BUSINESS

LONDON — Next plc dominated the FTSE 100 gainers Thursday as the blue-chip index edged lower amid renewed oil price volatility and lingering geopolitical uncertainties tied to the Middle East.

SYDNEY — Defence technology company DroneShield Ltd led the S&P/ASX 200's biggest gainers on Wednesday, surging 19.33% to close at A$4.26 as investors piled into counter-drone and resources names amid ongoing uncertainty from the US-Iran conflict and broader commodity movements.

As the US-Iran war pushes global oil prices above US$100 per barrel and fuels uncertainty in traditional markets, Australian Bitcoin investors face a familiar question: sell to lock in gains, buy the dip, or simply hold?

The escalating US-Iran war has delivered a fresh inflationary shock to Australia through soaring fuel prices, forcing the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to hike its cash rate twice in quick succession and casting doubt on expected interest rate relief for mortgage holders in 2026.

The US-Iran war has driven sharp price increases across a range of everyday Australian products, with petrol and diesel leading the charge as oil prices surged past US$100 per barrel and the Strait of Hormuz disruptions choked off roughly 20% of global supply.

Australian investors looking beyond the resources-heavy ASX are increasingly eyeing Japanese equities in 2026, drawn by ongoing corporate governance reforms, a supportive fiscal backdrop under the new administration

Australian investors seeking diversification beyond the ASX are turning to New Zealand's NZX market in 2026, drawn by attractive valuations, high dividend yields in select names, exposure to renewable energy and healthcare, and the benefits of a closely aligned economy and currency.

The ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has injected fresh uncertainty into Australia's housing market, driving up fuel and construction costs while prompting the Reserve Bank of Australia to hike interest rates, leaving potential buyers and sellers weighing whether now is the right time to act or to wait for greater clarity.

SYDNEY — Australia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export sector has emerged as the industry most directly and significantly affected by the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war, with global price surges offering potential revenue windfalls for producers while shipping disruptions, insurance surcharges and indirect fuel cost pressures ripple through the broader economy.

Building costs across Australia are surging once again, with key materials rising as much as 36 percent in recent weeks due to fuel price spikes triggered by conflict in the Middle East, threatening to derail the federal government's ambitious target of constructing 1.2 million new homes over five years and adding fresh pressure to an already strained housing market.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed more than 290 points Wednesday, March 25, 2026, snapping a string of choppy sessions as investors weighed persistent geopolitical risks from the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict against signs of tentative stabilization in oil markets and a modest rebound in equities.

Starbucks Corp. shares edged higher in early Wednesday trading, rising about 0.80% to around $92.72 as investors weighed ongoing U.S. traffic challenges against signs of stabilization in China and the company's multi-year reset plan aimed at reclaiming its position as the "third place" between home and work.

McDonald's Corp. shares rose modestly in early Wednesday trading, climbing to around $309 as investors responded positively to the fast-food giant's aggressive value menu push aimed at reigniting traffic in a high-inflation environment that has kept budget-conscious diners away.

SYDNEY — Jetstar has temporarily cut more than 10% of its scheduled flights between Australia and New Zealand as soaring jet fuel prices triggered by the Middle East conflict bite into demand and raise operating costs for the Qantas-owned low-cost carrier.

SYDNEY — Hundreds of petrol stations across Australia have run out of diesel or unleaded fuel amid a worsening supply crunch triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, prompting the federal government to temporarily lower diesel standards for six months and release emergency reserves to ease shortages.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 climbed more than 1% in early trading Wednesday as investors weighed signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict against lingering geopolitical risks and steady UK inflation data. The blue-chip index rose as high as 10,077.21 points before pulling back slightly, trading around 10,069.49, up 104.33 points or 1.05% from Tuesday's close of 9,965.16.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Shares of 4DMedical Ltd. (ASX: 4DX) exploded higher Wednesday, closing at A$6.23 after surging as much as 34.56% on record trading volume exceeding 30 million shares, as the medical imaging company announced more than US$100 million in new funding to accelerate its U.S. commercial rollout of revolutionary lung imaging software.

SYDNEY — Australia's vast trucking industry, the backbone of the nation's freight, mining and agricultural supply chains, is confronting a looming AdBlue crisis that could force thousands of modern diesel trucks into "limp mode" or off the road entirely within 30 days, as global disruptions from the US-Iran war tighten supplies of urea, the key ingredient in the emissions-control fluid.

The ongoing US-Iran war has exposed Australia's precarious fuel security, with stockpiles dipping to roughly 30-36 days for key products and petrol prices surging toward A$2.20 per litre, but the crisis is also fast-tracking the nation's shift to sovereign green hydrogen production as policymakers and industry leaders seize the moment to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Shares of Shift4 Payments Inc. (NYSE: FOUR) rocketed nearly 19 percent on Tuesday, closing at $52.50 after touching an intraday high of $55.46, as the payment technology company rebounded sharply from recent 52-week lows and drew renewed investor attention following a period of pressure tied to cautious 2026 guidance.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index has suffered a punishing sell-off since the US-Iran war erupted on Feb. 28, with more than $300 billion erased from the value of Australian equities as markets increasingly brace for a prolonged conflict that threatens global oil supplies and stokes domestic inflation fears.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index surged more than 1.8% on Wednesday, closing at approximately 8,538 points after climbing as high as 8,564, as investors welcomed signs of de-escalation in the US-Iran conflict and a strong rebound in mining and energy stocks.

SYDNEY — Australia is absorbing significant economic losses from the ongoing US-Iran war, with petrol prices hitting record highs near A$2.20 per litre, inflation forecasts revised upward by as much as 1.25 percentage points and more than A$300 billion wiped from the share market since fighting erupted in late February 2026, even as the nation's role as an energy exporter provides some offsetting gains in commodity revenues.

SYDNEY - More than 2,000 journalists, producers and technical staff at Australia's national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, walked off the job Wednesday for a 24-hour strike

Intel Corp. shares closed modestly higher Tuesday, trading around $44.06 after a session that saw the stock fluctuate between $43.20 and $44.31, as investors weighed ongoing foundry advancements, strong demand for AI-related products and persistent challenges from competitors in the semiconductor sector.

Nike Inc. shares rose more than 2% in midday trading Wednesday, trading around $53.80, as investors eyed the athletic giant's upcoming quarterly results and signs of progress in CEO Elliott Hill's multiyear turnaround plan.

SYDNEY — As the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz drags into its fourth week, Australia's critically low fuel reserves — just 36 days of petrol, 32 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel — are coming under intense pressure, raising fears that a prolonged disruption could force rationing, empty regional bowsers and push unleaded prices toward or beyond $3 a litre.

SYDNEY — Australian investors are showing mixed but resilient interest in Bitcoin in early 2026, with many continuing to accumulate the cryptocurrency on price weakness through regulated exchange-traded funds and self-managed superannuation funds even as the digital asset trades near one-year lows around $69,000–$71,000.

SYDNEY — Australian motorists are bracing for another sharp rise in petrol prices as the ongoing US-Iran conflict and effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz threaten to send global oil benchmarks well above $100 a barrel, with some economists warning that unleaded fuel at the pump could exceed $3.00 a litre if disruptions persist into the second quarter of 2026.