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• Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the NYSE, is currently trading significantly below optimistic analyst price targets. • Zacks has assigned the company a Rank 3 "Hold" rating, citing a balance between favorable growth estimates and valuation compression. • The company is facing slower-than-expected growth and integration benefits following its acquisition of Black Knight.

Out-going Louisiana senator’s rebuke over Iran war is rare instance of a Republican politician standing up to TrumpBill Cassidy, the Republican senator from Louisiana who is being ousted from his position after Donald Trump successfully backed a challenger in May’s primary, has accused the US president of treating Congress as “merely an appendage” in his handling of the Iran war.In an interview on Sunday with CBS News’s Face the Nation, the out-going Cassidy explained his recent face-to-face row with Trump over the president’s failure to brief Congress on the prosecution of the hostilities with Tehran. In a fleetingly rare instance of a Republican politician directly standing up to Trump, Cassidy let rip at a Capitol Hill lunch over the senator’s support for a war powers resolution that was a symbolic rebuke to the White House. Continue reading...

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned that a potential artificial intelligence investment bust, alongside inflation and fiscal stress, poses a significant threat to global economic prosperity. • The warning highlights the risk that overvaluation and excessive speculation in AI technologies could lead to a market crash, destabilizing financial systems. • This alert matters as central banks and policymakers navigate a fragile recovery period where systemic shocks could trigger widespread instability.

• Singapore’s main opposition Workers’ Party has voted to retain Pritam Singh as secretary-general despite his recent legal convictions. • The decision follows a special vote among party cadres after Singh was found guilty of lying to a parliamentary committee. • This move signals the party's continued trust in Singh's leadership and its defiance against legal challenges aimed at its top official.

• The technology sector's share of the S&P 500 has reached an all-time high of 39%, surpassing previous peaks seen during the dot-com bubble and the energy sector's historical dominance. • This record concentration is primarily driven by a massive rally in artificial intelligence leadership and companies like Marvell Technology. • The trend highlights a significant market sensitivity to valuation, as the S&P 500 is currently trading at approximately 20.1 times forward earnings.

• Dalal Street investors are monitoring a combination of domestic economic indicators and global geopolitical developments as the new trading week begins. • Market sentiment is expected to be driven by the fallout from recent military exchanges between the US and Iran, alongside fluctuating crude oil prices. • Analysts suggest that the overall direction of the stock market will depend heavily on how Middle East tensions evolve and their subsequent impact on energy costs.

• Investors are closely monitoring renewed tensions between the US and Iran as they enter the coming trading week. • A primary focus for market participants will be the potential impact of these geopolitical frictions on global crude oil prices. • These factors are among 10 key drivers identified by Moneycontrol that could influence volatility on Dalal Street.

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have destroyed eight U.S. military infrastructures located in Kuwait and Bahrain. • The operation was carried out using a combination of missiles and drones in a coordinated joint strike. • This action was launched as a direct response to a second wave of U.S. military strikes against Iranian interests.

• An opinion piece from the Australian Financial Review (AFR) challenges the prevailing "economic doomsday" narrative surrounding AI's impact on the workforce. • The author argues that sensationalized press coverage creates artificial volatility in practitioner environments, unfairly influencing hiring sentiments, budget cycles, and tool adoption. • This critique matters because it highlights how exaggerated long-run disruption forecasts can lead to miscalibrated business decisions and reactionary corporate strategies.

As extreme weather events become more common, economists say government will need to take more active role to protect consumersAnyone attempting to notch up a productive day’s work in the searing heat of southern England this last week was left in little doubt about the impact of extreme weather.But the economic effects of the climate crisis for the UK are not confined to the many hours lost to quietly perspiring – or fetching kids dismissed early from scorching classrooms. Continue reading...

• The Opinions Editor argues that while immediate economic troubles have eased, the structural foundations necessary for sustainable, long-term growth remain absent. • Key sectors are struggling: high-skilled IT services are under pressure, manufacturing is failing to gain traction, and the financial sector is not creating enough low-to-medium skilled roles. • Job growth is currently concentrated in low-end services, exemplified by Zepto, which saw its delivery rider workforce surge from 49,278 in 2024 to 2.21 lakh in 2026.

• Gulf nations and Western leaders are expressing concern over Iran's continued ability to project power and influence through proxy militia groups. • Despite existing deals between the US and Iran, analysts believe Tehran will likely increase its support for these armed groups to maintain regional leverage. • In January, the US and Israel attempted to mobilize ethnic minority groups, including Arabs in the southwest and Baloch in the southeast, to destabilize Iran from within.

• India's AI progress is currently hindered by a significant funding gap in research and development (R&D) and limited capital for startups. • The country's gross expenditure on R&D is only 0.64% of GDP, trailing far behind China (2.6%) and the US (3.6%), with private industry contributing only 36% of total R&D funds. • This disparity highlights a systemic reliance on public funding compared to the US, China, and South Korea, where private sector investment exceeds 70%.

