Good morning from a rainy Sydney. President Donald Trump once again signaled that talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are making progress, with global markets responding positively. Locally, my colleague Ainsley Thomson in Wellington has done a deep dive on what’s behind the deflation of the New Zealand housing bubble and what lessons Australia can learn from it. Meanwhile, all eyes are...
Good morning from a rainy Sydney. President Donald Trump once again signaled that talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are making progress, with global markets responding positively. Locally, my colleague Ainsley Thomson in Wellington has done a deep dive on what’s behind the deflation of the New Zealand housing bubble and what lessons Australia can learn from it. Meanwhile, all eyes are on the NZ rate decision tomorrow, when the central bank is expected to stand pat . And Australians may also see a bit more softening in the housing market, with NAB no longer including tax breaks for properties sold after tax changes were announced in the budget. — Carmeli Argana, Australian stocks reporter What’s happening now New Zealand’s central bank is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 2.25% on Wednesday, opting to look through the inflationary impact of the Middle East energy shock in favor of supporting a fragile economic recovery. National Australia Bank has tightened its home lending rules after the Australian government removed a concession that allowed property investors to claim mortgage interest payments as a tax deduction. The bank will not include the effects of the tax break for properties sold after May 12, a move that could reduce how much buyers are able to borrow, Bloomberg News reported. Meantime, Australian homes are among the most expensive in the developed world. Buyers, desperate to get onto the property ladder, have taken on more debt than ever before, and uninhabitable properties, some covered in mold and asbestos, are snapped up for millions. Read our explainer on how Australia’s housing market became so out of reach. In the travel world, Qantas’s ultra-long-range Airbus SE A350s have been delayed again , yet another setback to the airline’s plan to operate the world’s longest non-stop flights next year. The first of 12 customized A350-1000s will arrive in April 2027, Airbus said Monday. Airbus blamed the delay “on supply chain...
Palantir Technologies (PLTR 0.39%) develops custom artificial intelligence (AI) software for government and commercial customers across various industries and applications. The company's launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) in 2023 has proven to be a game changer, with growth accelerating consistently since then amid insatiable demand for AI technology across the economy. That mome...
Palantir Technologies (PLTR 0.39%) develops custom artificial intelligence (AI) software for government and commercial customers across various industries and applications. The company's launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) in 2023 has proven to be a game changer, with growth accelerating consistently since then amid insatiable demand for AI technology across the economy. That momentum is still building; management is guiding for 120% revenue growth from commercial U.S. customers in 2026. It has made Palantir stock an absolute home run for investors throughout this artificial intelligence (AI) boom, rising over 2,000% since 2023. It's also made Palantir a lightning rod for investors, who have fiercely debated the stock's lofty valuation. That debate rages on among analysts to this day. Of 30 Wall Street analysts surveyed by CNN Business, 60% rate the stock a buy, with some price targets suggesting as much as 86% upside. Here's why agentic AI could be fueling the market's optimism. Agentic AI could drive the growth analysts are looking for Palantir's technology tends to act as an operating system, a software brain that analyzes an organization's data to generate trends and insights for human users. It's arguably the ideal overseer of AI agents, digital workers that, over the coming years, will increasingly perform tasks in place of humans. These agents will likely function within Palantir's software applications, where they can monitor, govern, and coordinate them. Palantir's AIP already speaks to that, as the company is selling enterprise autonomy, not just chatbot capabilities. Some companies have already begun laying off employees, often citing AI as a reason. AI agents will likely continue to surge from here. According to Grand View Research, the Enterprise Agentic AI market could grow by more than 46% annually, hitting $24.5 billion by the end of this decade. Expand NASDAQ : PLTR Palantir Technologies Today's Change ( -0.39 %) $ -0.54 Current Pri...
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) develops custom artificial intelligence (AI) software for government and commercial customers across various industries and applications. The company's launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) in 2023 has proven to be a game changer, with growth accelerating consistently since then amid insatiable demand for AI technology across the economy. That mo...
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) develops custom artificial intelligence (AI) software for government and commercial customers across various industries and applications. The company's launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) in 2023 has proven to be a game changer, with growth accelerating consistently since then amid insatiable demand for AI technology across the economy. That momentum is still building; management is guiding for 120% revenue growth from commercial U.S. customers in 2026. It has made Palantir stock an absolute home run for investors throughout this artificial intelligence (AI) boom, rising over 2,000% since 2023. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » It's also made Palantir a lightning rod for investors, who have fiercely debated the stock's lofty valuation. That debate rages on among analysts to this day. Of 30 Wall Street analysts surveyed by CNN Business, 60% rate the stock a buy, with some price targets suggesting as much as 86% upside. Here's why agentic AI could be fueling the market's optimism. Image source: The Motley Fool. Agentic AI could drive the growth analysts are looking for Palantir's technology tends to act as an operating system, a software brain that analyzes an organization's data to generate trends and insights for human users. It's arguably the ideal overseer of AI agents, digital workers that, over the coming years, will increasingly perform tasks in place of humans. These agents will likely function within Palantir's software applications, where they can monitor, govern, and coordinate them. Palantir's AIP already speaks to that, as the company is selling enterprise autonomy, not just chatbot capabilities. Some companies have already begun laying off employees, often citing AI as a reason. AI agents will likely continue to surge ...
