NEWS

Anzac Day, which falls on April 25, falls on a Saturday this year, which means not everyone will get to enjoy a long weekend.

SYDNEY — The S&P/ASX 200 index closed at 8,955.0 on Thursday, shedding 23.7 points or 0.26 percent, as lingering concerns over Middle East oil supply risks and softness in the big four banks offset gains in technology and healthcare stocks.

SYDNEY — Australian motorists are paying an average of AUD 2.03 per litre for unleaded petrol as of mid-April 2026, with global Brent crude oil prices hovering near US$95 per barrel after sharp swings triggered by Middle East tensions and a fragile ceasefire, leaving households and businesses bracing for sustained fuel cost pressures.

SAN FRANCISCO — Allbirds Inc. shares rocketed nearly 600 percent Wednesday after the once-trendy sneaker maker announced it is selling its footwear business and pivoting to artificial intelligence infrastructure, sparking a frenzy among investors weighing whether to buy or sell the stock heading into the rest of 2026.

Fuel prices are going up again following the Geelong oil refinery fire, which has now been put under control by the authorities.

NEW YORK — Upstart Holdings Inc. shares jumped more than 11 percent in midday trading Wednesday, climbing to around $32.96 as investors bet on the artificial intelligence-powered lending platform's continued recovery in 2026 amid improving loan origination volumes and optimism around its push for a national bank charter.

NEW YORK — Allbirds Inc. shares skyrocketed more than 400 percent in morning trading Wednesday after the once-trendy sustainable footwear company announced a stunning pivot from making eco-friendly sneakers to building AI compute infrastructure, complete with a $50 million financing deal and plans to rebrand as NewBird AI.

NEW YORK — Carrier Global Corp. shares tumbled more than 8 percent in morning trading Wednesday, falling to around $59.48 as investors weighed persistent softness in the residential heating and cooling market ahead of the company's first-quarter earnings report later this month.

NEW YORK — Polaris Inc. shares tumbled more than 10 percent in morning trading Wednesday, plunging to around $51.59 as investors grew jittery ahead of the company's first-quarter earnings report and grappled with ongoing softness in the powersports and off-road vehicle market.

NEW YORK — Tesla Inc. shares surged more than 4 percent in morning trading Wednesday, trading near $379 as investors bet on accelerating progress toward robotaxi deployment and artificial intelligence initiatives despite a modest miss on first-quarter vehicle deliveries.

NEW YORK — GameStop Corp. shares climbed more than 2 percent in morning trading Wednesday as the video game retailer launched its much-anticipated "Power Packs" digital trading card platform, injecting fresh excitement into a stock that has traded like a meme favorite for years.

LONDON — The FTSE 100 fell modestly Wednesday, closing below the 10,600 level as investors took profits after recent gains fueled by hopes of an imminent resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict, while renewed concerns over U.S. tariffs and mixed corporate earnings weighed on sentiment.

MONTREAL — BRP Inc. shares cratered more than 35 percent on the Toronto Stock Exchange Wednesday after the Canadian maker of Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Can-Am off-road vehicles and Sea-Doo watercraft suspended its full-year fiscal 2027 financial guidance, citing a sudden and severe cost increase from amended U.S. Section 232 tariffs.

NEW YORK — WisdomTree Inc. shares edged higher in early trading Wednesday, climbing to $17.34 as investors reacted positively to the company's latest monthly metrics showing robust $2.6 billion in net inflows for March and continued strength in its global ETF platform amid growing demand for innovative investment products.

NEW YORK — Shares of NuScale Power Corp. jumped nearly 15 percent in early trading Wednesday, climbing to $11.78 as investors renewed enthusiasm for small modular reactor technology amid growing global interest in nuclear energy to power artificial intelligence data centers and stabilize grids strained by geopolitical tensions.

NEW YORK — IonQ Inc. shares have delivered explosive gains for early believers but remain a high-stakes bet heading deeper into 2026, with Wall Street analysts largely urging investors to buy the dip while cautioning that the quantum computing pioneer's path to profitability is long and volatile.

NEW YORK — Shares of Eos Energy Enterprises Inc. surged more than 16 percent in early trading Wednesday, climbing to $7.38 as investors piled into the zinc-based long-duration energy storage specialist amid continued optimism over its rapid manufacturing ramp and positioning in the booming artificial intelligence power infrastructure market.

NEW YORK — D-Wave Quantum Inc. shares have delivered a roller-coaster ride in 2026, surging on fresh commercial bookings and a major gate-model acquisition before plunging nearly 45 percent year-to-date, leaving investors divided over whether the pioneering quantum computing company represents a high-risk, high-reward buy or a speculative hold best approached with caution.

OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO at the end of 2025, continues to influence the financial world from his role as chairman, issuing measured warnings about market valuations while the conglomerate he built sits on a massive cash reserve exceeding $370 billion.

Virgin Australia is trimming down the number of flights it operates while increasing prices of tickets due to the fuel crisis.

SYDNEY — The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed marginally higher at 8,976.2 on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, gaining just 5.4 points or 0.06 percent in a cautious session overshadowed by Australia's deepening fuel crisis, plunging consumer confidence and lingering uncertainty from Middle East tensions.

US President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for arranging the US-Iran talks.

NEW YORK — Gold prices climbed sharply Wednesday, rising 1.54% to $4,816.30 per ounce as investors sought refuge in the precious metal despite signs of de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, with easing oil pressures and a softer U.S. dollar providing fresh momentum to the ongoing bull run.

NEW YORK — Oracle Corporation shares have delivered a volatile ride in 2026, dropping as much as 24% year-to-date from peaks near $345 in late 2025 before staging sharp rebounds on strong earnings and fresh AI announcements. As of mid-April, the stock trades around $162-$167, leaving many investors wondering whether to buy the dip or sell amid concerns over heavy capital spending and execution risks in the red-hot artificial intelligence infrastructure race.

NEW YORK — Shares of Bloom Energy Corp. surged more than 17% in early trading Tuesday after the clean energy company announced a major expansion of its strategic partnership with Oracle Corp., agreeing to supply up to 2.8 gigawatts of solid oxide fuel cell systems to support the tech giant's rapidly growing AI and cloud computing infrastructure.

NEW YORK — Shares of Travere Therapeutics Inc. skyrocketed more than 33% in early trading Tuesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval for the company's drug FILSPARI to treat focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a rare and progressive kidney disorder with no prior approved therapies.

NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened slightly lower Tuesday, trading at 48,202.27, down 15.98 points or 0.033 percent shortly after the 9:30 a.m. EDT start on April 14, 2026, as Wall Street took a modest breather following a solid gain the previous session amid lingering hopes for Middle East stability.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have returned to Australia, marking the beginning of their trip with a visit to a children's hospital in Melbourne.

Short sessions, familiar reward loops, and lower-friction experiences are helping entertainment-first digital platforms gain momentum across the U.S.