” Tesla CEO said he tried to dissuade Trump from tariffs but was unsuccessful. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that
- [Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Synopsys, Moderna, Micron Technology, Wynn Resorts, Coinbase and more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-premarket-synopsys-moderna-micron-technology-wynn-resorts-coinbase-and-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines before the bell. Synopsys — The developer of design automation models and software jumped 8% after Nvidia invested $2 billion in Synopsys common stock at $414.79 per share as part of a broad strategic partnership. Leggett & Platt — Shares rose 14% after the furniture component manufacturer received an unsolicited, all-stock buyout proposal from Somnigroup International valued
- [ASX rally to stall in 2026 as super funds shun Aussie shares](https://ppam.com.au/asx-rally-to-stall-in-2026-as-super-funds-shun-aussie-shares/) - The record run for the Australian sharemarket is expected to stall in 2026 as the country’s largest superannuation funds stop pouring money onto the ASX in favour of cheaper offshore markets. MST Marquee has forecast the S&P/ASX 200 Index to finish next year at 8600 points, around the benchmark’s current level as the slowdown in
- [Aussie dollar stuck in low gear despite RBA rate hike talk](https://ppam.com.au/aussie-dollar-stuck-in-low-gear-despite-rba-rate-hike-talk/) - The Australian dollar should be flying high, buoyed by a strong economy and talk of interest rate rises next year when other countries including the US are still in easing mode. Instead, it is stuck trading about US65¢, defying strategists’ expectations and behaving more like a tired commuter than a currency ready to rally. Source:
- [ASX publishing outage leads to market chaos and investor angst](https://ppam.com.au/asx-publishing-outage-leads-to-market-chaos-and-investor-angst/) - An embarrassing failure of the ASX’s publishing system left several stocks unable to trade for much of the day and the embattled sharemarket operator scrambling to identify and fix the cause of the hours-long outage. The outage is the latest in a spate of bungles for the ASX, as its ability to run key financial
- [Dow falls 400 points, snaps 5-day win streak as crypto slide dents sentiment](https://ppam.com.au/dow-falls-400-points-snaps-5-day-win-streak-as-crypto-slide-dents-sentiment/) - Stocks fell on Monday, following cryptocurrencies lower, as volatility continued into December’s trading month. The S&P 500 lost 0.53% to end at 6,812.63, while Nasdaq Composite shed 0.38% to finish at 23,275.92. The Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back by 427.09 points, or 0.9%, to settle at 47,289.33. All three indexes snapped five-day win streaks. Bitcoin, the flagship cryptocurrency, dropped around 6% to
- [Global week ahead: The start of a Santa Rally or more ‘bah humbug’?](https://ppam.com.au/global-week-ahead-the-start-of-a-santa-rally-or-more-bah-humbug/) - A volatile November heralds a complex December for markets. The Federal Reserve and ECB are expected to hold steady in final policy meetings. Markets see a 90% chance of a Bank of England rate cut. And just like that... December is upon us. It’s been a volatile handover from November with U.S. major indices underperforming,
- [Here’s what 2026 holds for your super returns](https://ppam.com.au/heres-what-2026-holds-for-your-super-returns/) - We should be celebrating another spectacular year in financial markets, but it’s all taken place against the backdrop of stalling productivity. As we enter the twilight of 2025 we should be celebrating another spectacular year for superannuation. Balanced funds are again nudging double-digit returns. Global equity markets are up around 12 per cent, and we
- [Has the RBA cut interest rates too hard and too fast?](https://ppam.com.au/has-the-rba-cut-interest-rates-too-hard-and-too-fast/) - n February 18 this year, I happened to bump into a former Reserve Bank of Australia governor on the street in Sydney. This wasn’t just any other morning. The financial markets were betting and Treasurer Jim Chalmers was supremely confident that the RBA was primed to cut the 4.35 per cent cash rate at 2.30pm
- [ASX set to edge up before key GDP data](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-to-edge-up-before-key-gdp-data/) - A solid gross domestic product figure this week is set to further complicate the Reserve Bank’s challenge of curbing high inflation, with investors already ramping up bets that the next interest rate move will be an increase. Futures indicate that the S&P/ASX 200 Index will rise four points, or 0.1 per cent, at the open,
- [December will begin with investors owning little stock. Is a year-end rally at play?](https://ppam.com.au/december-will-begin-with-investors-owning-little-stock-is-a-year-end-rally-at-play/) - Wall Street thinks you don’t own enough stock. Not “you,” specifically, but investors as a collective are viewed as too lightly exposed to equities given the S&P 500 is three years into a bull market and is back to within 1% of its all-time peak from a month ago. Deutsche Bank’s comprehensive investor positioning gauge is hovering
- [The smartest way to max out your IRA in 2026, mathematically—you can invest up to $7,500](https://ppam.com.au/the-smartest-way-to-max-out-your-ira-in-2026-mathematically-you-can-invest-up-to-7500/) - The IRS on Thursday announced updates to tax rules for tax year 2026, including new limits for what you can contribute to individual retirement accounts. You’ll be able to contribute up to $7,500 to traditional and Roth IRAs, a $500 boost from the limit in 2025. Savers age 50 and older can stash an extra $1,100 a
