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Markets, Cryptos and Culture

April 3, 2026

Thank God It's Friday Edition

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York, and beyond the Blackstump and Internet Matrix Of Things!

Pop Culture themes

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"The Wall Street Hustle" (10cc)
"Bulls on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)
"White Rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane)
"I've Got Friday On My Mind" (The Easybeats)

Markets

AUD -0.03% to US69.08¢
BTC $66,899.15 -1.79%
Dow -0.1%
S&P +0.1%
NAS +0.2%
VIX -0.67 to 23.87
Gold -1.7%: $US4676.76 an oz
Silver 73.002 -2.081
Brent oil +7.8% to $US109.13 a b
Iron ore -0.1% to $US106.25 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.30% Aust 5.03%

News

The Lead Up (Approx 12 Hours Ago)

ASX futures down 65 points/0.8%: 8487
USD flat: US68.84¢
BTC $66,233.27 -0.73%
Dow -1.7%
S&P -1.7%
NAS -2.2%
Gold +2.7% to $US4494.09 an oz
Silver 68.646 -0.869
Brent oil +4.2% at $US112.57 a barrel
Iron ore -0.1% at $US107.25 a ton

News

Numbers Double Check

April 2

The Lead Up

Australian Dollar: $0.6930 USD (up $0.0030 USD) Iron Ore: $106.30 USD (up $0.82 USD) Oil Price (WTI): $99.32 USD (down $2.54 USD) Gold Price: $4,756.87 USD (up $83.53 USD) Copper Price: $5.6225 USD (down $0.0175 USD) Dow Jones: 46,565.74 (up 224.23 points on yesterday's close)

News

April 2

Shares And Markets News

Iron ore giants BHP (down 2.5 per cent), Fortescue (down 4 per cent) and Rio Tinto (down 2.3 per cent) all declined, while gold miners Northern Star Resources (down 0.9 per cent) and Evolution Mining (down 4.6 per cent) also fell.

Tech stocks slumped after their surge on Wednesday, with software makers WiseTech, Xero and Technology One down 4.3 per cent, 3.8 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively, and data centre operator NextDC losing 3.8 per cent.

Oil prices rose back over the $US100-mark per barrel following Trump’s speech, with Brent Crude, the international benchmark, climbing 4.4 per cent to $US105.64 amid waning hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict. Energy stocks were mixed, with Woodside falling 0.6 and while Santos gained 1.4 per cent.

Surf and outdoor apparel retailer KMD’s shares tanked 54.8 per cent as it emerged from its trading halt after the owner of the struggling Rip Curl brand said it completed a $58.5 million emergency capital raising from institutional investors to shore up its balance sheet.

It was a mixed day of trading for the big four banks, with Commonwealth Bank rising 0.6 per cent and ANZ Bank adding 0.7 per cent, while Westpac lost 0.5 per cent and National Australia Bank shed 0.3 per cent.

News

Oil News

Oil is in no hurry to reverse course

March was a record-breaking month for Brent
Rumours of peace are easing tensions but have not yet reversed the trend. The oil market was swept up in euphoria following Donald Trump's comments that the conflict in the Middle East would end within 2–3 weeks. After a record 63% rally in March, Brent took a step back. Investors are ready to use TACO and sell what they bought earlier. However, complacency is the main risk for black gold. Firstly, the US continues to deploy troops to the region, and the past year has taught investors to watch the actions, rather than the rhetoric, of top American politicians following the dashed hopes surrounding the Iran–US negotiations. But even if this is true, the Americans' withdrawal from the Middle East does not mean the end of the conflict. The US President is calling on countries in the region to learn to defend themselves and on importers to come and take the oil they need by force. As a result, the UAE is prepared to get drawn into the conflict. According to estimates by FGE NexantECA, a closure of the Strait of Hormuz would result in losses of 100 million barrels per week and 400 million barrels per month. If it lasts another 6–8 weeks, Brent could reach the $150–200 range. This forecast is in line with Sociénéété Generale's estimate of $150 per barrel and Macquarie Group's estimate of $200. The Iranians are also warning the world of a rise to the upper end of this range, while the US presidential administration calls $100 the 'base' price and does not rule out $200. Even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, it will take considerable time to restore pre-war infrastructure. The flow of tankers will not return immediately; supply issues will ease but will not disappear. It is unlikely that Brent will return to levels near $60 by the end of the year, as seen at the end of last year. Unlike in 2022, US drillers are in no hurry to come to consumers' aid, producing an average of 13.2 million bpd in January, down from 13.9 million bpd in October. The decline in production over the last three months is one of the largest in the last ten years. The US oil industry prefers paying dividends to shareholders rather than developing new fields and increasing production, despite Donald Trump's "drill, baby, drill" call. Consequently, without an end to the conflict in the Middle East and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, it is premature to expect prices to return to February levels. (FxPro)

News (Aust)

The Lead Up (48 Hours Ago)

Alphabet Inc Class A
$295.77 -0.54%
(-1.62) Today
Lead Up
$274.34 -6.63 -2.36%

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$203.76 +2.69 Today 1.34%
Lead Up
$189.20 -3.44 -1.79%

Netflix Inc
$98.66 +3.11 +3.25%
Lead Up
$93.43 +0.11 _0.12%

Wynn Resorts Ltd
$102.03 -0.57 0.56%
Lead Up
$96.59 -2.88 -2.90%

Caterpillar Inc
$717.22 -13.10 1.79%
Lead Up
$695.40 -7.79 -1.11%

News

24 Hours Ago

The crypto market has lost 3% but has not broken through support

Market Overview
The crypto market has lost approximately 3% of its market capitalisation, falling back to $2.29T and returning to the lower boundary of the trading range seen over the last seven days. Trump’s latest comments on the war with Iran triggered a sharp sell-off amid a lack of de-escalation signs. TRON (-0.2%), Toncoin (-0.9%) and Neo (-1.3%) appear relatively stable. Dash (-8.6%), Uniswap (-8.0%) and Solana (-5.9%) have been hit hardest.
The Fear and Greed Index rose by 4 points today to 12, partially recovering from yesterday’s drop to 8 — the lowest level in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the index remains deep in the extreme fear zone, where it has been virtually uninterrupted for the past month.

Bitcoin lost 2.8% over the day, returning to levels near $66.2K. Once again, the 50-day moving average acted as resistance, preventing the price from consolidating above it. The leading cryptocurrency quickly swung to the other extreme and is now testing the support of the uptrend. Key support ($66K) and resistance ($69K) levels are converging, bringing the moment of a definitive trend decision closer.

Ethereum looks slightly more confident, remaining above the $2K round figure, above the 50-day MA and the support line of the multi-year trend. Should pressure on the crypto market intensify, it will be worth monitoring whether the second-largest cryptocurrency can hold above $1.8K. A break below this level would be a significant bearish signal, potentially triggering sell-offs across a wider range of coins and bringing an end to the crypto market’s recent resilience to external threats.

News

Pop Culture

Danhausen Launches Official WWE Mask for WrestleMania Fans

The eccentric wrestler, who joined WWE from AEW in late February, released a $14.99 plastic mask on April 1 that lets fans channel his 'very nice, very evil' cursed persona. Timed for WrestleMania 42 on April 18-19 in Las Vegas, the merch follows hot-selling T-shirts and sold-out meet-and-greets since his surprise debut from a mystery crate at Elimination Chamber. Fans shared memes comparing it to 3 Ninjas while dreaming of masked takeovers, though some noted the plastic feels basic compared to custom versions. Media Man Peg On: WWE Unmasked vs KISS Unmasked!

News

WrestleMania X-Seven Marks 25 Years as Attitude Era Peak

The April 1, 2001, event grossed $3.5 million and featured classics like TLC II where the Dudley Boyz won the Tag Team Titles, The Undertaker's 9-0 streak over Triple H, and Kurt Angle submitting Chris Benoit. The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin shock everyone by aligning with Vince McMahon to beat The Rock for the WWF Championship in a bloody No DQ brawl. Attendees still recall the massive crowd pops and glass-shattering entrances, with fans today sharing iconic hype videos that capture the raw intensity of wrestling's golden peak. Media Man Peg-On: Is WWE currently approaching another "Golden Era"?!

News Lead Up/Flashback

March 27

Crypto has pulled back, but appears stronger than stocks

Market Overview

The crypto market’s capitalisation fell by 3.4% over the past 24 hours to $2.36 trillion, remaining close to the uptrend line. The downward momentum was once again driven by stock indices, which returned to their lows at the start of the week. However, whilst the Nasdaq 100 has shown a steady downward trend on weekly charts since late January, cryptocurrencies have been forming a sequence of higher local lows since early February, when the market touched the 200-week moving average – a key long-term trend line.

Bitcoin has fallen below $69K, testing the strength of the 50-day MA and the support of the upward trend of the last two months. The nervous mood in the financial markets makes cryptocurrencies, and Bitcoin in particular, vulnerable in the event of a large-scale sell-off. For BTC, the 200-week MA has historically been the most important long-term support level. It currently sits near $60K. However, it is worth remembering that in 2022–2023, the price fell more than 30% below this line before finding structural support for many weeks.

News Background

Bitcoin miner MARA has sold 15,133 BTC for $1.1 billion since the start of the month. The company intends to use the proceeds to buy back its own bonds. The miner’s remaining reserves are estimated at 38,689 BTC.