Analysts and western leaders believe Iran will increase support of militia groups despite deal between US and IranAs Marco Rubio ended his brief visit to the Middle East on Friday, he sought to cast in the best possible light his discussions with leaders of the Gulf states. Those leaders are deeply anxious that the deal agreed earlier this month between Iran and the US fails to address their worries about continued Iranian efforts to project power and influence throughout the region.“They’ve shared with us some very concrete concerns,” the US secretary of state admitted, and insisted that any definitive agreement will require Tehran to not only restrict its nuclear programme but also halt its support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, militia in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. Continue reading...

• Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner addressed U.S. gasoline price concerns during a discussion on June 27, 2026. • Bonner noted that while the stabilization of oil exports from the Middle East could eventually lead to lower gasoline prices, there is no immediate correlation with crude oil prices. • The statement highlights the complex relationship between global crude supply and the retail cost of fuel for consumers.

• The U.S. and Israel have concluded a targeted military attack against Iran, marking the end of a specific escalation cycle. • The operation reflects the ongoing volatility of the Middle East, where strategic strikes are used to deter Iranian aggression and protect regional allies. • This conflict highlights a recurring pattern of instability that often fails to provide clear strategic victories or long-term security for the international community.

• Marking 11 years of the Digital India initiative, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is transitioning the program into a new growth phase. • While the first decade focused on expanding digital infrastructure, financial inclusion, and citizen services, the next stage will prioritize frontier technologies. • The government is specifically betting on artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors to drive future economic and technological advancement.

Exclusive: Guardian analysis suggests several groups with thousands of members run by what expert calls ‘engagement farm’ operations in south-east AsiaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSome of the largest One Nation supporter groups on Facebook appear to be run from overseas by foreign digital creators who monetise content.Guardian Australia examined 14 of the largest pro-One Nation public groups with at least 8,000 members, and found most were created this year. Continue reading...

• Jefferies strategist Chris Wood warns that the current AI investment boom will end when investors realize hyperscalers are failing to generate adequate returns on their massive spending. • Wood argues that the primary risk is not a surplus of chips or supply issues, but rather a systemic concern over capital misallocation. • This shift in perception is critical because it could trigger a prolonged pause in the AI trade, potentially destabilizing the valuations of major tech companies.

• The government has proposed the "Distressed Asset Management Act, 2026," a draft law designed to formalize a recovery market for bad loans. • The legislation would allow private firms to purchase non-performing loans from banks, seize mortgaged assets, and take over indebted companies. • This move aims to strengthen the overall financial system by providing a structured mechanism to clear bad debts from bank balance sheets.

• India has emerged as the world's fastest-growing major economy and currently ranks as the fourth-largest globally. • Driven by decisive governance and visionary reforms, the nation is projected to reach a GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030. • This economic transformation is attributed to the strategic empowerment of entrepreneurs and the middle class over the last 11 years of PM Modi's leadership.

• Israel launched strikes in southern Lebanon, resulting in at least one death according to state media. • The attacks occurred just one day after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement intended to stabilize the region. • Tensions escalated on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel following an Israeli strike that killed Iran's supreme leader.

Strikes come after retaliatory attacks on Friday following a drone strike on cargo ship in strait of HormuzThe US has struck multiple targets in Iran after strikes on Friday that were in response to a drone strike on a cargo ship a day earlier in the strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (Centcom) has confirmed.Centcom said its strikes on Saturday were in “direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping”. The US strikes targeted “Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities”, Centcom said in a statement. Continue reading...

• Canada has officially gained the right to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest after the public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada secured full membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). • This move allows Canada to participate in the prestigious competition, which previously served as a launchpad for global superstars like Celine Dion. • The membership is intended to strengthen international cultural ties and provide a global platform for Canadian musical talent.

• 'Avengers: Endgame' is being rereleased featuring a new title, additional footage, and a special end tag. • The update serves as a lead-in to 'Avengers: Doomsday,' which will see Robert Downey Jr. return to the MCU. • Downey Jr. will transition from his former role as Tony Stark to portray the supervillain Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom.

No immediate reports of damage after Bahrain hit by ‘number of drones’ as ship in strait of Hormuz also targetedBahrain said it was attacked by Iran with a wave of drones on Saturday, apparently in response to overnight US strikes on Iran. A ship in the strait of Hormuz was also attacked.Bahrain’s foreign ministry said a “number of drones” were launched at the country, though there were no immediate reports of damage. It condemned the attack and described it as a “flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents”. Continue reading...

• Consumer sentiment in the United States has increased in recent weeks, reversing a downward trend seen earlier this year. • According to a University of Michigan survey, the decline began following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February and was exacerbated by soaring energy costs. • This shift indicates a positive change in how Americans perceive the economy after a period of instability and rising prices.

• On April 9, 2026, the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) held an Economic Dialogue session. • The event featured discussions with Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, and Andrew Bailey, Chair of the Financial Stability Board. • These exchanges are critical for aligning EU economic productivity goals with global financial stability standards.