- [‘Green light’ away from AI trade: Two ETF executives see a key market shift underway](https://ppam.com.au/green-light-away-from-ai-trade-two-etf-executives-see-a-key-market-shift-underway/) - A key rotation away from artificial intelligence stocks may be underway in the market. According to Astoria Portfolio Advisors’ John Davi, a broader range of stocks are getting a “green light” because liquidity is returning to the system. “The Fed cut rates four times last year. They cut rates twice already. They’re going to go again whether its December
- [The stunning market backflip that could spark a Santa rally](https://ppam.com.au/the-stunning-market-backflip-that-could-spark-a-santa-rally/) - Another green night on Wall Street, more gains on global markets, and a sigh of relief from investors after last week’s ugly sell-off. Those artificial intelligence doubts are still very much front of minds, but global markets are taking succour from one of the most remarkable reversals we’ve seen in some time. Source: https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/the-stunning-market-backflip-that-could-spark-a-santa-rally-20251127-p5nitw
- [Industry super funds are outspending retail rivals on marketing](https://ppam.com.au/industry-super-funds-are-outspending-retail-rivals-on-marketing/) - Australia’s largest industry super funds are spending up to five times more on sponsorship and marketing than similar-sized retail rivals, despite persistent warnings from regulators that they are forking out millions of dollars without any clear benefit to their members. New disclosures from nine major industry and retail funds show that Aware Super, the nation’s
- [ASX to fall; Corporate Travel suspends UK boss, withdraws guidance](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-corporate-travel-suspends-uk-boss-withdraws-guidance/) - Australian shares are poised for a modest fall at the open, while global markets were mostly sidelined by the US Thanksgiving public holiday. The S&P/ASX 200 is on track to close out the week with a solid 2 per cent gain. US markets were closed on Thursday (Friday AEDT), and they are set for a
- [CNBC Daily Open: Thanksgiving cheer comes a day early for U.S. markets](https://ppam.com.au/cnbc-daily-open-thanksgiving-cheer-comes-a-day-early-for-u-s-markets/) - Major U.S. indexes notched a fourth straight day of gains. Apple’s smartphone shipments are projected to overtake Samsung’s this year. China’s industrial profits dropped 5.5% from a year earlier, the biggest slide since June. AI can replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce, according to an MIT study. Bitcoin will likely continue its descent for the rest
- [These stocks have strong total shareholder returns, says Morgan Stanley](https://ppam.com.au/these-stocks-have-strong-total-shareholder-returns-says-morgan-stanley/) - As investors seek returns from companies flush with cash, certain names stand above the rest, according to Morgan Stanley. Despite heavy growth in capital expenditures in the third quarter, cash balances at companies increased slightly, strategist Todd Castagno said in a note Tuesday. The Russell 1000 cash balance increased to $2.1 trillion in the quarter,
- [Beach Energy keen to invest in Santos’ $3.6b Narrabri project](https://ppam.com.au/beach-energy-keen-to-invest-in-santos-3-6b-narrabri-project/) - Beach Energy chief executive Brett Woods says the company is keen to invest alongside Santos in the long-stalled $3.6 billion Narrabri gas project in NSW to solve the nation’s east coast gas shortage, as it progresses other substantial exploration and power generation plans. Beach, the country’s third-largest oil and gas producer that is backed by
- [RBA rate hikes are coming next year after red-hot inflation](https://ppam.com.au/rba-rate-hikes-are-coming-next-year-after-red-hot-inflation/) - Investment banks Barrenjoey and UBS, along with the bond market, are betting the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates rather than cut them next year after a red-hot inflation report wrong-footed everyone. Barrenjoey chief economist Jo Masters has flipped her rate forecast, and is now predicting the RBA will lift the cash rate
- [ASX to rise, Wall St extends its rally into fourth session](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-wall-st-extends-its-rally-into-fourth-session/) - Australian shares are set to open higher as Wall Street extended its recovery amid stabilising hopes for a December interest rate cut after last week’s swoon. Bitcoin briefly traded above $US90,000. Information technology and materials led nine of the S&P 500’s industry sectors higher as the benchmark was poised to rise for a fourth day.
- [CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia’s crown looks increasingly uneasy on its head](https://ppam.com.au/cnbc-daily-open-nvidias-crown-looks-increasingly-uneasy-on-its-head/) - Major U.S. indexes had their third straight winning session on Tuesday, erasing earlier intraday losses. Meta is reportedly looking to use Google AI chips in its data centers. U.S private companies shed an average of 13,500 jobs per week over the past four weeks, according to ADP. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was willing to advance with
- [Buyback boom signals dividend pain for ASX investors](https://ppam.com.au/buyback-boom-signals-dividend-pain-for-asx-investors/) - For decades, the Australian sharemarket was the world’s cash machine for income investors, where companies paid handsome dividends, providing a predictable income stream relied upon by retirees. But a quiet, Wall Street-inspired revolution is underway. Across the ASX, companies are using their surplus cash to buy back their own shares rather than write dividend cheques.