The cost of Bitcoin mining for public companies has reached $80K and, for some miners, exceeded $100K, according to CoinShares. The fourth quarter of 2025 has been the most challenging for Bitcoin miners since the last halving. The US (38%), Russia (17%), and China (12%) continue to dominate global Bitcoin mining, collectively accounting for around 68% of the world’s hash rate.

Adam Livingston, an analyst and author of the book ‘The Great Harvest: AI, Labor, and the Bitcoin Lifeline’, believes the risk of a Bitcoin crash, as seen in 2022, is minimal due to the market’s more mature structure. According to his calculations, BTC volatility has been steadily declining over the past 11 years.

US investment firm Franklin Templeton, in partnership with Ondo Finance, will launch tokenised versions of its ETFs, accessible directly via crypto wallets. (FxPro)

News

Media (Aust)

Top media bosses unite to fight AI giants over copyright law changes

Australian media industry executives have urged the federal government against watering down the nation's copright laws to accommodate AI platforms. News Corp Australasia's executive chairman Michael Miller contends that the existing copright system is not broken, and says it is instead a 'blueprint' for negotiations with AI platforms. Nine Entertainment CEO Matt Stanton says AI is a transformative technology that local companies are embracing, but he warns that relaxing copright laws would "rip off" Australian creatives. Guardian Australia MD Rebecca Costello in turn says the government's priority should be to ensure that the existing righs-based system functions effectively for AI use. (RMS)

News

Oil faces falling volatility, but unlikely prices

The US is offering Iran negotiations.

Without dialogue, we must be prepared for an escalation. The oil market is nearing a mutually agreed conclusion, but the lack of mutual trust between the parties is significantly complicating the situation. The US has provided Iran with a list of 15 points, the completion of which would resolve the conflict in the Middle East. Previously, there were reports that Iran had presented its own conditions.

These have not been officially confirmed, but we have heard on numerous occasions of demands for non-aggression guarantees and reparations for damage already inflicted. At stake is the reopening of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 15 million barrels of crude oil and 5 million barrels of refined fuel previously passed.

According to JP Morgan estimates, the current shortfall is approximately 16 million barrels per day. This figure will decrease as barrels from the strategic reserves of IEA member countries are released into the market and as Gulf states explore alternative routes, such as the Red Sea. Nonetheless, the global economy faces the threat of a long-term deficit of 10 million barrels per day, which increases the risk of stagflation and recession. According to estimates by Oxford Economics, without a deal between Washington and Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz will only regain 50% of its pre-war capacity by May. Iran is gradually softening its stance, permitting tankers from countries not involved in the conflict to pass through while charging them a $2 million fee.

According to Israeli television reports, the US is seeking a one-month ceasefire to discuss a plan that includes dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme, ending support for terrorist groups, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the most optimistic scenario, it will take months for Gulf countries to restore pre-war production levels. Coupled with difficulties in replenishing onshore stocks, this casts doubt on a quick fall in Brent prices.

Most likely, North Sea crude will remain above $65–70 per barrel by the end of 2026. The absence of constructive dialogue between the US and Iran could lead to further escalation, including other regional countries joining the US-Israeli coalition and possibly a ground operation by Washington. In such a scenario, Brent may rise to $160 a barrel. This is the price that some countries are already paying for oil from the Middle East that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. (FxPro)

News

AI News (Aust)

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has told an event hosted by the media and creative sectors at Parliament House that Australia's existing copyright regime has served it well for many years. She said the federal government had said for some time that it has no plans to weaken copyright protections when it comes to artificial intelligence, while Australia's creative and media sector have made it clear that they are prepared to do licence deals with AI firms, and that existing copyright laws enable them to do just that. (RMS)

News

The miners to own in diesel crisis

Bell Potter's survey of Australian-listed mining companies concluded that diesel fuel accounted for up to 15 per cent of their operating costs prior to the start of the Iran war. Stuart Howe from Bell Potter says the war and the surge in crude oil prices will result in higher costs for much of the mining sector, while production could be impacted by the availability of diesel. Bell Potter recommends that investors rotate into mining stocks that are less exposed to diesel prices. Analysts note that miners with large-scale open-cut operations are most at risk of a supply crisis due to their heavy reliance on diesel-powered truck fleets. (RMS)

News

Batteries, coal push out east coast LNG shortage to 2029

The Australian Energy Market Operator now expects any gas supply shortage in the south-eastern states to occur in 2029, compared with its previous forecast of 2028. AEMO says gas shortfalls in 2029 are now regarded as a risk only during "extreme peak day demand conditions". It has cited a number of factors for its revised forecast, including expectations of lower demand for gas for power generation, an extension of the Eraring coal-fired power station's operating life and the estimated 30 gigawatts of battery storage projects that are currently being developed. Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the improved outlook shows that the federal government's "balanced" energy plan is working. (RMS)

News

News Lead Up

Streaming News Watercooler

Netflix CEO allegedly won’t speak to Meghan Markle on phone without lawyer

Meghan Markle is caught in a fresh Netflix storm with rumors claiming CEO Ted Sarandos is refusing to take her calls without a lawyer. Netflix denies everything but whispers of canceled deals and rising tension have fans questioning the truth!

News

A.I News

Watchdog warns against 'dangerously' positive AI advice amid crypto trading spike

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has expressed concern about the growing tendency for young Australians to use artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT for financial advice. Its figures show young people are following 'dangerously' positive AI recommendations about investing in risky investments such as crypto, with their faith in what has been referred to as 'unverified, risk-averse digital advice' occurring as many Australians are struggling with major cost of living pressures; ASIC's figures also show that 23 per cent of Gen Z now hold crypto assets; up from just 9 per cent in 2023. (RMS)

News

Resources

Drill, baby, drill: Boom for mineral, petroleum explorers

Advisory firm BDO has calculated that ASX-listed mineral and petroleum explorers raised a record $5.63 billion in the final quarter of last year. It broke the previous record for fund raising of $3.75 billion that was set in the same period in 2021, with the $5.63 billion in fund raising leaving mineral and petroleum explorers with record cash reserves of $12 billion. It comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that spending on mineral exploration hit a two-year high in the final quarter of 2025, while spending on petroleum exploration was at a decade high. (RMS)

News

A.I News

Global giants join Australia in fight to make AI companies pay for content

Both the US and the UK appear to be backing the stance of the federal government of wanting AI companies pay for their use of content that has been produced by artists, musicians and journalists. In a document released on Friday that was titled 'Respecting Intellectual Property Rights and Supporting Creators', the White House stated that US copyright laws - under which content theft for the training of AI models, or any other use, is illegal - will remain. For its part, the UK government stated last week that it no longer had a "preferred option" on copyright reform, which comes after it last year endorsed a proposal that would have allowed tech companies to use copyrighted work without permission unless rights holders 'opted out' of the process. Its change of stance follows a longrunning campaign – led by artists including Elton John and Thom Yorke from Radiohead – which warned that the unlicensed use of copyrighted material for training AI models was threatening the livelihoods of people working in the creative industries. (RMS)

News

Betting on Americas and keeping BHP whole

BHP has ended long-running speculation about succession planning after announcing that Brandon Craig will succeed CEO Mike Henry. The BHP veteran has ruled out demerging assets such as the resources group's copper mines during his tenure, which will start on 1 July. Craig says he believes that a diversified model is still superior, especially in the mining sector. He argues that BHP's ability to use its flagship iron ore division to fund projects such as copper and potash mines differentiates it from rivals. Craig says BHP may be open to mergers and acquisitions, although he says any such opportunities would need to be compelling to compete with its internal growth options. He has also indicated that BHP's focus will shift to the Americas, where many of its growth projects are located. (RMS)

News

X Newsfeed

WWE

Cody Rhodes and Matt Cardona Dish on Indie-to-WWE Return

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes hosted Matt Cardona on 'What Do You Wanna Talk About?', where Cardona detailed his path back to WWE after six years as the 'Indy God.' It started with his wife Chelsea Green nudging President Nick Khan during a TNA spot on NXT, leading to Cardona's direct text and a January 2026 SmackDown deal. They fantasy-booked a fun ladder match in WWE 2K26, and Cardona shouted out indie standouts Big Trouble Ben Bishop and Richard Holliday as future WWE stars, sparking excitement online about their friendship and the indie-WWE bridge. Media Man Peg-On: Cardona'a indi matches and feud with Killer Kross was excellent. Our Cardona indy highlight. Vs Holliday was great too, as was Kross vs Holliday.

News

Gold News

Gold is back in focus as markets react to geopolitics

The market is fixated on the threat of accelerating inflation driven by high energy prices. As a result, central banks are expected to adopt a tighter monetary policy, keeping rates at high levels or even raising them. This has a positive impact on fiat currencies and strips gold of its key feature as a store of value amid currency debasement. It is no surprise that the precious metal, which had got off to a strong start, has been losing out to Bitcoin and the US dollar since the start of the armed conflict in the Middle East. Although gold is generally regarded as a safe-haven asset, in the early stages of financial market turmoil, investors often choose to flee to liquidity. They favour fiat currencies and are far more willing to buy US dollar-nominated short-term treasuries.

