Retreat

• Aziatische aandelenmarkten trokken zich terug van recente recordpieken, omdat escalerende spanningen in het Midden-Oosten de zorgen over verstoringen in de ruwe olievoorziening en de stabiliteit van energieprijzen nieuw leven inlaasten. • De geopolitieke escalatie veroorzaakte scherpe verliezen op de oliemarkten, waardoor eerdere winsten teniet werden gedaan en er volatiliteit ontstond in de regionale aandelenindices. • Toenemende zorgen over de energievoorziening onderstrepen de kwetsbaarheid van het recente marktrally ondanks de sterke prestaties van de AI-sector, waarbij beleggers hun risicoblootstelling aan conflictgevoelige regio's heroverwegen.

Researchers say 481-metre wave in fjord was triggered by rockslide linked to climate crisisA mega tsunami in Alaska last year in a fjord visited by cruise ships is a stark warning of the risks of coastal rockslides and glacier retreat fueled by the climate crisis, a new study warns.Scientists recorded the world’s second-tallest tsunami after it struck the Tracy Arm fjord in south-east Alaska last August after a massive rockslide around the toe of a glacier. The tsunami reached 481 metres (1,578ft) in height; by comparison the Eiffel Tower is 330 metres (1082ft). Continue reading...

US president pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to work on ‘final agreement’ with Tehran; stocks also ride high on AI euphoriaGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Asian stock markets hit record highs, following in Wall Street’s footsteps, and oil prices retreated after Donald Trump hailed “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Tehran.on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran”.Investors bought and continue to add to positioning in the 2026 winners. There has been some buying in S&P 500 materials stocks, but it’s tech that continues to attract the bulk of flows, notably in Apple and the memory plays.9am BST: Eurozone services and composite PMIs for April9.30am BST: UK services and composite PMIs for April1.15pm BST: US ADP employment change for April Continue reading...

• ExxonMobil and Chevron both surpassed profit expectations in their latest quarterly reports. • Shares of the energy majors remained muted despite the beats, pressured by Iran's submission of a new agreement proposal to the US for resuming Persian Gulf oil exports. • The developments contributed to a broader pullback in oil prices, supporting gains in US equities.

The NSW premier, who was unequivocal in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, has now linked the fate of his state’s laws with those of the Queensland legal challengeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has said he will only ban the slogan “globalise the intifada” if a potential constitutional challenge to a similar ban in Queensland is unsuccessful, the strongest indication yet that the state government may not seek to proscribe the contested phrase at all.Minns was unequivocal about his intention to ban what he described as “hateful, violent rhetoric” following the Bondi terror attack in December, but sent the issue to a parliamentary inquiry, which he said would enable legislation to be introduced when parliament returned in February. Continue reading...

Researchers say ‘magic mushrooms’ can help with traumatic symptoms, but urge caution as states expand accessSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAfter three combat deployments in Afghanistan, during which he suffered traumatic brain injuries from concussive blasts, army ranger Jesse Gould developed post-traumatic stress disorder and said he “drank almost every night to cope”.In times of hardship, veterans sometimes turn to “medication and talk therapy, but it tends to be more of a maintenance program than actually overcoming it”, Gould said, but added that at age 38, “I was still very young. I didn’t want to be on medication the rest of my life.” Continue reading...