- [CSL rout hits Australia’s biggest cap investors](https://ppam.com.au/csl-rout-hits-australias-biggest-cap-investors/) - Some of Australia’s largest cap investors have been caught on the wrong side of one of the year’s most crowded trades after piling into CSL as an alternative to holding a big position in Commonwealth Bank. CSL has become the most common blue-chip stock to overweight across major portfolios when funds looked to reduce their
- [ASX to rise before CPI; Wall St rallies broadly as Alphabet jumps](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-before-cpi-wall-st-rallies-broadly-as-alphabet-jumps/) - Australian shares are poised to open higher, bolstered by a further advance in New York as traders firm their expectations for a December interest rate cut and the US 10-year yield briefly traded below 4 per cent. The Dow Industrials paced Wall Street with a 4 per cent rise in Merck, a 3.9 per cent
- [Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed after Wall Street’s tech stocks rebound](https://ppam.com.au/asia-pacific-markets-trade-mixed-after-wall-streets-tech-stocks-rebound/) - Asia markets traded mixed Tuesday. Overnight, Wall Street rebounded, boosted by Alphabet’s shares. AI-related stocks in Asia rose. Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday, after Wall Street’s tech stocks rebounded on a rally in Google parent and hopes of a Fed rate cut. Optimism about Alphabet’s standing in the AI race started last week after the tech
- [PACIFIC COMPASS - Modest Underweight on Australian Equities [October 2025 Review]](https://ppam.com.au/pacific-compass-modest-underweight-on-australian-equities-october-2025-review/) - MONTHLY ECONOMIC & INVESTMENT REVIEW - OCTOBER 2025: Executive Summary Global markets continued their positive trajectory in October 2025, driven by firm earnings, rate cuts from major central banks, and stable commodity prices. Developed markets outperformed again, especially in the U.S. and Japan, while Australian equities were flat as weakness in consumer-linked sectors offset strength
- [Could markets be facing an ‘everything bubble’? Investors are divided](https://ppam.com.au/could-markets-be-facing-an-everything-bubble-investors-are-divided/) - Global stocks have seen wild swings over the past week, as mounting concerns over AI valuations have dampened sentiment and fueled fears a bubble could be about to burst. Dan Hanbury, who co-manages the Global Strategic Equity strategy at investment manager Ninety One, told CNBC markets could actually be facing what he termed an “everything
- [Why you must ‘innovate or stagnate’ as the market transforms](https://ppam.com.au/why-you-must-innovate-or-stagnate-as-the-market-transforms/) - It’s ironic that blockchain technology, which was created to allow the cryptocurrency bitcoin to be sent to anyone with an internet connection, without the need for a bank, is now being adopted by the very institutions it was designed to circumvent. Over the next decade, digital assets, represented on distributed ledgers, will overhaul financial markets.
- [Aussies sell their tech company to US giant for $5b](https://ppam.com.au/aussies-sell-their-tech-company-to-us-giant-for-5b/) - Two Australian tech entrepreneurs have sold their software monitoring company to US cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks for more than $5 billion in one of the biggest deals of the year. Palo Alto Networks is Nasdaq-listed with a market capitalisation of more than $US125 billion ($193.4 billion). It finalised the purchase of US-based Chronosphere for
- [ASX to open higher as companies free up $8.2b in working capital](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-open-higher-as-companies-free-up-8-2b-in-working-capital/) - Australian shares are set to open higher, bolstered by a broad rebound on Wall Street. Communication services and information technology paced nine of the S&P 500’s 11 industry groups higher. A 7 per cent leap in Tesla and a 6 per cent gain in Alphabet paced the megacap tech stocks. The NYSE Fang + Index,
- [S&P 500 rips 1.6% higher, Nasdaq posts best day since May as Alphabet reignites AI trade](https://ppam.com.au/sp-500-rips-1-6-higher-nasdaq-posts-best-day-since-may-as-alphabet-reignites-ai-trade/) - Stocks closed higher on Monday, boosted by Alphabet, as the market rebounded into the Thanksgiving holiday week after a slide that knocked the air out of this year’s artificial intelligence bull run. The S&P 500 increased 1.55% to close at 6,705.12, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.69% to settle at 22,872.01. It was the tech-heavy index’s best day since May
- [Top Wall Street analysts favor these 3 stocks for solid upside potential](https://ppam.com.au/top-wall-street-analysts-favor-these-3-stocks-for-solid-upside-potential/) - Concerns about the steep valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks and a questionable outlook for an interest rate cut in December weighed on investor sentiment in recent trading sessions. For now, however, Nvidia’s solid earnings last week seemed to undermine the idea that everything tied to AI investment is in a bubble. Investors looking to capitalize
- [Michele Bullock is repeating Philip Lowe’s RBA inflation failure](https://ppam.com.au/michele-bullock-is-repeating-philip-lowes-rba-inflation-failure/) - For nearly a decade the RBA has declared its devotion to the inflation target while repeatedly postponing the hard actions required to reach it. The Reserve Bank of Australia is sounding a little like Saint Augustine. Augustine, wrestling with his own contradictions, famously prayed: “Give me chastity and continence – but not yet”. The RBA’s version is