Gold prices usually recover only if market shocks worsen, fears of recession or stagflation rise, and central banks start adding liquidity. Bank of America believes that the markets are still underestimating the scale of the potential consequences of geopolitical tension. They are fixated on the threat of accelerating inflation and are not considering a global economic downturn. Therefore, the longer the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran lasts, the better it is for the precious metal.

UBS Global Wealth Management notes that gold serves as a hedge against currency devaluation, rising budget deficits and recession. All of these could result from a geopolitical shock. The firm therefore maintains its bullish outlook on gold. In its view, the precious metal could rise to the $5,900-$6,200 range before the end of this year. However, gold must first weather the storm of numerous central bank meetings. The RBA has already raised its cash rate to 4.15%. Investors now expect ‘hawkish’ rhetoric from the rest. The ECB and the Bank of Japan are ready to tackle inflation, and the futures market expects them to tighten monetary policy. The Fed and the Bank of England are most likely to talk about prolonged pauses in their cycles.

Thus, gold appears to be a win-win option. It will gain if the conflict in the Middle East drags on, and will not lose if it ends. Investors just need to be patient for a little while. (FxPro)

News

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Series Company Of The Month' award

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award; Runner-up: The Australian

Google wins Media Man 'Search Engine Of The Month' award

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins 'Combat Sports Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: Most Valuable Promotions, Everlast, BKFC

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award

CAT wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month' award

Dynasty: The Murdochs wins 'Streaming Show Of The Month' award (Netflix)

Markets, Shares, Cryptos, Miners, Social Media and Culture

March 27, 2026

Friday Down Under

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York, and beyond the Blackstump and Internet Matrix Of Things!

Pop Culture themes

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (Cannonball Adderley)
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"The Wall Street Hustle" (10cc)
"I've Got Friday On My Mind" (The Easybeats)
"Thursday’s Child" (David Bowie)
"Bulls on Parade" (Rage Against the Machine)

Markets

ASX 200 futures down 77 points/ 0.9 per cent: 8487

AUD -0.7% to US68.96¢

Bitcoin $68,576.84 -3.77%

Wall St:
Dow -1%
S&P -1.7%
Nasdaq -2.4%
VIX +2.97 to 28.30
Gold -2.1% to $US4412.99 an oz
Silver 68.078 0.043
Brent oil +3.1% to $US105.43 a barrel
Iron ore +2.2% to $US107.45 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.41% Australia 5.01%

News

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.6876 USD (down $0.0074 USD)
Iron Ore: $107.45 USD (up $1.85 USD)
Oil Price: $94.29 USD (up $3.02 USD)
Gold Price: $4,353.82 USD (down $172.16 USD)
Copper Price: $5.4540 USD (down $0.0635 USD)
Dow Jones: 45,960.11 (down 469.38 points)

News

Aust

Shares slip amid confusion on US-Iran talks

The Australian sharemarket edged lower on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close at 8,525.7 points. Karoon Energy rose 3.7 per cent to $1.98, Nufarm was up 7.1 per cent at $1.97 and DroneShield added 5.2 per cent to end the session at $4.48. However, Resolute Mining fell six per cent to $1.26, WiseTech Global finished 3.2 per cent lower at $38.33 and the ANZ Bank was down 0.7 per cent at $36.65. (RMS)

News

Big dividend payouts a $23b boon to ASX

Australian-listed companies announced some $33bn worth of dividends during the February reporting season. Listed companies will pay shareholders about $10.7bn worth of dividends next week, following a $12.5bn payout this week. Much of this money is expected to be reinvested in the sharemarket, and Richard Coppleson from Bell Potter says this will "turbocharge" a relief rally following the recent financial market turmoil. Meanwhile, Solaris portfolio manager Charles Casey says the rising price of crude oil is providing a one-off "sugar hit" for energy groups such as Ampol and Woodside Energy, which should boost their earnings and dividends. (RMS)

News

Oil faces falling volatility, but unlikely prices

The US is offering Iran negotiations.

Without dialogue, we must be prepared for an escalation.

The oil market is nearing a mutually agreed conclusion, but the lack of mutual trust between the parties is significantly complicating the situation. The US has provided Iran with a list of 15 points, the completion of which would resolve the conflict in the Middle East. Previously, there were reports that Iran had presented its own conditions. These have not been officially confirmed, but we have heard on numerous occasions of demands for non-aggression guarantees and reparations for damage already inflicted.

At stake is the reopening of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 15 million barrels of crude oil and 5 million barrels of refined fuel previously passed. According to JP Morgan estimates, the current shortfall is approximately 16 million barrels per day. This figure will decrease as barrels from the strategic reserves of IEA member countries are released into the market and as Gulf states explore alternative routes, such as the Red Sea. Nonetheless, the global economy faces the threat of a long-term deficit of 10 million barrels per day, which increases the risk of stagflation and recession.

According to estimates by Oxford Economics, without a deal between Washington and Tehran, the Strait of Hormuz will only regain 50% of its pre-war capacity by May. Iran is gradually softening its stance, permitting tankers from countries not involved in the conflict to pass through while charging them a $2 million fee.

Even in the most optimistic scenario, it will take months for Gulf countries to restore pre-war production levels. Coupled with difficulties in replenishing onshore stocks, this casts doubt on a quick fall in Brent prices. Most likely, North Sea crude will remain above $65–70 per barrel by the end of 2026.

The absence of constructive dialogue between the US and Iran could lead to further escalation, including other regional countries joining the US-Israeli coalition and possibly a ground operation by Washington. In such a scenario, Brent may rise to $160 a barrel. This is the price that some countries are already paying for oil from the Middle East that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. (FxPro)

News

AI News (Aust)

News

The miners to own in diesel crisis

News

Batteries, coal push out east coast LNG shortage to 2029

News

WWE/Pop Culture/Pro Wrestling

Roman Reigns Spears CM Punk Through Table on Raw, Sets Mania Clash

On Monday Night Raw, Roman Reigns and The Usos ambushed World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk after he mocked their family ties, ending with Reigns' devastating spear that demolished the announce table. The beatdown builds hype for their title match at WrestleMania 42 on April 18 in Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium. Elsewhere, Paul Heyman provoked Seth Rollins into a wild stomping, Penta retained his Intercontinental Title against Dominik Mysterio, and Oba Femi dominated Brock Lesnar again, filling out a stacked Night 1 card. Media Man Peg-On: Ultra Hot WWE RAW. Makes one think of wrestling and tables in a whole new light. WrestleMania Season is heating up in the best way. Oba, Oba, Oba ... struting ... Penta-Mania, and it appears a new chapter of The Bloodline with Roman Reigns and co. Odds could be stacked against CM Punk.

News Lead Up

Streaming News Watercooler

Netflix CEO allegedly won’t speak to Meghan Markle on phone without lawyer

News

The crypto market has pulled back, but hasn’t given up

Market Overview

The crypto market cap has declined by nearly 1% to $2.4T, once again approaching the 50-day moving average but still remaining above it (a bullish sign). Selling pressure is driven by renewed market fears arising from the situation in the Middle East. Technically, the market must make an early decision: either break through the uptrend line from early February or confirm the 50-day MA as support and break the downtrend.
Bitcoin fell below $70K on Thursday morning as investors exited risky assets in traditional markets. However, the leading cryptocurrency remains close to the psychologically significant round figure and is still above the 50-day moving average, maintaining hopes of a resumption of growth at the first signs of a shift.

News Background

Bitcoin ETFs have attracted $2.5 billion over the past month, offsetting nearly all of the outflows that had been ongoing since January, according to Bloomberg. BlackRock’s BTC ETF has ranked among the top 2% of ETFs by inflows since the beginning of the year.
The net outflow of the leading cryptocurrency from exchanges last month signalled a shift by investors towards an accumulation phase, notes analyst Darkfost. According to him, investors are buying coins and withdrawing them from platforms for self-custody.

Large investors are shunning a wide range of altcoins in favour of Bitcoin and Ethereum, while interest in the rest of the crypto market is waning, BlackRock notes. The investment firm considers most new projects to be ‘nonsense’ with no long-term value.

The Irish authorities have restored access to a wallet containing 500 confiscated bitcoins, which were previously considered inaccessible due to lost keys. The BTC wallet was successfully hacked thanks to cooperation with the European Cybercrime Centre.

The Ethereum Foundation has presented a roadmap for protecting the network against quantum computers. The plan includes four hard forks. According to the developers’ estimates, ‘cryptographically significant’ devices will not appear for at least eight or even 12 years. However, preparations for this must begin now. (FxPro)

News

A.I News

Australia

Watchdog warns against 'dangerously' positive AI advice amid crypto trading spike

News

Resources

Drill, baby, drill: Boom for mineral, petroleum explorers

News

A.I News

Global giants join Australia in fight to make AI companies pay for content

News

Bitcoin News Byte

Despite a 47% Price Drop, Bitcoin Traders Aren’t Selling:

A survey of U.S. Bitcoin holders and crypto subreddit posts found that despite anxiety and market turbulence, most investors (69%) held onto their Bitcoin, with only 8% panic selling.

Bitcoin faced a dramatic market correction in early 2026, plunging 46% from its $126,000 all-time high and briefly dipping below $61,000 on February 6.

The drop erased over $1 trillion in market value and prompted headlines warning of a defining crypto moment. Social media feeds filled with reactions, yet most holders remained on the sidelines.

