NEWS

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran has reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, shutting the critical waterway to most commercial shipping less than 24 hours after declaring it fully open, escalating a high-stakes maritime standoff with the United States that threatens global oil supplies and has already driven volatile swings in energy prices.

SYDNEY — Australian motorists are seeing modest relief at the bowser this week as national petrol prices continue to fall slowly following government intervention and improving fuel stocks, yet analysts warn that long-term price stability hinges on fragile developments in the Middle East and could take months to fully materialise.

Australia will take part in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and safe if and when a deal is reached amid the ongoing Iran war.

Doctors and nurses are increasingly dominating Australia's fast-growing cosmetic injectables sector, with many clinicians choosing to step away from high-pressure hospital environments to establish their own practices and apply their medical expertise in a more balanced, flexible and patient-focused setting.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index traded virtually flat in thin afternoon trade Monday, closing down a negligible 2.0 points, or 0.02 percent, at 8,944.9 as investors weighed escalating tensions in the Middle East against hopes for renewed diplomacy and shifting commodity prices.

SYDNEY — Australians are ditching petrol pumps for electric vehicle showrooms in record numbers as a severe fuel crisis triggered by conflict in the Middle East sends petrol and diesel prices skyrocketing and leaves hundreds of service stations dry.

SHIBUYA, Japan — A towering blue sculpture of Shohei Ohtani captured mid-slide, clutching a bottle of sunscreen, is turning heads and drawing crowds in one of Tokyo's busiest districts as the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar's latest endorsement deal rolls through the streets in a custom promotional truck.

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines on Friday categorically rejected any possibility of merging with rival United Airlines, dashing speculation sparked by United CEO Scott Kirby's reported pitch to President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Shares of Maase Inc. skyrocketed more than 31% Friday, climbing to $9.84 in midday trading on the Nasdaq as investors piled into the small-cap stock following its recent strategic shift toward becoming a full-stack artificial intelligence player through the completed acquisition of China's Huazhi Group.

Smith & Wesson Brands Inc., one of America's most iconic firearm manufacturers, continues to navigate a shifting market with improving financial results and fresh product launches, even as the company marks more than 170 years of innovation in revolvers, pistols and long guns.

Tesla Inc. shares surged more than 4.6% Friday, climbing to $407.02 midday as investors bet on accelerating progress in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving technology and upcoming product catalysts, even after the electric vehicle maker posted weaker-than-expected first-quarter deliveries.

NEW YORK — Shares of Bath & Body Works Inc. surged more than 8% Friday, climbing to $19.64 in midday trading as Wall Street showed renewed confidence in the retailer's efforts to revive its iconic brand through innovation and smarter pricing, even as the company braces for another year of declining sales.

NEW YORK — Shares of Autoliv Inc. surged almost 10 percent Friday as the world's largest maker of automotive airbags and seatbelts reported first-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by robust demand in Asia and better-than-anticipated operational performance despite softer global vehicle production.

NEW YORK — Shares of Hims & Hers Health Inc. climbed sharply in morning trading Friday as investors bet that potential regulatory relief on compounded peptides could strengthen the telehealth company's weight-loss offerings and broader platform growth.

SEATTLE — Alaska Air Group Inc. shares surged more than 12 percent in morning trading Friday as plunging oil prices following the Middle East ceasefire delivered welcome relief to fuel-burdened airlines and boosted sentiment across the sector ahead of the carrier's first-quarter earnings next week.

CHICAGO — United Airlines Holdings Inc. shares surged nearly 10 percent in early trading Friday, extending a rebound for the airline sector as falling oil prices eased fuel-cost concerns and fresh speculation about a potential blockbuster merger with American Airlines fueled investor optimism.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares edged lower in early trading Friday, reflecting cautious investor sentiment even as the video game retailer continues its transformation under CEO Ryan Cohen with a massive cash reserve and fresh digital initiatives.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed Friday morning as investors bet that a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East would prevent a prolonged oil shock and allow the U.S. economy to shake off recent volatility.

NEW YORK — World oil prices fell sharply Friday as reports of the Strait of Hormuz reopening and optimism over U.S.-Iran diplomatic progress eased fears of prolonged supply disruptions from the Middle East conflict. Brent crude, the global benchmark, traded around $95 to $96 per barrel in early trading, down more than 3 percent from the previous session, while West Texas Intermediate crude hovered near $90 per barrel.

NEW YORK — Bitcoin climbed above $75,000 on Friday, April 17, 2026, trading around $75,200 to $75,800 in early sessions as investors sought a hedge against ongoing Middle East instability and renewed institutional interest in cryptocurrency.

US President Donald Trump has falsely claimed that Pope Leo XIV said that Iran can have a nuclear weapon, which the pontiff never said.

SYDNEY — Australia is grappling with its most severe fuel supply crunch in decades as a major refinery fire in Victoria this week added fresh pressure to an already strained system hit hard by disruptions from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. With the Strait of Hormuz largely closed for over a month, global oil shipments have been thrown into chaos, exposing the nation's heavy reliance on imports and thin domestic reserves.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 index closed at 10,589.99 on Thursday, rising 30.41 points or 0.29% in a modest but steady rebound that lifted London's blue-chip benchmark after a softer session the day before.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index slipped modestly Thursday, closing at 8,936.2 after shedding 18.8 points or 0.21 percent, as investors weighed lingering uncertainties from the U.S.-Iran conflict, softer domestic economic signals and mixed corporate earnings amid a broader global market pause.

Old, unused and unwanted business assets often contain valuable metals that can be repurposed. Recycling them boosts profits, frees space and supports sustainability as these business assets often contain valuable metals that can generate real returns when recycled properly.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to US President Donald Trump's latest criticism of Australia's lack of participation in the Strait of Hormuz.

RESTON, Va. — NextNav Inc. shares surged more than 21 percent Thursday as the developer of next-generation terrestrial positioning, navigation and timing technology benefited from renewed investor optimism around an anticipated Federal Communications Commission rulemaking and a broader market rebound sparked by easing geopolitical tensions.

NEW YORK — The S&P 500 edged higher Thursday, closing at another all-time high near 7,038 as investors brushed aside lingering concerns over the U.S.-Iran conflict and focused on the start of first-quarter earnings season, particularly from technology giants driving artificial intelligence spending.

LONG BOAT KEY, Fla. — Rumble Inc. shares exploded higher Thursday after the conservative-leaning video platform formally launched an exchange offer to acquire German artificial intelligence infrastructure company Northern Data AG, a move that would significantly expand its cloud and high-performance computing capabilities amid surging demand for AI resources.