BUSINESS

Young Australian investors may lose over $50,000 in potential profits due to proposed changes to capital gains tax, sparking concern among first-home buyers and emerging wealth builders.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares rose 1.28% as investors responded positively to its strong performance and potential Reserve Bank of Australia rate cuts, boosting confidence in the financial sector.

The ASX 200 index fell slightly as investors awaited the federal budget, balancing optimism in commodities with concerns over policy changes and global tensions.

Navitas Semiconductor's shares surged over 7% due to increased demand for energy-efficient solutions in AI data centres, driven by strategic partnerships and product launches.

In 2026, investors must choose between NVIDIA's AI dominance and Intel's turnaround potential. NVIDIA leads with strong growth, while Intel offers a high-risk, high-reward opportunity.

Palantir shares fell despite strong Q1 earnings and raised guidance, as investors locked in gains. Analysts remain bullish, citing robust growth and AI adoption, but caution on high valuations.

Wolfspeed's stock surged 23% due to AI infrastructure demand and a short squeeze, highlighting its role in silicon carbide semiconductors for AI and EVs.

VNET Group Inc. shares rose over 30% after announcing a strategic investment to enhance its AI infrastructure, signalling strong market confidence and growth potential in China's data center sector.

The Dow Jones fell over 240 points due to unexpected inflation data, delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts and impacting market sentiment. Energy costs and geopolitical tensions contribute to economic uncertainty.

eBay's Q1 2026 results show strong growth, rejecting GameStop's takeover bid. Analysts recommend cautious optimism, focusing on eBay's strategic initiatives and market resilience.

GameStop's $56 billion bid to acquire eBay was rejected, with eBay citing financial and strategic concerns. CEO Ryan Cohen may pursue a proxy fight or sweetened proposal.

NVIDIA and IREN Limited announce a strategic partnership to deploy 5GW of AI infrastructure, combining NVIDIA's computing platforms with IREN's data center expertise, marking a significant AI sector milestone.

The idea of "chucking a sickie" is something that many Aussie workers seem incredibly comfortable doing. Many phone in to work with claims of being too sick to come in, while others are genuinely unwell. When you zoom back and look at the national average, most employees took around 14 sick days in the last year, a staggering 23% increase over the last five years alone.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 pushed higher Wednesday as mining stocks and specialist services firms dominated the leaderboard, with Intertek Group leading gains amid strong sector rotation toward commodities and industrial testing services.

NEW YORK — Oracle Corp. shares closed down 3.62 percent at $186.83 on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, extending recent weakness as investors continued to scrutinize the software giant's aggressive capital spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure and cloud expansion. The decline of $7.01 per share came despite a modest pre-market rebound, reflecting ongoing unease about profitability, execution risks and broader tech sector rotation.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index struggled Wednesday amid banking sector weakness and budget-related concerns, but select stocks delivered standout gains as positive company news and rising commodity prices lifted resource and consumer discretionary names.

SYDNEY — Australia's annual inflation rate cooled to 4.3% in the 12 months to May 2026, down from 4.6% in March, offering the first clear sign that the recent surge driven by global energy shocks may be peaking.