Bull

• Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has announced delays to a pioneering government bill that would legislate a right for employees to work from home two days a week. • The legislation, described as a "nation-first" initiative, will now be postponed and will not take effect until after the upcoming election. • This move impacts the timeline for establishing formal remote work entitlements for Victorian workers, shifting the focus toward the electoral cycle.

• Indian benchmarks remained largely flat for the third consecutive day, with the Nifty 50 gaining 13 points (0.05%) to close at 24,583.80 and the Sensex rising 43 points (0.06%) to 78,542.44. • Market growth was constrained by rising crude oil prices, which limited bullish momentum and kept indices stagnant. • Investors are now focusing on the final leg of the Q1FY27 earnings season, alongside US inflation data and US-Iran negotiations to determine future risk appetite.

• A new study indicates that higher protein intake during the first trimester of pregnancy is linked to a lower risk of small birth size. • Separately, researchers analyzed data from 296,372 adults in the UK Biobank to determine if long-term exposure to residential night-time light (NTL) accelerates biological aging. • To measure aging, the study utilized the Klemera-Doubal Method (KDM) and PhenoAge, which estimate biological age based on clinical biomarkers rather than chronological years.

• IBM has underperformed the broader market over the past year, though Wall Street analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook for the stock. • For the fiscal year ending in December, analysts project a 6.5% growth in diluted earnings per share (EPS), reaching $12.34. • The positive outlook is supported by the company's strong history of earnings surprises, suggesting potential for upside performance.

• Euro area stock markets rose by 3.3% during the review period, driven by a positive earnings outlook despite volatility surrounding AI sentiment. • Bank stocks saw a significant surge of 14.7%, while the sub-index for non-financial corporations (NFCs) experienced a modest increase of 0.4%. • The growth in banking stocks was triggered by the ECB Governing Council’s policy rate hike on June 11, further supported by the US-Iran MoU and strong Q2 earnings from US banks.

• A new medical review suggests that reducing protein consumption may slow biological aging and extend lifespan by improving metabolism and lowering inflammation. • The research highlights that protein restriction preserves healthy cell function and reduces cellular damage, offering benefits similar to calorie restriction but without the need to limit total caloric intake. • Evidence from animal studies in flies and rodents, as well as human clinical trials, indicates that these diets can effectively reduce body weight, fat mass, and fasting blood sugar.

• Researchers have discovered that genetic factors may determine why certain individuals suffer more significant brain damage from chronic sleep deprivation than others. • A preliminary study suggests that the lycopene and antioxidants in tomatoes may reduce oxidative stress and improve liver fat metabolism in people with MASLD. • The tomato study is currently limited by its small sample size and short six-week duration, meaning the results are not yet clinically definitive.