- [AI and rate cuts will power global markets in 2026](https://ppam.com.au/ai-and-rate-cuts-will-power-global-markets-in-2026/) - A powerful combination of AI innovation, fiscal stimulus, and easing monetary policy will likely propel global markets next year. UBS has just released its Year Ahead 2026 report, and the theme “escape velocity” should guide investors. The interplay of AI innovation, fiscal stimulus, and easing monetary policy should see global markets break free from traditional
- [ASX to jump as rate cut hopes, Nvidia buoy Wall Street](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-jump-as-rate-cut-hopes-nvidia-buoy-wall-street/) - The Australian sharemarket is set to make a strong comeback on Monday after a broad rally on Wall Street, buoyed by the prospect that the US Federal Reserve could deliver an interest rate cut next month after all. Futures for the S&P/ASX 200 Index point to a 92-point jump at the open to climb 1.1
- [Dow closes about 500 points higher in big market rebound after steep sell-off this week](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-about-500-points-higher-in-big-market-rebound-after-steep-sell-off-this-week/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounded on Friday after New York Federal Reserve President John Williams suggested the central bank could cut interest rates yet again this year. The blue-chip index gained 493.15 points, or 1.08%, to close at 46,245.41. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.88% to settle at 22,273.08, while the S&P 500 finished 0.98% higher at 6,602.99. “I view monetary policy as
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Nvidia, Exact Sciences, Walmart, Strategy, Regeneron & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-nvidia-exact-sciences-walmart-strategy-regeneron-more/) - Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Nvidia — The chipmaker fell nearly 2%, reversing earlier gains after it reported fiscal third-quarter results that were well above expectations. Nvidia’s fourth-quarter revenue guidance was also stronger than analysts anticipated. As Nvida’s stock faltered a number of other AI trades fell as well including Palantir Technologies, which fell nearly
- [The five hidden risks that could hurt our financial system](https://ppam.com.au/the-five-hidden-risks-that-could-hurt-our-financial-system/) - Australia’s financial system has passed a major stress test, but risks remain. Some, like housing, are obvious. Others are much more hidden. First, the good news. According to phase one of the system-wide stress test of the Australian financial system just conducted by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, our banks and our superannuation funds could survive
- [Revealed: Australia’s fastest-growing companies](https://ppam.com.au/revealed-australias-fastest-growing-companies/) - The Australian Financial Review Fast 100 List and Fast Starters List 2025 showcase the businesses outpacing their competitors to be named the nation’s fastest-growing companies. This year, the top spot on the Fast 100 List for established companies went to Wickton Properties, a Victorian group that develops commercial and residential properties from inception to managing the final
- [ASX set to fall 1.7pc as S&P 500 dives on market jitters](https://ppam.com.au/asx-set-to-fall-1-7pc-as-sp-500-dives-on-market-jitters/) - Australian investors are bracing for a potential rocky start on the Australian Securities Exchange with futures pointing to a drop greater than 1.5 per cent. Futures tied to the ASX 200 closed down ahead of the 10am AEDT by 1.7 per cent with 142 points set to be wiped. The potential wipeout comes after Wall
- [Stocks tumble, Nasdaq closes 2% lower after stunning reversal in AI, Nvidia stocks](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-tumble-nasdaq-closes-2-lower-after-stunning-reversal-in-ai-nvidia-stocks/) - Stocks fell on Thursday, as a market-wide rally sparked by blockbuster Nvidia results and guidance gave up steam and as investors lost hope that the Federal Reserve would cut rates again in December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 386.51 points, or 0.84%, to settle at 45,752.26, after rallying more than 700 points at session highs. The S&P 500 shed 1.56%
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Alphabet, Nvidia, Lowe’s, La-Z-Boy, MP Materials & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-alphabet-nvidia-lowes-la-z-boy-mp-materials-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Alphabet — The YouTube and Google parent climbed 4% to an all-time high after rolling out its Gemini 3 artificial intelligence platform Tuesday. Google said Gemini 3 lets users get better answers to more complex questions and needs less prompting to find the context and intent behind
- [End-of-year boom goes bust as investors say ‘no thanks’](https://ppam.com.au/end-of-year-boom-goes-bust-as-investors-say-no-thanks/) - Soggy equity capital markets have struck at a shocking time for bankers and companies thinking about ending the year with a bang. The risk is that eight days of falls on the ASX in the past 11, since the Reserve Bank of Australia’s monetary policy board kept rates on hold, will see fund managers turn
