BUSINESS

U.S. mortgage rates remained largely stable Tuesday amid ongoing uncertainty from Middle East tensions, with the average 30-year fixed rate hovering around 6.38% to 6.50% depending on the lender survey, offering little relief for homebuyers entering the peak spring season.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 index edged higher Tuesday, reaching 10,461.88 points by mid-morning trading on April 7, 2026, as gains in energy and defensive stocks offset broader caution stemming from escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

SYDNEY — Sales and registrations of electric vehicles in Australia jumped sharply in March 2026, with some states recording increases of nearly 50 per cent month-on-month as record-high petrol and diesel prices, triggered by global oil market turmoil linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict, pushed more motorists toward battery-electric options.

OAK BROOK, Ill. — McDonald's Corp. CEO Chris Kempczinski has responded directly to widespread online mockery over a promotional video in which he took a notably small bite of the chain's new Big Arch burger, insisting he regularly enjoys the company's food and remains committed to menu innovation despite the social media firestorm.

TOKYO — Japan's artificial intelligence sector is gaining momentum in 2026, fueled by government initiatives, corporate partnerships and a new generation of startups blending deep technical expertise with practical applications in manufacturing, healthcare, robotics and generative models.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed sharply Tuesday, rising 129.3 points or 1.51% to close at 8,708.8 as bargain hunters piled into beaten-down miners and technology stocks, providing relief after a volatile period marked by Middle East tensions and an approaching U.S. deadline on Iran.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Melbourne has solidified its position as Australia's leading hub for artificial intelligence innovation in 2026, home to about 188 AI companies and roughly 22% of the nation's clustered AI firms — the largest concentration nationwide. With Victoria's government-backed AI Mission Statement targeting up to $30 billion in gross state product contributions over the next decade, a new wave of emerging startups is driving breakthroughs in healthcare, legal tech, clinical documentation and beyond.

MINNEAPOLIS — Gina Maria's Pizza, a beloved Twin Cities institution that served generations of Minnesotans for more than 50 years, has permanently closed all four of its locations and seen its parent company file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, court records and local reports confirmed this week.

Carta's latest research on Australian startup sentiment reveals IPO ambition hasn't disappeared, but exit timelines are stretching

CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian Taxation Office is ramping up compliance efforts in 2026, warning individual taxpayers and small businesses about work-related deduction claims and other red flags that could trigger audits as the agency boosts personal income tax scrutiny amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

Shares of Xiao-I Corp (NASDAQ: AIXI) skyrocketed more than 156% Monday, surging to around $0.34 in afternoon trading as retail investors piled into the micro-cap artificial intelligence company following a major legal victory in its long-running patent dispute with Apple in China.

SYDNEY — Sydney's housing market has hit a speed bump in the first quarter of 2026, with home values falling modestly as buyers grapple with higher borrowing costs, cost-of-living pressures and uncertainty from the Middle East conflict, according to the latest data from major property analysts.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares traded near $23.12 in afternoon action Monday, down $0.24 or 1.01%, as the video game retailer continued to draw intense investor attention amid speculation over CEO Ryan Cohen's plans for a major acquisition and the company's massive cash reserves.

NEW YORK — Alphabet Inc. shares edged higher Monday, with Class C stock (GOOG) trading near $296.60 after gaining $2.14 or 0.73% in afternoon trading, as Wall Street largely reinforced its bullish long-term outlook despite heavy 2026 capital spending plans for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

NEW YORK — The S&P 500 pushed above the 6,600 level in early trading Monday as investors welcomed tentative signs of potential de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, easing pressure from elevated oil prices that have weighed on the benchmark throughout a challenging start to 2026.

NEW YORK — Intel Corp. shares have staged a remarkable recovery, climbing more than 100% over the past year and posting double-digit gains in early 2026, as the semiconductor giant executes a high-stakes turnaround centered on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence demand and government-backed expansion.

U.S. stock futures rose modestly Monday as investors weighed diplomatic signals of a potential cease-fire in the Iran conflict, even as persistent jet fuel shortages and elevated oil prices continued to pressure airlines and energy-dependent sectors.

Major airlines around the world have begun canceling thousands of flights and raising fares as jet fuel prices have more than doubled and physical supplies have tightened in the wake of the ongoing war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Here are 10 compelling reasons to consider buying Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ: AAOI) stock in 2026, centered on its explosive positioning in the AI data center optics boom.

Australia's heavy dependence on imported refined fuel has left the nation vulnerable to the escalating global oil crisis sparked by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, prompting urgent calls for immediate and long-term measures to safeguard supply, stabilize prices and build resilience.

Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ONDS) has emerged as one of the most compelling high-growth stories in the defense, autonomous systems and private wireless sectors in early 2026, with analysts pointing to aggressive revenue targets, a strengthened balance sheet and accelerating demand for its counter-drone and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies as key reasons investors may want to consider the stock.

As Australian businesses navigate economic pressures, hybrid work demands and talent shortages in 2026, a select group of companies stands out for creating environments where employees report high levels of trust, pride and camaraderie.

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia is grappling with a serious fuel supply crunch in April 2026, driven by geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East that has disrupted global oil flows and exposed the nation's heavy reliance on imports.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) has emerged as one of the standout artificial intelligence plays of the past several years, and analysts and investors are closely watching whether its momentum can carry into the rest of 2026 despite a volatile start to the year.

Australians are grappling with sharply higher fuel costs in early April 2026 as the U.S.-Iran war disrupts global oil supplies, pushing wholesale prices higher and triggering a domestic fuel supply crunch despite government intervention.

Australia is not fighting in the U.S.-led war against Iran, yet the conflict is already exacting a significant economic toll on the nation through surging fuel prices, inflation pressures and potential recession risks, according to government modeling and independent forecasts.

SYDNEY — As the Iran war enters its second month with the Strait of Hormuz largely closed and global oil prices hovering above $100 a barrel, economists are warning that supply-chain shocks will deliver a triple blow to Australia's economy this year — driving inflation higher, squeezing key industries and raising recession risks.

U.S. employers added 178,000 jobs in March, a solid rebound that far exceeded economists' expectations and signaled underlying resilience in the labor market despite ongoing geopolitical tensions from the conflict with Iran and surging energy costs.

NEW YORK — U.S. stock markets were closed Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday, leaving investors to digest the latest economic signals without the ability to trade as geopolitical tensions from the ongoing conflict with Iran continued to cast a shadow over Wall Street.