BUSINESS

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.

SYDNEY — With escalating U.S.-Iran tensions threatening to disrupt 20% of global oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, Australian investors are increasingly favoring physical gold and gold mining stocks over Bitcoin as a store of value, according to market participants and fund flow data on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.16% to close at 8,379.40 on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, clawing back some ground after a volatile start to the week as gains in mining and resources stocks offset weakness in financials and broader concerns over escalating tensions in the Middle East.

StubHub Holdings Inc. shares gained about 0.5% to around $6.85 in early trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, extending a modest recovery after closing at $6.88 the previous session.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that has long served as the world's most vital energy chokepoint, finds itself at the center of escalating conflict in March 2026 as Iranian forces effectively restrict shipping and U.S. President Donald Trump issues repeated ultimatums to reopen the passage or face strikes on Iranian power plants.

Netflix Inc. shares rose modestly about 0.5% to around $93.40 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, extending a recent recovery as the streaming giant prepares to report first-quarter results next month while continuing to expand its advertising business and invest heavily in content. The move followed a 1.7% gain the previous session that closed the stock at $93.38.

Nvidia Corp. shares dipped about 0.6% to around $174.50 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, giving back a portion of the previous session's gains as investors digested ongoing momentum in artificial intelligence infrastructure spending despite broader market caution.

Tesla Inc. shares climbed about 0.8% to around $383.80 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, extending gains from the previous session as investors reacted to signs of recovering demand in Europe and fresh details on CEO Elon Musk's ambitious plans for a massive new semiconductor manufacturing project dubbed "Terafab."

GameStop Corp. shares slipped about 1.9% to around $22.59 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as investors weighed whether to buy, sell or hold the meme-stock favorite on the eve of its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release.

GameStop Corp. shares fell more than 1% to around $22.58 in midday trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as investors positioned themselves ahead of the video game retailer's fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings report due after the market close.

Alphabet Inc. shares fell more than 1.5% in early trading Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as investors weighed ongoing uncertainty from the U.S.-Iran conflict and broader concerns about elevated energy costs impacting artificial intelligence infrastructure spending.

MUMBAI, India — A U.S.-based consortium led by tech entrepreneur Kal Somani has purchased 100% ownership of the Rajasthan Royals for $1.63 billion, marking the most expensive franchise sale in Indian Premier League history and underscoring the soaring commercial value of cricket's premier T20 league.

Nasdaq futures pointed to a mixed open Tuesday, March 24, 2026, after the tech-heavy index posted a solid 1.38% gain the previous session on hopes of de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict that briefly sent oil prices tumbling and lifted investor sentiment across Wall Street.

Dow Jones futures traded lower early Tuesday, March 24, 2026, pointing to a cautious open on Wall Street after a strong rebound the previous session fueled by optimism over potential U.S.-Iran negotiations that later showed signs of fading.

Gold is falling further into bear territory due to leverage and government bond yields, but it is likely to bounce quickly on a de-escalation of the Iran war.

PhotobookShop has paid $39,600 in penalties after it asked influencers to lie in reviews that was to be posted on Instagram.

NEW YORK — Russell 2000 futures traded modestly lower in overnight and early Tuesday trading on March 24, 2026, pulling back slightly after a robust session for small-cap stocks the previous day that saw the benchmark index surge more than 2% and futures contracts post solid gains.

SYDNEY — Australia's corporate scene in 2026 features a fresh wave of dynamic leaders stepping into prominent roles or scaling high-growth companies amid economic optimism

MIAMI Leonid Radvinsky, the low-profile Ukrainian-American entrepreneur who transformed OnlyFans into a multibillion-dollar subscription platform dominating the adult entertainment industry, died March 20, 2026, after a private battle with cancer. He was 43.

LONDON — With the FTSE 100 pushing past 10,000 points for the first time early in 2026 and delivering strong gains driven by defence spending, banking resilience and healthcare innovation, investors are eyeing a select group of blue-chip stocks for potential outperformance this year.

Volatility in global markets is reshaping how companies pursue growth, prompting a shift towards opportunistic expansion and away from longer-term strategic dealmaking, according to the latest Dealmakers M&A survey from Pitcher Partners.

Leonid Radvinsky, the reclusive Ukrainian-American billionaire who transformed the adult content platform OnlyFans into a global powerhouse generating billions in revenue, died March 23, 2026, at age 43 after a prolonged private struggle with cancer, the company confirmed in a statement.

Shares of Fastly, Inc. (NYSE: FSLY) soared to a four-year high in recent trading sessions, climbing more than 13% intraday on March 23, 2026, as the edge cloud platform provider rode continued enthusiasm for its AI-driven growth prospects and robust fourth-quarter 2025 performance.

Billionaire Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer remains a dominant force in the NBA landscape, celebrating his team's surprising mid-season turnaround while grappling with an ongoing league investigation into alleged salary cap circumvention tied to star Kawhi Leonard's past endorsement deal.

At 37, Russell Westbrook continues to etch his name deeper into NBA history books while navigating a season of ups and downs with the Sacramento Kings, where his veteran presence has provided stability amid team struggles and sparked discussions about a potential return next year.

NEW YORK — The Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled more than 2% on Friday, March 20, 2026, closing at 21,647.61 after shedding 443.08 points, as escalating U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran drove oil prices higher and fueled investor fears of prolonged economic disruption.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is intensifying his commitment to global health and innovation as the Gates Foundation ramps up spending toward a planned closure in 2045, even as he navigates renewed controversy over past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. at the end of 2025, remains a central figure in financial news as his successor navigates the conglomerate's transition.

SAN FRANCISCO — Peter Thiel, the billionaire co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies and a prominent venture capitalist through Founders Fund, has built one of the most influential investment portfolios in tech history. As of March 2026, his holdings reflect a mix of early-stage bets that exploded in value and strategic public market positions, with Palantir Technologies standing out as his largest single investment by current market value.