- [‘Run it hot’: Wall Street bull says we’re missing the real story](https://ppam.com.au/run-it-hot-wall-street-bull-says-were-missing-the-real-story/) - The further Australia’s superannuation funds have been from the United States’ magnificent seven stocks, the Nasdaq index, and even Wall Street, the worse they’ve performed. It’s been like that for five years. AustralianSuper chief investment officer Mark Delaney, one of the wise owls of the $4.3 trillion retirement savings sector, outlined it beautifully a year
- [The world’s biggest asset manager is betting on ASX small caps](https://ppam.com.au/the-worlds-biggest-asset-manager-is-betting-on-asx-small-caps/) - BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has cut its exposure to the Australian sharemarket’s largest stocks and bought into its small caps, citing more favourable valuations and improving sentiment. The firm, which manages more than $US13.5 trillion ($20.8 trillion) in funds, told advisors this week that its multi-asset division – which invests across a range
- [Block’s stock pops 9% on gross profit forecast, 3-year financial outlook](https://ppam.com.au/blocks-stock-pops-9-on-gross-profit-forecast-3-year-financial-outlook/) - Block said it expects annual gross profit growth through 2028 to be in the mid-teens, with adjusted operating income climbing about 30% annually. The company also expanded its share repurchase program by $5 billion, adding to the $1.1 billion in remaining authorization as of Sept. 30. CEO Jack Dorsey, who has been largely out of
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS – Steady Strategies for Uncertain Times [November 2025]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-steady-strategies-for-uncertain-times-november-2025/) - Meeting Date: Friday, 14 November 2025 "Steady Strategies for Uncertain Times" We are pleased to share a high-level summary of the latest Pacific Private Asset Management Investment Committee Meeting. This update highlights the market themes, portfolio considerations, and strategic initiatives guiding our investment approach. Key Discussion Highlights 1. Market & Portfolio Positioning The Committee reviewed
- [Why young investors may want to choose a Roth account instead of a traditional 401(k)](https://ppam.com.au/why-young-investors-may-want-to-choose-a-roth-account-instead-of-a-traditional-401k/) - When it comes to investing for retirement, there are several types of accounts you can choose from. But if you’re young, experts say a Roth option can be especially smart to start with. “Typically, the younger you are, the more a Roth makes sense,” says Patrick Huey, certified financial planner and owner of Victory Independent
- [RBA reveals what must happen before rates are cut](https://ppam.com.au/rba-reveals-what-must-happen-before-rates-are-cut/) - The Reserve Bank of Australia has signalled it would only entertain cutting interest rates if there was a material deterioration in the labour market, reflecting a cautious approach given the board’s lack of clarity around the effect of monetary policy settings on the economy. The RBA board said that while current interest rate settings were still “a
- [Investment firm takes pole position in Supercars team deal](https://ppam.com.au/investment-firm-takes-pole-position-in-supercars-team-deal/) - Prime Financial Group has bought a majority stake in a V8 Supercars team, the latest sign of the accelerating interest in sport from investment firms. Tickford Racing competes in the Supercars Championship, Australia’s top professional car racing series, and is owned by Rod Nash. Altor Capital, a subsidiary of ASX-listed Prime, has purchased a controlling
- [ASX to fall; Helloworld launches 90¢ a share Webjet bid](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-helloworld-launches-90¢-a-share-webjet-bid/) - Australian shares are set to open little changed, with futures reversing earlier losses in line with Wall Street. All three US benchmarks pared session lows heading into the final hour. Still, nervousness persisted in New York as investors await Nvidia’s quarterly results on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT). “Declines have left investor sentiment back in the tank,
- [Fed Governor Waller backs December rate cut as support for weakening labor market](https://ppam.com.au/fed-governor-waller-backs-december-rate-cut-as-support-for-weakening-labor-market-2/) - Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Monday voiced support for another interest rate cut at the central bank’s December meeting, saying he’s grown concerned over the labor market and the sharp slowdown in hiring. In an increasingly divided Fed, Waller’s comments put him squarely in the camp of those looking to ease monetary policy to
- [Fed Governor Waller backs December rate cut as support for weakening labor market](https://ppam.com.au/fed-governor-waller-backs-december-rate-cut-as-support-for-weakening-labor-market/) - Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller on Monday voiced support for another interest rate cut at the central bank’s December meeting, saying he’s grown concerned over a the labor market and the sharp slowdown in hiring. In an increasingly divided Fed, Waller’s comments put him squarely in the came of those looking to ease monetary policy
- [Amazon seeks $18b from first US bond sale in three years](https://ppam.com.au/amazon-seeks-18b-from-first-us-bond-sale-in-three-years/) - Amazon is seeking to raise about $US12 billion ($18.4 billion) through a debt offering — its first such deal in US dollars in about three years — amid an industry-wide race to build artificial intelligence infrastructure. Amazon is selling investment-grade bonds in as many as six parts, according to people with knowledge of the matter, asking
