iShares MSCI Australia ETF

EWA

Market cap $1.45B

Australia's GDP expanded 2.5% in the first three months this year, missing expectations. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, Australia's GDP grew 0.3% compared with 0.5% forecast.

The UK's blue-chip index advanced on Tuesday, supported by gains in mining-related shares as base metal prices strengthened, while energy stocks came under pressure following a decline in crude oil. Broader sentiment was also influenced by geopolitical developments, including renewed expectations of progress in US–Iran talks.

The cost of using AI will rise in less predictable ways as companies deploy the technology for complex tasks, the head ​of Australia's biggest bank said on Tuesday, calling the expense a ‌key emerging management challenge.

Australia on Saturday extended a measure that releases petrol and diesel ​from domestic reserves, Energy Minister Chris ‌Bowen said, as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the ​Iran war on energy supplies.

A looming slowdown in mortgage lending, higher provisions for souring loans and rising interest rates are darkening the outlook for Australian banks, pushing investors away from their once-favoured stocks.

Australia's consumer-price growth slowed, but stayed high enough to keep the door open to further rate increases by the central bank.

The ASX 200 Index remained in a tight range while Australian bond yields fell after the latest consumer inflation report. It was trading at A$8,660, a few points below this week's high of A$8,715.

"Europe doesn't realize exactly how dangerous it is to just rely on the American infrastructure," Bouygues CEO Olivier Roussat told CNBC on Thursday. Elon Musk's Starlink currently dominates the global satellite internet service, and its parent company SpaceX is planning to list on Nasdaq in what could be one of the biggest IPO ever.

Australia's financial regulator warned on Thursday that domestic private credit institutions are exposed to risks linked to global market developments ​and will require closer scrutiny.

Australia's planned tax overhaul is set to reshape the market's investment ​landscape, with high-dividend blue chips poised to benefit at the expense of growth-oriented stocks, fund managers say.