Key Points Palantir's AI software sits at the heart of organizations, making it ideal to govern AI agents. The company's growth continues to build speed, with management expecting a huge year in 2026. Palantir's stock remains pricey, but it's no longer wildly overvalued, as one might assume. 10 stocks we like better than Palantir Technologies › Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) develops custom ...
Key Points Palantir's AI software sits at the heart of organizations, making it ideal to govern AI agents. The company's growth continues to build speed, with management expecting a huge year in 2026. Palantir's stock remains pricey, but it's no longer wildly overvalued, as one might assume. 10 stocks we like better than Palantir Technologies › Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) develops custom artificial intelligence (AI) software for government and commercial customers across various industries and applications. The company's launch of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) in 2023 has proven to be a game changer, with growth accelerating consistently since then amid insatiable demand for AI technology across the economy. That momentum is still building; management is guiding for 120% revenue growth from commercial U.S. customers in 2026. It has made Palantir stock an absolute home run for investors throughout this artificial intelligence (AI) boom, rising over 2,000% since 2023. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » It's also made Palantir a lightning rod for investors, who have fiercely debated the stock's lofty valuation. That debate rages on among analysts to this day. Of 30 Wall Street analysts surveyed by CNN Business, 60% rate the stock a buy, with some price targets suggesting as much as 86% upside. Here's why agentic AI could be fueling the market's optimism. Agentic AI could drive the growth analysts are looking for Palantir's technology tends to act as an operating system, a software brain that analyzes an organization's data to generate trends and insights for human users. It's arguably the ideal overseer of AI agents, digital workers that, over the coming years, will increasingly perform tasks in place of humans. These agents will likely function within Palantir's so...
After the city’s worst fire disaster in decades took 168 lives last November, it goes without saying that fire safety is paramount in our crowded high-rise environment. But evidence shows it still needs saying. It is to be found in the report by the Fire Services Department on checks on 1,500 residential and mixed-use old buildings carried out over two months beginning in January. A fire services ...
After the city’s worst fire disaster in decades took 168 lives last November, it goes without saying that fire safety is paramount in our crowded high-rise environment. But evidence shows it still needs saying. It is to be found in the report by the Fire Services Department on checks on 1,500 residential and mixed-use old buildings carried out over two months beginning in January. A fire services spokesman said the checks found that 53 buildings had fire alarms with safety violations and another 53 had defects in their hosepipe reel systems. Eighteen had defects in both. Officers also issued over 2,500 fire hazard abatement notices. Those figures speak for themselves about the scale of high-rise fire risk in Hong Kong’s old buildings. The lessons of the blaze that engulfed seven of eight towers at Wang Fuk Court must be learned and compliance with safety standards effectively enforced. So it is good that the inspection exercise is being extended for two years until April 2028 as officers continue to check high-risk old buildings or those undergoing renovation. Advertisement Subdividing flats into tiny living spaces can compound fire risks. A reminder of this is the death of a 69-year-old man on Thursday in a fire in a 13th-floor flat at Jordan that had been subdivided into nine living spaces. In this case the cause remains under investigation. But the tragedy rightly prompted Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin to underscore the need to eradicate substandard housing and the importance of the new Basic Housing Units Ordinance. “Each resident had an average living space of just five square metres, presenting numerous fire safety hazards,” Ho said. Under the new ordinance, which requires subdivided flats to meet minimum standards, owners have until the end of next February to register their flats. Once registered, they get a 36-month grace period to make properties compliant. Ho said the authorities had recently received 11,800 subdivided flat applications. Advert...
Almost as soon as the full-time whistle went in Paisley on Monday, amid the St Mirren celebrations, thoughts turned to what comes next for a club who have experienced the highest of highs and some low lows this season. In December, they won the League Cup with a magnificent victory over Celtic at Hampden - another triumph for manager Stephen Robinson after three straight top-six finishes in the Sc...