A survey by Oobit of 1,006 American Bitcoin holders and sentiment analysis of 117,630 posts across 10 major crypto subreddits reveals that fear did not translate into widespread selling.

News

Mining/Energy/Resources: Australia and World)

McEwan braces for exits as Craig takes BHP helm

Nearly 43 per cent of BHP's staff are female, and there were some who expected that Mike Henry would be replaced as CEO by an internal female candidate. Minerals Australia president Geraldine Slattery and chief development officer Catherine Raw were viewed as two such candidates, but BHP gave the job to mining engineer Brandon Craig. Asked if his appointment could mean the loss of skilled female executives who were overlooked for the job of CEO, BHP chairman Ross McEwan said he would not be surprised if unsuccessful candidates chose to leave the company. (RMS)

News

New coal mines at greenfield sites to be banned in NSW

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee has described a decision by the state government to ban new coal mines on greenfield sites as "disappointing". The government announced the ban on Thursday as part of a new strategy aimed at managing the NSW coal sector until 2050, while it also announced new rules requiring major coal mines in NSW to reduce methane emissions caused by their operations; NSW coal mines produce around 30 per cent of the state's methane emissions and contribute around 11 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. (RMS)

News

Cryptos

Crypto: the bulls may have their horns broken

Market Overview

The crypto market cap has fallen to $2.42 trillion, under pressure from sellers alongside risk assets, as the Fed pushes the next rate cut further into the future, boosting the dollar’s appeal. The decline also coincided with the upper boundary of the corrective rebound being touched. It is possible that cryptocurrencies were simply unable to ignore the significant deterioration in external sentiment, but they may soon return to outperforming other assets. Overall, however, we maintain a more pessimistic view, anticipating the bear market will continue, with bulls likely to be beaten soon, not least due to macro factors.

Bitcoin has fallen by 8.4% from its latest peak on Tuesday morning and briefly dipped below 70 at the start of the day on Thursday. At these levels, BTC is testing the 50-day moving average from above. As we have repeatedly warned previously, the upward momentum will face significant resistance at the boundary of a typical correction from the latest downward impulse. The leading cryptocurrency has more room to move within the $65K–$75K range.

Breaking out of this range may require more momentum to determine the market’s direction for the coming days or weeks.

News Background

Investment bank Citigroup has lowered its 12-month price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum amid delays in the adoption of US cryptocurrency legislation. The forecast for Bitcoin has been lowered from $143,000 to $112,000, and for Ethereum from $4,304 to $3,175. In a negative scenario, BTC risks falling to $58,000 and ETH to $1,198.

Bitcoin still has two-thirds of its bear cycle ahead, said Willy Wu, co-founder of the Bitcoin Vector project, urging investors to remain cautious. In his view, it is premature to expect sustained growth without an improvement in market liquidity.

Ethereum developers are testing the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR), which will speed up transfers between the mainnet and the second layer from 13 minutes to 13 seconds. (FxPro).

Media Peg-On (as seen burning up the LinkedIn and X newsfeeds with web traffic spikes)

Media Man Peg-On: Having your horns broken is one step better than having your you know what broken. Ball breaking headlines that hit you right between the Eye Balls! BTC for the true believers, for better or worse. A labor of love and for those who keep the dream alive. Remember our saying, "Bullish is a mindset", right Mr Michael Saylor of Strategy. MC is always good fodder for the crypto and tech media fodder and website traffic generation. MC, the media darling you love to hate! So, when's the running of the bulls then? Red flag to a bull!

News

Betting on Americas and keeping BHP whole

News

March 27

Shares: NYSE

Alphabet Inc Class A
$280.96 -9.97 -3.43%

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$192.64 -1.30 -0.67%

Netflix Inc
$93.32 +1.04 +1.13%

Media Man Peg-On: Alpha and TKO down a bit from yesterday. Netflix holding strong and gaining.

News

X Newsfeed

WWE

Cody Rhodes and Matt Cardona Dish on Indie-to-WWE Return

News

Wrestling/WWE/Pop Culture

Jade Cargill Calls Out Rhea Ripley in Heated SmackDown Face-Off

On Friday's SmackDown, WWE Women's Champion Jade Cargill challenged Rhea Ripley directly, boasting she doesn't need the title or fans to be 'that b*tch.' Ripley, fresh from her Elimination Chamber win for a title shot, stood ready to strike back amid a roaring crowd. The intense promo ramps up their WrestleMania 42 rivalry, with fans praising Cargill's star power while craving the first brawl. Both bring unmatched athleticism and attitude to the collision course. Media Man Peg-On: Ripley our Uncrowned Women's Champion, belt or not! She's Got IT! NXT's Zaria shares some of the same attributes, as does Z's rival, Sol Ruca.

25 Years Since WCW Nitro's Final Episode Ended Monday Night Wars

On March 26, 2001, WCW Monday Nitro aired its last show from Panama City Beach, Florida, capping five and a half years of intense competition with WWF Raw. Key moments included Booker T winning the world title, a dramatic simulcast announcement of WWF purchasing WCW's assets for $4.2 million, and Sting defeating Ric Flair in the main event that echoed the show's debut. Fans today share live memories of the surreal night, clips of the McMahon surprise, and thoughts on WCW stars like Booker T and Sting who later succeeded in WWE.

News

Gold News

Gold is back in focus as markets react to geopolitics

Thus, gold appears to be a win-win option. It will gain if the conflict in the Middle East drags on, and will not lose if it ends. Investors just need to be patient for a little while. (FxPro)

News

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'Media Series Company Of The Month' award

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award; Runner-up: The Australian

Google wins Media Man 'Search Engine Of The Month' award

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins 'Combat Sports Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: Most Valuable Promotions, Everlast, BKFC

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Brand Of The Month' award

CAT wins Media Man 'Heavy Industry Brand Of The Month' award

Dynasty: The Murdochs wins 'Streaming Show Of The Month' award (Netflix)

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

March 12, 2026

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, NYC

ASX 200 futures down 47 points/0.5%: 8683
AUD +0.5% to US71.53¢
BTC $70,513.14 +0.40%
Dow -0.6%
S&P -0.08%
NAS +0.08%
VIX -0.65 to 24.28
Gold -0.3% to $US5177.43 an oz
Silver 85.721 -2.531
Oil +5.6% to $US92.74 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% to $US104.25 a ton

News

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.7150 USD (up $0.0030 USD)
Iron Ore: $104.25 USD (up $0.35 USD)
Oil Price: $88.21 USD (up $1.85 USD)
Gold Price: $5,178.92 USD (down $15.70 USD)
Copper: $5.9155 USD (down $0.0010 USD)
Dow: 47,417.27 (down 289.24 points)

News

Miners, banks lift ASX as rate rise looms

The Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 rising 0.6 per cent to close at 8,743.5 points. Bank stocks rallied amid growing expectations that the Reserve Bank will increase official interest rates next week, with the ANZ Bank rising 1.8 per cent to $37.98. The resources sector also rose, with Fortscue advancing 3.7 per cent to $19.98 and Ora Banda Mining up 21.5 per cent at $1.41. However, WiseTech Global was down 3.6 per cent at $49.24 and GQG partners fell 5.5 per cent to end the session at $1.80. (RMS)

News

A.I News (Australia)

CBA chairman warns AI risks 'hollowing out' Australia's economy

The Commonwealth Bank is among the leading Australian companies that have embraced artificial intelligence technology. Chairman Paul O'Malley has told the Australian Governance Summit that AI has the potential to lift productivity across the economy; however, he has warned that unless the nation captures the value potential of AI it risks merely becoming a passive consumer of value that is created overseas. O'Malley also contended that the dominance of US-based AI companies is creating a 'geo-economic risk' for Australia. (RMS)

News

Miners (Australia)

Lynas sets landmark rare earths floor price

Shares in Lynas Rare Earths rose 14 per cent to $20.17 yesterday, after it secured a 12-year extension of an offtake deal to supply neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) to Japan Australia Rare Earths. The latter will pay a minimum of $US110 ($154) per kilogram for NdPR, the same floor price that MP Materials and the Trump administration agreed to in 2025. The spot price of NdPr is currently $US109 per kilogram, and Lynas received an average of $US74 a kilogram in 2025. Analysts say the floor price is significant for both Lynas and rivals such as Iluka Resources and Arafura Rare Earths. (RMS)

News

Haoma Mining Shareholder Update - Trading Halt update

Haoma Mining NL Announcements

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Haoma's shares were placed in a trading halt with Primary Markets on 24 February. Shareholders were advised that the trading halt will be lifted when recent test-work on Bamboo Creek Tailings at Haoma's Bamboo Creek Laboratory and Pilot Plant is completed. Test-work to date has produced Concentrates reading by XRF, in total, 7%-10% precious metals (gold, silver and PGM). Plant equipment is now being installed at Bamboo Creek so refining of these Concentrate samples using the Elazac Process will soon be conducted. The current trading halt will be lifted when refining test-work is completed and Haoma shareholders have been advised of all results. (RMS)

News

Crypto: Bears still control the range

Market Overview

The crypto market cap has changed slightly over the past 24 hours, amounting to $2.38T. Growth at the start of the US session was met with increased selling, once again highlighting the importance of the current area's resistance, which includes the 50-day moving average and last week's peak. Among the top coins, the top five — BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL — are trading down compared to 24 hours ago, but smaller coins — ICP, XMR, ATOM, AVAX, BCH — have risen by 2% to 5%.