- [Future Fund pivots to gold and active funds in a ‘permacrisis’ world](https://ppam.com.au/future-fund-pivots-to-gold-and-active-funds-in-a-permacrisis-world/) - The Future Fund says it is buying gold, hiring active fund managers and avoiding fixed-rate bonds to protect its $261 billion portfolio against rising inflation, with the sovereign wealth investment giant warning the world appeared to be permanently poised on the edge of crisis. In a 17-page position paper, the fund outlined a plan to
- [Dow closes down more than 550 points, dragged down by Nvidia, tech shares](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-down-more-than-550-points-dragged-down-by-nvidia-tech-shares/) - Stocks pulled back on Monday, plagued once again by declines in tech, as Wall Street awaited key releases this week, including Nvidia earnings and the September jobs report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 557.24 points, or 1.18%, to close at 46,590.24, as losses in the artificial intelligence chip darling along with Salesforce and Apple pushed the blue-chip index lower. The S&P 500 sank 0.92%
- [Amid market volatility, should retail investors buy the dips or take their profits and run?](https://ppam.com.au/amid-market-volatility-should-retail-investors-buy-the-dips-or-take-their-profits-and-run/) - The recent market action may have some investors wondering if they should take their profits and run, or look to buy into any weakness. Stocks recovered some ground on Friday after a rocky morning. The Nasdaq Composite snapped a three-day losing streak, ending 0.13% higher. The S&P 500 closed near the flatline and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.65%. The
- [The 9 hottest stock tips from this year’s Sohn fund managers](https://ppam.com.au/the-9-hottest-stock-tips-from-this-years-sohn-fund-managers/) - The Sohn Hearts & Minds conference is a decade old and, if the crowds were any indication, has not lost any of its vigour. From the Sydney Opera House, fund managers, bankers and others in the audience heard from everyone from former prime minister Julia Gillard to one-time Donald Trump confidant Anthony Scaramucci. Source: https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/the-9-hottest-stock-tips-from-this-year-s-sohn-fund-managers-20251114-p5nflo
- [Wall Street is unleashing Warren Buffett’s secret weapon](https://ppam.com.au/wall-street-is-unleashing-warren-buffetts-secret-weapon/) - Warren Buffett signed off on a career as the greatest investor of all time this past week, penning his final letter to shareholders. The 95-year Berkshire Hathaway chairman’s clarity and wisdom has inspired a generation of investors to search patiently for undervalued businesses and reap the rewards. Source: https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/wall-street-is-unleashing-warren-buffett-s-secret-weapon-20251115-p5nfnt
- [ASX to fall; Elders profit lifts 12pc; TPG in halt amid raising](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-fall-elders-profit-lifts-12pc-tpg-in-halt-amid-raising/) - Investors are bracing for heightened volatility this week as the US resumes regular economic data releases following the government shutdown and the world’s largest company Nvidia hands down a critical earnings report. Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 will open 0.2 per cent lower on Monday, extending Friday’s sell-off that wiped $37 billion off the market’s value and
- [All three of the core premises behind the bull market are coming under questioning](https://ppam.com.au/all-three-of-the-core-premises-behind-the-bull-market-are-coming-under-questioning/) - The bull market probably didn’t die last week. But its recent ructions might offer a glimpse of its eventual demise, the way bouts of angina can foreshadow a heart attack. The S&P 500 index survived the week virtually unchanged, but only after absorbing its third 3-4% pullback in five weeks, after going six months without even one.
- [INVESTMENT COMMITTEE INSIGHTS - Navigating Growth with Focused Discipline [October 2025]](https://ppam.com.au/investment-committee-insights-navigating-growth-with-focused-discipline-october-2025/) - Meeting Date: Friday, 10 October 2025 "Navigating Growth with Focused Discipline" Pacific Private Asset Management’s Investment Committee met in October to review market conditions, assess portfolio positioning, and refine performance monitoring across client portfolios. Key Discussion Highlights Market & Economic Outlook Global growth is expected to remain moderate, supported by stabilising inflation and easing interest
- [CBA wealth targets Gen Z investors with a managed fund starting at $2](https://ppam.com.au/cba-wealth-targets-gen-z-investors-with-a-managed-fund-starting-at-2/) - Commonwealth Bank is offering customers managed-fund investments from as little as $2 as the bank tries to grow its pipeline of wealth customers. Although aimed primarily at first-time investors, the new products will be available to all 9 million customers who use CBA’s banking app. Source: https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/cba-targets-gen-z-with-2-managed-fund-investments-20250226-p5lffm
- [Investors call time on small cap ‘heroes’ as DroneShield, Life360 dive](https://ppam.com.au/investors-call-time-on-small-cap-heroes-as-droneshield-life360-dive/) - Investors who have ridden the dazzling rally in small-cap darlings such as DroneShield and Life360 have been delivered a dose of reality this week after a series of ASX announcements triggered a violent reversal on the sharemarket. DroneShield shareholders were left stunned by news overnight that company founder Oleg Vornik and a group of directors