Almost as soon as the full-time whistle went in Paisley on Monday, amid the St Mirren celebrations, thoughts turned to what comes next for a club who have experienced the highest of highs and some low lows this season. In December, they won the League Cup with a magnificent victory over Celtic at Hampden - another triumph for manager Stephen Robinson after three straight top-six finishes in the Scottish Premiership. However, the consistent league form that had characterised Robinson's tenure evaporated this term despite their cup heroics. They were dragged into a relegation battle, and when Robinson departed for Aberdeen in March, former youth coach Craig McLeish was thrust into interim charge with one brief - survive. And survive they did, by the barest of margins, as Marcus Fraser's goal earned a 2-1 aggregate victory over Partick Thistle in the Premiership play-off final, a 1-0 home win on Monday sealing the job. McLeish has made no secret of his desire to stay in the role and he reiterated that wish after the full-time whistle. "I imagine [chief operating officer] Keith [Lasley] will start to have conversations about that over the next few days," McLeish said when asked by BBC Scotland about his future. "We spoke about taking care of everything and whatever the outcome is, the club will plan their future from there. "I'm privileged that the club put trust in me to take the team on. If I get the opportunity to lead the group, my biggest thing is to make sure we're never in that type of position again. "I've felt I'm capable of doing the job and handling the full thing. I've felt that from day one. This is what I've always been building towards. "I can't control when I would get the opportunity. I just had to show I was ready to go and I hope I have shown people that."
A key Treasury yield gap has shrunk to its tightest level in a year as traders ramp up bets the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer under new chairman Kevin Warsh . The spread between five-year and 30-year yields — a closely watched gauge of the premium investors demand for holding longer-dated debt — has narrowed to about 81 basis points, the lowest since May 2025. The move ...
A key Treasury yield gap has shrunk to its tightest level in a year as traders ramp up bets the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer under new chairman Kevin Warsh . The spread between five-year and 30-year yields — a closely watched gauge of the premium investors demand for holding longer-dated debt — has narrowed to about 81 basis points, the lowest since May 2025. The move is driven mainly by a selloff in shorter-dated Treasuries, which are more sensitive to shifts in Fed policy expectations. The gap between two- and 30-year yields has also narrowed to its tightest since July as of Friday’s close. Investors are increasingly expecting that the Fed will need to tighten monetary policy this year after the Iran war spurred the biggest inflation surge since 2023, prompting a number of officials to abandon their easing bias. President Donald Trump — who has repeatedly pressured the Fed to cut rates — said on Friday he wanted Warsh to lead the central bank independently . “The data and the politics are suggesting less pressure for rate cuts, and short end yields have been repricing higher,” said Andrew Ticehurst , senior strategist at Nomura Holdings Inc. Trump’s comments about letting Warsh do his “own thing” are also helping, he added. The flattening yield curve comes as traders debate whether inflation risks or an economic downturn will ultimately dominate the outlook for the world’s biggest bond market. The stakes are high because US Treasuries serve as the benchmark for global borrowing costs, influencing everything from Japanese government bonds to European and emerging market debt. Fed Governor Christopher Waller — a Trump appointee who previously advocated rate cuts to protect the labor market — said last week the central bank’s next move is now just as likely to be a hike . Wall Street also sees borrowing costs going higher. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said rates may climb much further. The views from strategist...
Key Points These companies have each faced headwinds in recent years -- but are leaders in their markets. Now, as they’ve reached key transition points, could be a good time to invest. 10 stocks we like better than Home Depot › The S&P 500 roared higher over the past few years, driven by technology stocks and other high-growth players. But earlier this year, various headwinds put the brakes on tha...
Key Points These companies have each faced headwinds in recent years -- but are leaders in their markets. Now, as they’ve reached key transition points, could be a good time to invest. 10 stocks we like better than Home Depot › The S&P 500 roared higher over the past few years, driven by technology stocks and other high-growth players. But earlier this year, various headwinds put the brakes on that momentum. Investors worried about the conflict in Iran, the pace of interest rate cuts in the U.S., and the soaring valuations of many growth stocks. All of these concerns weighed on investor sentiment, and therefore, on appetite for stocks, particularly companies that rely on economic growth. But the positive point here is that the sell-off pushed the valuations of many quality companies down, creating buying opportunities for investors. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Let's check out three of the best S&P 500 stocks to buy now after the recent decline. 1. Home Depot Home Depot (NYSE: HD) faces various challenges and these are elements that may hold consumers back from home improvement projects or home purchases -- such as higher prices for gas and other goods, as well as housing market conditions. But the company has shown its resilience and, in the recent quarter, had plenty of good news to report. The retailer reported revenue and net income that surpassed analysts' estimates, with revenue climbing 4.8% to more than $41 billion. Home Depot also reaffirmed its guidance for the year, and in an interview with CNBC, noted positive engagement from the consumer in spite of today's economic headwinds. Meanwhile, Home Depot continues to aim for growth in the $700 billion professional market -- this means selling to pros such as contractors and building specialists. The company's fleet of mor...