US President hopes Hezbollah acts well ‘during this important time’; Former war hero granted bail; PM Anthony Albanese rejects US criticism. A Chinese-linked tanker is being closely watched around the Strait of Hormuz as the US blockade risks a showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. A judge has rejected claims there is an “unacceptable risk” of interference with evidence in the alleged war criminal’s trial, which could take years. The bank plans to centralise the risk function in the retail bank, including home loan operations, as two further broking groups are drawn into the fraud saga. The announcement marks a landmark in Australia-Japan defence ties as both countries deepen military co-operation in response to China’s rise.

China, US war tensions ramp up as tanker remains stuck

The firm’s Australian Share Fund is down nearly 20 per cent over the past three months and Johnson is hunting for bargains in the ASX’s beaten-up tech sector. The veteran market analyst has told clients that the flight to bank stocks was idiotic and declared Australian small caps were now ridiculously cheap. The country’s second-largest superannuation fund has tripled the frequency it changes its bonds and equity portfolio to take advantage of volatile markets.

• The nation’s largest property groups believe housing supply and affordability constraints will worsen if the CGT discount and negative gearing are altered.
• The veteran market analyst has told clients that the flight to bank stocks was idiotic and declared Australian small caps were now ridiculously cheap.
• SG Hiscock’s Grant Berry discusses the impact of tightening monetary policy on the property sector and explains why he thinks Dexus is undervalued.

As half of an unfathomably powerful couple, Sanchez Bezos seems to have influenced the uber-rich to stop apologising and start enjoying themselves. Self-managed superannuation funds have fewer avenues for compensation, and those investing without a financial adviser can find themselves on their own. A string of luxury mansions have joined Brisbane’s buoyant market, which continues to outperform its southern rivals.

The nation’s largest property groups believe housing supply and affordability constraints will worsen if the CGT discount and negative gearing are altered. A rare headland acreage with a rainforest and beach has hit NSW’s coastal market for the first time in four decades. Leaked documents show the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps secretly acquired the system and used it to guide strikes during the war in March. British philosopher AC Grayling has long warned that democracy is in poor shape.

Investors bet $610m on the strength of GPT’s retail property

SG Hiscock’s Grant Berry discusses the impact of tightening monetary policy on the property sector and explains why he thinks Dexus is undervalued. Investors have added almost $200 million to a popular ETF tracking Australia’s tech sector, while Atlassian prepares to make a costly exit from the Nasdaq 100 index. The Booker Prize-winning author and activists want the consumer watchdog to start an inquiry after Woolworths and Coles allegedly discussed Tasmanian salmon. The tech giant’s founders will make a crucial pitch to customers and investors about a online casinos product overhaul that will be pivotal to its drawn-out plans to go public.

The Australian Financial Review

Australian operators of sprawling data centres sprouting in Malaysia are struggling to keep up with demand, as dozens of AI start-ups request their services. The pressures of the global energy shock have forced Chris Bowen to withdraw from his first major engagement as the UN’s top climate negotiator. Under the current funding profile, the answer is no, we would be relying on the US to do it for us.

The technology has been deployed across investments banks, but graduate hiring suggests the analyst pipeline remains intact for roles paying more than $120,000. The Scandinavian country is held up as an example of what’s possible when oil and gas revenues are funnelled straight into a giant investment fund. Writer Jonathan Glatzer brings the satirical moral ambiguity of Better Call Saul and Succession to big tech in new SBS series The Audacity. The deal is part of the tech giant’s push into satellite communications as it seeks to take on Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Richard Marles declared greater private sector involvement in defence would be a win-win for the government and investors, but economists remain critical. Despite current consumer confidence concerns, the underlying strength of retail property is drawing investors to the asset class. Investors are overlooking the risks of lower population growth and credit rationing by non-bank lenders – and why this could push property prices down. After failing to get a float up amid volatile markets, Brookfield has sold a minority state in the private credit asset manager to the Abu Dhabi-based Axight. Ben Riley was already writing about the risks of chatbots when his dad started trusting AI over his doctor.

Fund mangers from Wilson Asset Management to Blackwattle are bracing for a slowdown in global growth to hit Australia. Fund manager’s lawyer argues a judge ruled too harshly in allowing deterrence to trump other factors, an appeal seeking a lighter punishment has heard. Fifty years and a huge court case later, his company is in for a big royalty win. The Asia Group is using technology to automate grunt work, freeing up experts to do more in-depth analysis of geopolitical trends.