- [ASX to dive 1.7pc, Sohn conference stock picks ahead](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-dive-1-7pc-sohn-conference-stock-picks-ahead/) - Australian shares are set to drop 1.7 per cent at the open, tracking broad losses on Wall Street as the probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut next month fell to near a coin toss from almost a certainty a month ago. The Dow slumped 797.29 points or 1.6 per cent, dragged down by a
- [Markets no longer view the December rate cut as a sure bet, with Fed officials casting doubts](https://ppam.com.au/markets-no-longer-view-the-december-rate-cut-as-a-sure-bet-with-fed-officials-casting-doubts/) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell wasn’t kidding a couple weeks ago when he said a December rate cut wasn’t in the bag. Whereas traders as recently as a few days ago were pricing in at least a 2-to-1 probability of a quarter percentage point cut, that’s now flipped to a coin toss. As markets grew
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Goldman Sachs, AMD, Oklo, Circle Internet & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-goldman-sachs-amd-oklo-circle-internet-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: Alkermes — The biotech company dropped 9% as traders weighed phase 2 trial results for its ALKS 2680 drug, which aims to treat narcolepsy. While the company will be advancing the drug to a Phase 3 trial, a higher range of doses or a split dosing regimen may be
- [Markets are up, investors are making money but no one is happy](https://ppam.com.au/markets-are-up-investors-are-making-money-but-no-one-is-happy/) - The broader welfare of the Shapiro family of stockbrokers and soccer nuts can be gauged by three main barometers: the gold price, Arsenal Football Club’s standing in the Premier League, and the level of the sharemarket. All three measures are as good as they get. Yet, a sense of unease prevails. Do we deserve this
- [Why this top small-cap fund is closing to new investors](https://ppam.com.au/why-this-top-small-cap-fund-is-closing-to-new-investors/) - As investors continue to pile into the smaller end of the sharemarket, Ausbil’s high-flying Australian small-cap fund is closing its doors to new money so as not restrict the team’s ability to trade in some of the less liquid stocks. Some of Ausbil’s biggest winners over the past year have been family tracking app Life360, metal
- [Here’s one area of the market where active is beating passive](https://ppam.com.au/heres-one-area-of-the-market-where-active-is-beating-passive/) - As billions of dollars continue to pour into exchange-traded funds and other passive strategies, making life tough for active investors needing to beat the market, there is one cohort that’s outperforming everyone: small and mid-cap fund managers. Fresh analysis from Morningstar shows that in the Australian small and mid-cap sector, active managers have outperformed passive
- [The shutdown put jobs and inflation data on hold. Here’s when it could be back — and what it might say](https://ppam.com.au/the-shutdown-put-jobs-and-inflation-data-on-hold-heres-when-it-could-be-back-and-what-it-might-say/) - Economic data releases that have lagged during the government shutdown likely will take some time to get rolling again once Congress is back in business. Assuming the government reopens before the end of the week, Goldman figures the Bureau of Labor Statistics will put out an updated schedule of releases in the early part of
- [Comyn says rivals replicating CBA’s strategy as competition heats up](https://ppam.com.au/comyn-says-rivals-replicating-cbas-strategy-as-competition-heats-up/) - Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn says his three biggest rivals appear to be trying to replicate the lending giant’s strategies and creating intense competition for a slice of the mortgage market. Comyn unveiled a $2.6 billion cash profit at the country’s largest lender for the first three months of its financial year, higher than
- [ASIC accuses fallen miner AVZ Minerals of misleading investors](https://ppam.com.au/asic-accuses-fallen-miner-avz-minerals-of-misleading-investors/) - Australia’s corporate watchdog has accused suspended mining explorer AVZ Minerals and two directors of failing to disclose critical market information after they delayed telling investors about a threat to its flagship African lithium project. The West Australian company’s delisting last year left AVZ investors nursing losses of $2.8 billion – one of the biggest wealth
- [ASX to rise; POSCO’s $1.2b MinRes deal, Flight Centre eyes $340m profit](https://ppam.com.au/asx-to-rise-poscos-1-2b-minres-deal-flight-centre-eyes-340m-profit/) - Australian shares are set to open higher. In New York, the Dow advanced, paced by Merck and Nike, amid rising optimism that the US federal government is poised to reopen within days. FedEx leapt more than 6 per cent, easing concerns about the holiday season, and helping the S&P 500 reverse early losses. Shares in
- [Dow closes at record high but Nasdaq slips as investors rotate out of technology stocks: Live updates](https://ppam.com.au/dow-closes-at-record-high-but-nasdaq-slips-as-investors-rotate-out-of-technology-stocks-live-updates/) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied to a fresh closing record Tuesday, while the Nasdaq Composite struggled as investors moved money away from technology stocks into other parts of the market that traded at lower valuations. The 30-stock Dow rose 559.33 points, or 1.18%, to close at 47,927.96, with those on Wall Street buying up shares of various blue-chip