Bitcoin did not make a promising breakthrough on Tuesday, with a local peak near $71.7K, below last week's highs around $74K. In the short term, the 50-day moving average proved a formidable resistance level, preventing the bulls from swiftly turning the tide in their favour. This indicator often signals the medium-term trend, and a confident break above it would be an important turning point in the coming days.

Ethereum is losing momentum on its way to $2100, having declined last night. The second-largest coin is trading above its multi-year support but lacks the momentum to rebound from this level. ETHUSD has been stuck in a range for the past five weeks, and only a breakout beyond $1800-$2150 could signal a victory for one side, potentially leading to further strong movement in the direction of the breakout.

News Background

The crypto market has entered a period of stabilisation, but Glassnode believes that a full return to a Bitcoin bull market requires an influx of new capital. At the same time, there are early signs of improvement in the BTC network amid a gradual stabilisation of market conditions.

Bitfinex notes that Bitcoin's further movement will depend on oil prices, US government bond yields, and Fed policy, while news from the crypto industry itself has taken a back seat.

Daily oil trading volume on the decentralised Hyperliquid platform exceeded $1.5 billion, displacing Ethereum from second place in terms of popularity.

Against the backdrop of the crypto market's recovery, institutional investors and state holders have begun to move cryptocurrency more actively, Arkham Intelligence notes. (FxPro)

News

Oil News/Middle East/World News

Brent chooses its path

Investors are assessing whether the 2022 or 2025 oil scenario will play out.

Releasing reserves will not necessarily lower oil prices.

The oil market is focused on two main issues: how quickly the conflict in the Middle East will end, and how it will conclude. Donald Trump insists on regime change and further cooperation between Tehran and Washington. The so-called Venezuelan scenario could enable Iran to boost oil production from the current 3.5 million bpd. Before the 1979 revolution, production exceeded 6 million bpd. An increase in supplies will likely cause prices to fall sharply. If the ruling regime remains in power and relations with the West stay strained, production may decline. Earlier this week, Donald Trump assured investors that the conflict would soon conclude, setting the stage for a 12-day war in 2025 and causing a surge in Brent and WTI prices at the start of the week. Market rumours suggest that the US president, under domestic political pressure, might declare victory and back down. Investors are awaiting the right moment to deploy the TACO strategy, or Trump Always Chickens Out. However, in past instances, the White House's opponents agreed to the conditions imposed upon them. Iran is now outright refusing to engage in negotiations, citing that two previous dialogues with the US, in summer 2025 and winter 2026, ended in bombings. Trump has promised to escalate actions if Tehran begins mining the Strait of Hormuz. Rumours of a tanker explosion near Abu Dhabi imply that he is already taking such steps. Meanwhile, according to Goldman Sachs, oil flows through the world's main artery have increased from zero to 1.6 million bpd. While this is far below the pre-war level of 20 million bpd, its growth could support the bearish outlook on Brent and WTI. In fact, the actual volume of crude passing through the Strait of Hormuz may be even higher, as tankers try to conceal their movements. The intention behind the IEA member countries releasing barrels from strategic reserves appears to be twofold. The US and its allies experienced a similar situation in 2022, when the release of 182 million barrels caused fears and a 20% spike in Brent prices within a week. Investors interpreted this as a sign of a fragile market. Conversely, the United States' sale of reserves on the first day of the 1991 Iraq invasion, during Operation Desert Storm, led to a 20% decline in North Sea crude prices. (FxPro)

News

U.S News/Politics/World

The dollar acts in tandem with oil

The impact of oil on currency rates has risen sharply.

The ECB promises to prevent a repeat of the 2022 inflation shock.

Donald Trump has a formidable competitor. A tweet by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright about the US military escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz caused a real stir in the markets, as did its subsequent deletion. Previously, only the White House could claim such influence over investors. However, when nerves are stretched tight, even a minor piece of information can shake the markets.

Investors continue to ponder when all this will end. Donald Trump's comments about the imminent conclusion of the conflict in the Middle East suggest a 12-day war scenario, similar to the summer of 2025. Nonetheless, the IEA's plan to sell oil from strategic reserves, by contrast, echoes the events of 2022. According to Christine Lagarde, the eurozone is better prepared for an energy crisis than it was back then. The ECB will prevent the war between the US, Israel, and Iran from causing the same inflationary pain to the currency bloc. In 2022, the European Central Bank raised rates by 450 basis points in response to soaring energy prices, which pushed inflation from 5.9% to 10.6%. Deposit rates are now higher, but inflation remains lower.

Markets are starting to price in two ECB rate hikes in 2026. The anticipated scale of the Fed's monetary policy easing has decreased from 65 to 36 basis points due to the conflict in the Middle East. In theory, the narrowing of the rate differential should cause a rally in EUR/USD. However, investors doubt the eurozone economy can withstand the rising borrowing costs and energy prices.

At the initial stage of the confrontation, the US dollar gained favour due to financial market fears, its status as a safe-haven asset, and the United States' position as a net energy exporter. However, as the conflict in the Middle East drags on, the US economy will suffer from rising oil and petrol prices. Consequently, investor interest might shift towards the Canadian dollar and the Norwegian krone. (FxPro)

News

The Lead Up

ASX jumps 1.1pc as oil eases; BHP rebounds

11 March 2026

The Australian sharemarket has clawed back some of Monday's big loss, with the S&P/ASX 200 rising 1.1 per cent on Tuesday to close at 8,692.6 points. Investor sentiment was boosted by a fall in the crude oil price and claims by US President Donald Trump that the military action against Iran is ahead of schedule. BHP rose 2.3 per cent to $51.23, Telix Pharmaceuticals was up 7.8 per cent at $11 and Life360 advanced 10.3 per cent to $22.51. However, Woodside Energy was down 3.8 per cent at $30.18 and Orica fell 3.4 per cent to $20.92. (RMS)

News

The Lead Up

24 Hours Ago

ASX caught in $90b wipe-out as oil soars 27pc

The Australian sharemarket retreated on Monday, after a surge in the price of crude oil in response to the escalating war in the Middle East; the S&P/ASX 200 fell 2.9 per cent to close at 8,599 points, having reached an intra-day low of 8,457.2. BHP shed 5.1 per cent to end the session at $50.10, NextDC was down 6.4 per cent at $12.81 and the ANZ Bank fell 2.3 per cent to $36.78. However, Karoon Energy rose 10.2 per cent to $2.00 and Yancoal Australia advanced 13.3 per cent to $7.17. (RMS)

News

Biz/Brands (Australia)

Bunnings is Australia's most trusted brand; Telecommunications, led by Optus, is the most distrusted industry

Bunnings is the most trusted brand in the 12 months to December 2025, a ninth consecutive quarterly victory for the leading hardware retailer. Discount supermarket Aldi is in second place, and discount department store Kmart is third; the top three places have remained unchanged for an eighth straight quarter. Meanwhile, Woolworths remains Australia's most distrusted brand, while Optus deteriorated two places to be the second most distrusted brand in the 12 months to December; in fact, Optus was the single most distrusted brand in Australia during the month of December, following its fatal triple-zero outage in September. Roy Morgan's latest data on trust and distrust reveals a remarkable relationship between highly regulated industries and trust. The financial services sector provides clear evidence that greater regulation and stricter rules have helped shape public perception for the better. On the flipside, sectors like Telecommunications and Supermarkets have relatively low regulation and suffer deep distrust; they currently face severe regulatory headwinds as the public demands better accountability and a fair go. (Roy Morgan)

News

Mining (Australia)

Feb 27

Haoma Mining Shareholder Update: Ravenswood Gold Joint Venture - drilling confirms shallow high-grade gold at Podoskys

Haoma Mining NL Announcements

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Haoma's Directors are pleased to advise shareholders of additional shallow high-grade gold results from a further 16 holes (holes PYRC 12 to PYRC27) drilled at Haoma's Podoskys deposit on ML10315 located at Ravenswood in North Queensland. Significant intercepts include 18m @ 11.33g/t Au from 12m in hole PYRC0014, and 25m @ 5.33g/t Au from 5m in hole PYRC0027. The results from the first 11 holes (PYRC 1 to PYRC 11) were previously reported in Haoma's Shareholder Update of 26 February. The drilling program is being undertaken by Native Mineral Resources under the Ravenswood Gold Project Joint Venture with Haoma (Profit share: Haoma 50%, NMR 50%). The latest results continue to indicate broad zones of shallow gold mineralisation with localised very high grades and are further confirmation of Haoma's previous (2004) Podoskys drilling results. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Crypto News

Green shoots in the crypto market

Market Overview

The crypto market cap increased by 3% over 24 hours to $2.38 trillion, supported by the impressive stock market rebound. Officially, the market is moving within a relatively narrow range after the collapse in the second half of January. Often in such situations, a new downward trend is expected around the corner, which remains the baseline scenario for now. However, it would be unwise to overlook the early signs of the crypto market's growing interest in good news from outside, which was not the case a few months ago.

