Australia
Australia and Japan markets climb, looking past Iran war escalation fears
Pedestrians at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Brendon Thorne | Bloomberg | Getty Images Markets in Australia and Japan mostly rose Friday, mirroring gains on Wall Street that saw both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reach new highs. This comes as investors took in strong earnings from Apple […]
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Japan puts ‘too much burden’ on U.S. for security, former defense minister Kono says
Taro Kono during a news conference at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan has relied too heavily on the U.S. for security, according to Taro Kono, Japan’s former defense minister, as concerns grow that Washington may scale back its global […]
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Australia reports lower-than-expected first-quarter inflation — but price rise highest in 2 years
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 06: Pedestrians and shoppers move along George Street on December 06, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. Lisa Maree Williams | Getty Images News | Getty Images Australia’s inflation rate soared to 4.09% in the first quarter, marking its highest level in more than two years. The first-quarter inflation figure was lower than the […]
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Asia-Pacific stocks poised to open higher as investors shrug off stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations
Aerial view of Seoul downtown city skyline with vehicle on expressway and bridge cross over Han river in Seoul city, South Korea. Mongkol Chuewong | Moment | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets were set to rise Monday as investors looked past renewed diplomatic setbacks between the U.S. and Iran, even as escalating tensions in the Middle […]
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Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extension fails to calm investors
Frank Fell/robertharding | Collection Mix: Subjects | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed as investors remained cautious despite a three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, underscoring lingering geopolitical uncertainty. Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a meeting in the White House with top U.S. officials, President Donald Trump said Thursday. “The Meeting went very well!” Trump said in […]
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Microsoft expands AI footprint in Australia with $18 billion investment
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 23: Chairman and CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella speaks on stage during the Microsoft AI Tour at TikTok Entertainment Centre on April 23, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Nadella, making his first visit to Australia since 2019, addressed business leaders, developers, and government representatives at the Microsoft AI Tour in Sydney on […]
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Asia markets open higher as Iran ceasefire extension lifts mood
Kazuhiro Nogi | AFP | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened broadly higher Thursday, tracking U.S. stocks, which rose overnight after President Donald Trump’s extension of the Iran ceasefire helped to buoy investor sentiment, while upbeat earnings reports also lifted sentiment. Trump extended a two-week U.S. ceasefire on Tuesday, saying it was warranted due to Tehran’s “seriously […]
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Japan scraps ban on lethal weapons exports in major shift of pacifist policy
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on April 15 2026. Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images The Japanese government has announced plans to lift a ban on lethal weapons exports, marking the latest shift away from the country’s post-war pacifist policy. In a statement […]
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Asia markets open higher as hopes for Iran peace talks offset Trump threat of escalation
The Tokyo Stock Exchange in January 2022. Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty Images Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Tuesday amid hopes for a resolution to the Middle East conflict, even as tensions between Iran and the U.S. continue to simmer. “Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table— […]
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Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sees shares jump nearly 4% on first ever warship export deal
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles (L) and Japan’s Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro (R) pose for a photo with Eisaku Ito, Pesident and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, before the signing of the contract for Japan to deliver the first three of Mogami-class warships, in Melbourne on April 18, 2026. […]
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