- [Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Penn Entertainment, Metsera, Six Flags & more](https://ppam.com.au/stocks-making-the-biggest-moves-midday-penn-entertainment-metsera-six-flags-more/) - Check out the companies making the biggest moves midday: TreeHouse Foods — The food processor rallied 23% after announcing it’s being bought by European investment group Investindustrial for $22.50 per share in cash. That represents an 18% premium from Friday’s close. The deal values TreeHouse at nearly $3 billion. Tech stocks — Names tied to the
- [Australia’s $4trn wealth surge: Are you one of the 760,000?](https://ppam.com.au/australias-4trn-wealth-surge-are-you-one-of-the-760000/) - An additional 70,000 Australians have crossed the $1 million in investible assets threshold to achieve “high net worth” status in the past year. This represents a rise of 10 per cent, and untroubled by volatile financial markets, the collective investible assets of high net worth (HNW) Australians increased by 18 per cent to reach $4
- [Time to reassess the Goldilocks scenario driving markets](https://ppam.com.au/time-to-reassess-the-goldilocks-scenario-driving-markets/) - For months, I’ve described a persistent Goldilocks backdrop: solid growth, easing inflation, and supportive liquidity. So far, that view has been vindicated as global equities keep setting all-time highs and credit spreads remain historically tight. It’s a market that rewards staying fully invested and punishes those who are underweight or are timing the market. Source:
- [Time to buy the dip? The dumped ASX stocks on investors’ radar](https://ppam.com.au/time-to-buy-the-dip-the-dumped-asx-stocks-on-investors-radar/) - For investors chasing a recovery story, some of the S&P/ASX 200’s most battered stocks are starting to look quite tempting, with big names like CSL, Domino’s Pizza, and Treasury Wine Estates all trading at prices not seen in years. But fund managers are warning: don’t buy the dip just yet. That’s because the former market
- [Miran says half-point cut ‘appropriate’ for December, but Fed should at least reduce by a quarter point](https://ppam.com.au/miran-says-half-point-cut-appropriate-for-december-but-fed-should-at-least-reduce-by-a-quarter-point/) - Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran on Monday advocated for further interest rate cuts as a way stave off a potential economic softening ahead. In a CNBC interview, the central bank official held to his belief that the Fed should be moving at an even more rapid pace than its traditional quarter percentage point reductions. He
- [Top Wall Street analysts favor these 3 tech stocks for their growth outlook](https://ppam.com.au/top-wall-street-analysts-favor-these-3-tech-stocks-for-their-growth-outlook/) - E-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon (AMZN) recently impressed investors with its upbeat Q3 results. Accelerating growth in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud unit confirmed the Street’s faith in Amazon’s expansion into artificial intelligence. In reaction to the solid Q3 print and the recently-announced deal with OpenAI, Mizuho analyst Lloyd Walmsley increased his price forecast for Amazon

## Pages

- [Home](https://ppam.com.au/)
- [Philanthropy](https://ppam.com.au/philanthropy/)
- [Partners](https://ppam.com.au/partners/)
- [Additional Services](https://ppam.com.au/additional-services/)
- [Our Process](https://ppam.com.au/our-process/)
- [Expert Team](https://ppam.com.au/expert-team/)
- [Who We Serve](https://ppam.com.au/who-we-serve/)
- [Contact](https://ppam.com.au/contact/)
- [Why Us](https://ppam.com.au/why-us/)
- [Alternative Asset Management](https://ppam.com.au/alternative-asset-management/)
- [Newsletter](https://ppam.com.au/newsletter/)
- [Contact Information](https://ppam.com.au/contact-information/) - Contact Information Contact Information Phone: +61 3 9101 8547Email: contact@ppam.com.au Contact Ben GrodskiPhone: +61 467 881 102Email: ben@ppam.com.au Our Offices Melbourne Office Level 30, Collins Place, 35 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Sydney Office Level 22-23, Salesforce Tower, Sydney Place, 180 George St. Sydney, NSW 2000 Daily Distribution Australian Financial Review - Complimentary Subscription Click Here Careers
- [Contact Form Sales Force](https://ppam.com.au/contact-form-sales-force/) - Contact Form Test Contact Us First Name Last Name Email Mobile Company Description
- [](https://ppam.com.au/thank-you/) - Form submitted successfully. We have received your message. The team will get back to you on your inquiry.

## Categories

- [Pacific Perspectives](https://ppam.com.au/category/pacific-perspectives/)
- [Investment Committee Insights](https://ppam.com.au/category/investment-committee-insights/)
- [CIO Insights](https://ppam.com.au/category/cio-insights/)
- [Pacific In the Press](https://ppam.com.au/category/pacific-in-the-press/)
- [Pacific Podcast](https://ppam.com.au/category/pacific-podcast/)

## Departments

- [Advisory Board](https://ppam.com.au/department/advisory-board/)
- [Executive Team](https://ppam.com.au/department/executive-team/)
- [Investment Committee](https://ppam.com.au/department/investment-committee/)
- [Private Asset Management](https://ppam.com.au/department/private-asset-management/)
- [Distribution](https://ppam.com.au/department/distribution/)
- [Administration](https://ppam.com.au/department/administration/)