Bitcoin is testing the $70K level, gaining over 7% from the lows at the start of Monday. Buyers are becoming more confident, creating a series of higher local lows since the end of last month. The first cryptocurrency reached an important local resistance level in February. Still, bulls will need to sustain the price above the last peak at $73K, where the 50-day moving average also resides, to confirm the development of a medium-term uptrend.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment in crypto funds increased by $619 million last week, marking the second consecutive week of growth after five weeks of outflows. Investments in Bitcoin rose by $521 million, in Ethereum by $89 million, in Solana by $15 million, and in Chainlink by $1 million. Investments in XRP decreased by $30 million.

Strategy purchased 17,994 BTC ($1.28 billion) last week at an average price of $70,946 per coin. Strategy now holds 738,731 BTC, acquired for $56.04 billion at an average price of $75,862 per Bitcoin.

BitMine acquired an additional 60,000 ETH over the past week. The company's reserves now total 4.53 million ETH, representing 3.76% of Ethereum's total supply. BitMine aims to accumulate 5% of all Ether supply.

Overall data on inflows into global crypto ETFs indicate generally positive sentiment towards this asset class amid a period of geopolitical tension stemming from events surrounding Iran, CoinShares notes. The surge in oil prices is an unfavourable factor for Bitcoin, according to CryptoQuant.

An energy shock could push inflation higher and complicate the Fed's task of lowering interest rates. Additionally, it increases miners' costs, reducing the business's attractiveness and potentially creating an overhang of sales for already-mined coins. (FxPro)

News

Pop Culture/Sports

Tyson Fury Returns Against Undefeated Makhmudov on April 11

The Gypsy King steps back into the ring on April 11 following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, taking on the 34-year-old Canadian-based Russian with a perfect 17-0 record and 16 knockouts. Tickets start at £44, with a strong undercard including Conor Benn vs. Regis Prograis, Jeamie TKV vs. Richard Riakporhe, and Frazer Clarke vs. Justis Huni. Spencer Brown of Gold Star Promotions leads as promoter, while Frank Warren's Queensberry stays allied; Fury's already firing trash talk, calling old foe Deontay Wilder 'completely shot to bits.' A win could line up a summer clash with Joshua or a Usyk rematch.

News

Pop Culture/Wrestling/Streaming

NXT Stand & Deliver Streams Free on YouTube as Peacock Era Ends

Shawn Michaels announced Thursday that NXT Stand & Deliver takes place April 4 at The Factory in St. Louis, with doors at 4 p.m. CT and main card at 7 p.m. ET. Vengeance Day on March 7 was the last NXT premium live event on Peacock, as its deal expires; international fans previously used Netflix but now join on YouTube. The standalone show in the intimate 2,300-3,000 capacity venue spotlights NXT weeks before WrestleMania 42, with tag team title tournaments already building buzz. Robert Stone offered to help Michaels with YouTube, and fans expressed excitement over the free global access.

News

Media/Streaming/Sports

Netflix rules out bid for NRL rights

A spokesman for Netflix says the streaming company is not interested in bidding for the upcoming NRL broadcast rights, as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys seeks a $4 billion deal over five years. The spokesman's remarks back up previous comments by Netflix executive Brandon Riegg that it is interested in marquee sporting events rather than entire seasons, while a $4 billion deal over five years would be larger than the AFL's six-year $4.5 billion deal. V'landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo believe they can secure a deal of that size because of the introduction of two new teams; the PNG Chiefs and the Perth Bears and the popularity of its annual Las Vegas season launch. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Digital Business (Australia)

Subscriptions in firing line to ease living costs

The federal government has proposed legislation that would make it easier for households to cancel subscriptions that they no longer require. The former Coalition government introduced similar reforms in 2018 aimed at making it easier to cancel credit cards via the internet. Research undertaken by the Consumer Policy Research Centre shows that about 75 per cent of Australians have had a negative experience when trying to cancel a subscription. It is estimated that households collectively have around $46m worth of subscriptions that they no longer use. (RMS)

News

36 Hours Ago

Mining/Energy/Resources (Australia)

Glencore mulls ASX listing in wake of value gap that foiled Rio merger

Glencore CEO Gary Nagle says the commodities company is considering a secondary listing on the ASX, to help boost its valuation in the wake of its failed merger with Rio Tinto. The two companies had been considering a merger that would have created the world's biggest mining company, with a valuation of more than $300 billion, but Rio announced last month that it was abandoning talks with Glencore because the parties could not agree on a price for a "scrip deal". Nagle says the logic of a merger with Rio still exists, but he signalled that the two companies were "far apart on valuation." (RMS)

News

Cryptos

The crypto market has temporarily found balance

Market Overview

The crypto market cap on Monday morning is $2.31 trillion, just over 1% higher than a week ago. Volatility in cryptocurrencies decreased significantly in the second half of the week, unlike in traditional financial markets. Cryptocurrencies did not emerge as a safe haven; instead, they found only a temporary balance between opposing forces.

Last week, crypto failed to maintain its mid-week momentum. They are also avoiding a collapse following traditional markets, which began trading on Monday. This is too fragile a balance, and we see a greater risk of increased cryptocurrency sell-offs as institutional players are forced to reduce leverage amid the decline of key assets.

The sentiment index stood at 8 on Monday, returning to single digits after twelve days of attempts to stabilise and form a rebound. This behaviour proves once again that not all extremely low sentiment values constitute a good entry point.

Bitcoin is trading at $67K, around which it has been for more than 4 weeks. On intraday intervals, purchases are still noticeable on dips below $66K. Still, it is difficult to rely on this support given the powerful movements in financial markets.

News Background

Bitcoin is in the deepest phase of a bear market, and the situation could worsen, according to ZX Squared Capital, which expects BTC to fall further by 30% in 2026 due to the war with Iran.

Culper Research has opened short positions on Ethereum and BitMine shares. Analysts believe that the altcoin's economy has deteriorated following the recent Fusaka update.

For the first time in US history, the Trump administration has included cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which explicitly states the need to protect these technologies at the state level.

Florida has passed the first state-level stablecoin bill in the US. Governor Ron DeSantis will sign the document within the next 30 days.

The US SEC has dropped charges against Justin Sun. The founder of Tron agreed to pay a $10 million fine but did not admit guilt. In 2023, the SEC accused Sun of unregistered sales of securities in the form of Tron and BitTorrent cryptocurrencies, as well as fraudulent price manipulation.

About 38% of altcoins have approached historic lows. The situation in the sector is worse than after the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange, notes analyst Darkfost. (FxPro)

EURO News

No one will help the euro

Europe is an unintended victim of the Middle East conflict.

The growing likelihood of two ECB rate hikes is not enough to boost EURUSD. The US dollar posted its strongest weekly performance in a year and may extend its rally amid intensifying geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Political developments in Iran have increased uncertainty about the conflict's trajectory, boosting safe-haven demand for the dollar. As a result, EURUSD opened the week with a gap lower. The rapid rise in oil prices contributed to recessions in the US economy in 1973, 1980, 1990 and 2008. And the current cooling of the American labour market, driven by the White House's tariff and anti-immigration policies, suggests a downturn. Indeed, in February, non-farm employment fell by 92K, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. However, the United States is currently a net energy exporter. Its economy will suffer less from a rally in Brent and WTI above $100 per barrel than Europe or Asia. This is why the shock of rising oil and gas prices is reversing the ‘sell America’ flows. US stock indices have fallen less than their competitors, and the greenback has risen. Speculators have reduced their net shorts on the USD by two-thirds over the past few days. Even the increased chances of two ECB rate hikes this year to above 30% are not enough to halt the euro’s fall. Before the armed conflict in the Middle East, investors believed that the deposit rate would remain unchanged in 2026. Now they are confident it will rise from 2% to 2.25% and estimate the possibility of growth to 2.5% amid potential inflation acceleration. However, when geopolitics reigns supreme, central banks fade into the background. The ECB is unlikely to start a cycle of monetary tightening amid serious economic pain from energy disruptions and a surge in oil and gas prices. European reserves are depleted, and the region is a net importer of energy, with the lion's share coming from the Middle East. EURUSD rightly looks like one of the main currency pairs affected by the escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran on Forex. (FxPro)

News

Best Quotes

"Bullish is a mindset", Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

"We can buy more Bitcoin than they can sell" Michael Saylor (via X)

“Like a PLE in Australia. If we were to wrestle in Australia, that is the ultimate goal.” Zaria

Media Man Int

ASX 200 futures are pointing down 159 points or 1.8 per cent to 8767.
All US prices at 3pm New York time.

AUD -1.2% to US69.88¢
Bitcoin -3.6% to $US71,354
Wall St: Dow -2.1% S&P -1.2% Nasdaq -1.1%
VIX +3.85 to 25.00
Gold -1.2% to $US5077.15 an ounce
Brent oil +4.8% to $US85.27 a barrel
Iron ore +1.5% to $US100.25 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.13% Australia 4.79%

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

March 2, 2026

Australia and World

A.I Newsfeed

The fast-moving conflict across the Middle East is heightening investor anxiety and strengthening the case for safe-haven trades such as Treasuries, gold and the Swiss franc, while oil prices are set to soar.

Macro traders said all eyes will be on energy markets when trading fully re-opens on Monday, with early indications of volatility also expected when the US dollar and other currencies start to trade in Australia. The possibility of prolonged turmoil in the Middle East and the ripple effects of higher oil prices are giving money managers fresh reasons to sell equities and shift into safety.

Futures are pointing to a fall of 0.2 per cent at the open for the Australian sharemarket, but this was set before the US attack on Iran on Saturday (Australian time). The Australian dollar was trading at US70.65¢ at 5.26am AEDT.

Traders will be adopting the strategy of “haven first, ask questions later,” according to John Briggs, head of US rates strategy at Natixis. “The scale of the attacks and Iranian retaliation is larger than what the market expected,” he said.

Briggs said Treasuries are likely to extend moves from Friday, when short-term yields sank to levels last seen in 2022. Others are watching energy chokepoints. Roundhill Financial’s Dave Mazza said he’s closely tracking what happens to traffic at the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway handling about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade.

“This is about Hormuz risk, not retaliation. If shipping stays open, stocks can work through it,” he said. “If it doesn’t, all bets are off.”

Brent crude jumped 10 per cent to about $US80 a barrel over the counter on Sunday, oil traders said, while analysts predicted that prices could climb as high as $US100 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into a new war.

The global oil benchmark has rallied this year and reached $US73 a barrel on Friday for its highest since July, buoyed by growing concern over the potential attacks that arrived a day later. Futures trading is closed over the weekend.

“While the military attacks are themselves supportive for oil prices, the key factor here is the closing of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS.

More than 20 per cent of global oil is moved through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We expect prices to open (after the weekend) much closer to $US100 a barrel and perhaps exceed that level if we see a prolonged outage of the Strait,” Parmar said.

US stocks sank Friday as Wall Street kept punishing companies that could become losers in the artificial-intelligence revolution. A surprisingly discouraging update on inflation also hurt the market, while oil prices climbed with worries about tensions between the United States and Iran.

The S&P 500 fell 0.4 per cent and staggered to the finish of just its second losing month in the last 10. The Dow Jones dropped 521 points, or 1.1 per cent, the Nasdaq composite sank 0.9 per cent.

The losses came as investors returned to knocking down software companies and other businesses they suspect could get supplanted by AI-powered competitors.

Block, the company behind Cash App, Square and other businesses, gave a potential signal of what AI could do after Chair Jack Dorsey said it’s cutting its workforce by nearly half. That’s even though he said 2025 was a strong year for the company, which is sending more cash to shareholders through stock buybacks.

“Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company,” Dorsey said in a letter to investors while announcing Block’s latest profit results. “We’re already seeing it internally. A significantly smaller team, using the tools we’re building, can do more and do it better.”

The co-founder of Twitter also said, “I don’t think we’re early to this realisation. I think most companies are late. Within the next year, I believe the majority of companies will reach the same conclusion and make similar structural changes.”

Block is cutting more than 4000 jobs from its workforce of over 10,000. Its stock jumped 16.8 per cent after making the announcement, while announcing its latest quarterly results.

Capable AI tools that can replace humans could perhaps replace entire companies, or at least eat away at their profit margins. Fears about AI disruption have caused sudden and swift sell-offs for stocks seen as potentially under threat, and they’ve rolled through industries as different as trucking logistics and legal services.

Salesforce, whose platform helps customers manage their relationships with clients, fell 2.3 per cent. It gave back much of its 4 per cent gain from the day before after reporting a better profit than analysts expected.

The pain has also hit private-equity companies that have bought or lent money to software companies, which need to withstand the AI threat to keep repaying those loans. Apollo Global Management dropped 8.6 per cent for the one of the sharpest losses in the S&P 500. Blue Owl Capital, which has been a target for investors because of the loans to it’s made to the software industry, fell 6 per cent.

Even the companies currently seeing their revenue and profit soar because of AI-related demand are under pressure. Nvidia fell 4.2 per cent and was the heaviest weight on the US stock market. A day earlier, it dropped to its worst loss since last spring even though it reported a better profit than analysts expected and forecast more in revenue for the current quarter.

On the winning side of Wall Street was Netflix, which climbed 13.8 per cent after walking away from its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business. That put Skydance-owned Paramount in a position to take over its Hollywood rival.

Paramount Skydance shares jumped 20.8 per cent, while Warner Bros. Discovery fell 2.2 per cent.

Also hurting the broad market was a report showing that inflation at the US wholesale level was at 2.9 per cent last month, much higher than the 1.6 per cent that economists expected. (A.I Newsfeed)

News

Numbers Double Check

Aust $: $0.7041 USD (down $0.0068 USD)
Iron Ore: $98.65 USD (down $0.50 USD)
Oil: $67.02 USD (up $1.64 USD)
Gold: $5,278.10 USD (up $86.25 USD)
Silver 93.817 +5.55
Copper: $6.0610 USD (up $0.0300 USD)
BTC: $65,629.97 -1.71%
Dow Jones: 48,977.92 (down 521.28 points)

News

A.I News

Firmus in $600m tech giant deal, with eyes on Facebook owner Meta

Firmus Technologies has entered into a deal with US technology firm Nvidia and Australian data centre operator CDC Data Centres to deploy 18,400 Nvidia chips on behalf of an unnamed tech company at a facility in Melbourne. The facility is part of Project Southgate, which was announced last year and which will see the three companies construct 'AI factories' across Australia over a number of years at a forecast cost of more than $70 billion. The new deal is valued at around $660 million and comes as Firmus Technologies gets ready for an IPO this year. (RMS)

News

A.I News (Australia)

Canva to draw line through AI unit

Tech company Canva has announced a major restructure of its artificial-intelligence video unit, Leonardo AI, with a large number of staff there expected to loose their jobs. The restructure comes only 18 months after Canva purchased Leonardo in a deal thought to be worth $370 million, and is in contrast to Canva's 'upbeat' announcement last week of its purchase of two new AI ventures, marketing algorithm start-up MangoAI and animation software business Cavalry. (RMS)

News

Most workers unaware of AI surveillance by employers

A report from the UTS Human Technology Institute has found that 91 per cent of employers surveyed state that they use software to monitor the location of remote workers. However, only nine per cent of workers believe such technology is deployed in their own roles, and Professor Edward Santow from UTS says "that gap is alarming". Meanwhile, researchers claim that tools used explicitly for surveillance are not the only risk to employee privacy, with wellness and mental health services and products potentially another privacy risk.

News

News Media (Australia)

News Corp leader's call to arms: 'it's make or break'

News Corp Australasia's executive chairman Michael Miller is optimistic about the future of public interest journalism. However, he contends that factors such as AI and the regulation of large technology companies means that 2026 is set to be a "make or break" year for Australia's media sector. Miller has called for the federal government to prioritise investment in the "infrastructure of public discourse", arguing that a commitment to Australian journalism is a commitment to a "stronger Australia". He adds that while media companies should strike deals with AI companies, Australia's copyright laws should not be watered down. He has also urged the government to legislate the much-delayed news bargaining incentive, noting that many local media groups are struggling at present. (RMS)

News

The Lead Up

Feb 27

Branding stoush: Why Sky's new name is already under fire

Sky News Australia revealed on Friday that it will be rebranded as News24. Sources at the ABC have indicated that the announcement "raised eyebrows" among senior executives of the public broadcaster, given that its 24-hour news channel was originally called ABC News 24 and it owns the trademark rights to this branding. Intellectual property lawyer Jane Rawlings says it would be difficult for Sky News Australia to trademark its new name because it uses generic terms and is similar to the ABC's trademark. A South Africa-based news website also uses the News24 branding, and its logo also has the same colours as Sky News Australia's proposed new logo. (RMS)

News

Search/News Media

Google, Meta take aim at Australian plan for tech giants to pay for journalism

The US National Foreign Trade Council has labelled the federal government's News Bargaining Incentive a tax, and something that possibly breaches Australia's free trade agreement with the US. The News Bargaining Incentive aims to force big tech companies like Google and Meta to financially support Australian media by what the government refers to as a "charge and offset scheme", with the Council's complaints about the proposal contained in a submission was made to Treasury in December. News of the submission comes as the federal government tries to secure exemptions from US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports, which are set to rise for Australia from 10 to 15 per cent. (RMS)

News

Sports Business

V'landys forecasts $1b revenue soon for NRL

The National Rugby League has reported that it had total revenue of $845.6 million for the year ending 30 September, an increase of $100.7 million over the previous year. The NRL's net profit rose from $62.3 million to $64.9 million, while net assets were up 20 per cent to $387.3 million. The release of its latest results comes as NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys prepare for talks with television networks and streaming services about a new broadcast deal, while V'landys says he expects the NRL to surpass $1 billion in revenue in the next few years. (RMS)

News

Biz/Markets

Reporting season delivers strongest profit results since 2021, lifting sharemarket

The Australian sharemarket has enjoyed its best reporting season since 2021, which has helped to lift what is still viewed as an expensive bourse. With 80 per cent of scheduled companies by market capitalisation having reported as of last week, aggregate earnings per share for the 2026 financial year is forecast to rise around 12 per cent after low single-digit falls in the past three years. Companies that have performed well on the release of their results have included BHP and JB Hi-Fi, while those that have been punished include Wesfarmers and Reliance Worldwide. (RMS)

News

MinRes turnaround in full swing as flagship iron ore project performs

West Australian mining company Mineral Resources released its results for the first half of the financial year on Friday, with MinRes reporting an after-tax profit of $573 million. It represented a big turnaround on the $807 million loss posted a year ago, which was announced at a time when MinRes MD and founder Chris Ellison was under scrutiny over the disclosure of a decade-long tax evasion scheme and his misuse of company resources. Ellison says its latest result was the "the strongest in the company's history", while it reaffirmed its full-year volume and cost guidance. (RMS)

News

Simon Trott awarded Rio Tinto bonus as execs lose out to Magnificent Seven on TSR award

The base pay of Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott will rise from from Stg1.34m ($2.55m) to Stg1.41m from 1 March after the mining company's board awarded him a five per cent pay rise. Trott also received Stg600,000 in relocation expenses to cover the cost from moving from his home in Perth to London, along with receiving short term incentive payments in cash and shares of $1.34m for his four months as CEO and $1.25m for the eight months he spent as head of Rio's WA iron ore operations. (RMS)

News

Rio Tinto boss lobbied Chalmers to save $11b fuel tax rebate

The federal government is under pressure to scrap the $11 billion fuel tax rebate scheme that is used by mining companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP. Unions and environment groups argue that removing the rebate scheme would force the resources sector to decarbonise at a faster rate, along with saving taxpayer's money. However, a letter released under freedom of information rules has revealed that Rio's then-chief executive of Australia, Kellie Parker, lobbied Treasurer Jim Chalmers to maintain the rebate scheme in the May budget, with Parker claiming Rio would not be in a position to deploy an electric haul truck fleet until the early 2030s. (RMS)

News

Landmark deal commits South Australian gas to home market

Oil and gas producer Santos has done a deal with the South Australian government that will see all the gas it currently exports from that state instead retained in SA in what Premier Peter Malinauskas has labelled a "state strategic reserve". Announcing the deal ahead of his government going into caretaker mode in the lead-up to the SA state election on 21 March, Malinauskas said the gas that would normally go to Japan or South Korea to advance their economies, will now be used to advance the SA economy. The deal between Santos and the SA government comes amid growing pressure on Santos's GLNG export venture in Queensland to end purchases of gas from the domestic market to meet its export contracts. (RMS)

News

Social Media/Media

X Launches Disclosure Tools to Fight Hidden Paid Promotions

Next week, X rolls out new features to make it easier to label paid promotions, with account suspensions for those who skip disclosure. Bier announced this while warning posters promoting Kalshi to add labels or face bans, targeting spam in crypto, prediction markets, and clipping agencies. Reactions range from crypto users celebrating a spammer purge with memes to concerns about clear rules, all while creators like Cynthia joke they're safe since they skip the paychecks.

Pop Culture/Gaming/Wrestling

WWE 2K26 Reveals Retro Entrances of CM Punk and Randy Savage

WWE Games shared first looks at WWE 2K26, recreating classic entrances like CM Punk's 2003 indie debut and Macho Man Randy Savage's 1998 WCW Nitro gear with Queen Sherri by his side. Iyo Sky's feathered entrance drew a thrilled 'Oh yeah! So cool!' from the champion herself. The game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Punk on the cover, over 400 stars, and new modes like thumbtack Hell in a Cell. Fans praised the nostalgic details while hoping for era-specific animations.

News

Pop Culture/Sports/Boxing

Conor Benn Signs $15 Million Deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing

Rising boxer Conor Benn, 29, inked a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, the January 2026 venture from UFC president Dana White and Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh, backed by Riyadh Season and streaming on Paramount+. Fresh off avenging his loss to Chris Eubank Jr., Benn thanked Eddie Hearn for a decade of support—including loans and defense during his 2022 drug test suspension—but called Zuffa's offer impossible to refuse. Hearn expressed devastation, saying he misjudged Benn's loyalty after providing title shots and financial help, while Eubank Jr. mocked both and White insulted Hearn directly.

News Flashback

Pop Culture/Wrestling

Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano Set for Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifier on WWE Raw

WWE announced a triple threat match on the next episode of Raw featuring Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano to qualify for the Elimination Chamber. The card also includes Brock Lesnar's return, a tribute to AJ Styles, World Champion CM Punk's appearance, and a women's qualifier with Raquel Rodriguez, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY.

News

WWE Stars Clap Back at Tom Brady's 'Cute' Wrestling Jab

On Logan Paul's podcast earlier this month, seven-time NFL champ Tom Brady dismissed pro wrestling as 'cute' amid Paul's boasts about his WWE feats. Women's World Champion Liv Morgan, fresh off her 2026 Royal Rumble win, countered that WWE athletes could handle football but questioned if football stars could match wrestling's demands—no offseasons, global travel, and high-flying action. Randy Orton upped the ante, saying he'd love to hit Brady with an RKO, while CM Punk embraced the 'cute' label; the banter builds excitement ahead of Elimination Chamber this weekend and WrestleMania 42 in April.

News

Boxing

Ryan Garcia Dominates Barrios to Win WBC Welterweight Title

At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, the 27-year-old southpaw outlanded Barrios in every round, sweeping all 12 on media cards for a unanimous decision victory with scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109. It was Garcia's first major world title, coming after ups and downs like his 2024 win over Devin Haney that turned into a no-contest due to a positive ostarine test. Post-fight, he posed backstage mimicking Kobe Bryant's iconic trophy photo, called out Shakur Stevenson, and drew shade from Haney over past PED issues despite passing pre-fight tests.

News

Wrestling/Gaming

Mr. Iguana's Custom Wrestler Becomes Official in WWE 2K26 with AAA Stars

WWE Games revealed AAA Lucha Libre stars like Mr. Iguana, La Yesca, Psycho Clown, and Lady Flammer for Ringside Pass Season 1 DLC, available with early access on March 6, 2026. Mr. Iguana, created as a custom persona back in 2007, joins partners in dynamic poses with glowing effects and props. The additions blend Mexico's wrestling heritage with WWE action, alongside staples like Charlotte Flair and DX-era Shawn Michaels, as the full game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

Media Man

Cryptocurrency, Finance and World

"Volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael Saylor

"Bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme." — Naval Ravikant

"We have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical framework that is free of politics and human error." — Tyler Winklevoss

"You can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere, and the world will have to readjust. World governments will have to readjust." — John McAfee

"Bitcoin is the most important invention in the history of the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver

"Cryptocurrency is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn governments." — Charles Lee

"In the future, national currencies will become obsolete. Bitcoin will become the single global currency." — Jack Dorsey

News

Pop Culture

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking

Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky
Chris Jericho vs Dirtsheets
NFL vs everyone
Zuffa vs MVP
Netflix vs World
Meta vs Australia
White Light vs Dark Matter
Lexis King vs NIL's (WWE NXT)
Volk vs Naysayers (UFC: Sydney, Australia)
Brock Lesnar vs Everyone! (WWE Royal Rumble)
Zuffa Boxing vs Golden Boy
Zuffa vs Matchroom
Netflix Sports vs The World
Beast vs Flakes
The Vision vs Mr Injury and The Masked Man aka Seth Rollins

Media Man

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

February 23, 2026

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York

"All That Glitters"

Mining For Intel

Fight Biz Week

Aust $: $0.7065 USD (up $0.0017 USD)
Iron Ore: $95.30 USD (down $0.05 USD)
Oil: $66.48 USD (down $0.12 USD)
Gold: $5,106.68 USD (up $116.40 USD)
Silver 87.500 +5.517
Copper: $5.8700 USD (up $0.1170 USD)
BTC: $65,364.18 4.08%
Dow Jones: 49,625.97 (up 230.81 points)

News

Reporting season delivers strongest profit results since 2021, lifting sharemarket

News

Miners

MinRes turnaround in full swing as flagship iron ore project performs

News

Simon Trott awarded Rio Tinto bonus as execs lose out to Magnificent Seven on TSR award

News

Rio Tinto boss lobbied Chalmers to save $11b fuel tax rebate

News

Landmark deal commits South Australian gas to home market

News

Shares (Before The Bell)

New York Stock Exchange

TKO Group Holdings Inc
$211.12 +2.44 +1.17%

Alphabet Inc Class A
$314.98 +12.13 +4.01%

Netflix Inc
$78.67 +1.67 +2.17%

News

Social Media/Media

X Launches Disclosure Tools to Fight Hidden Paid Promotions

Pop Culture/Gaming/Wrestling

WWE 2K26 Reveals Retro Entrances of CM Punk and Randy Savage

Pop Culture/Sports/Boxing

Conor Benn Signs $15 Million Deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing

News

Pop Culture/Wrestling

Jey Uso, Bronson Reed, and Original El Grande Americano Set for Triple Threat Elimination Chamber Qualifier on WWE Raw

News

WWE 2K26 Reveals Kabuki Warriors, Nikkita Lyons Entrance, and DX Shawn Michaels Ahead of Launch

WWE Games shared first-look images of the Kabuki Warriors in dramatic purple lighting, Nikkita Lyons' dynamic 63-second entrance with pyros and gold gear, and a DX-era Shawn Michaels raising his arms under moody lights with a simple 'Suck it' caption. The game launches March 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, after early access on March 6 for pre-orders, featuring over 400 superstars like The Rock, Triple H, and CM Punk in his showcase story. A massive full roster reveal comes this week, alongside new modes like I Quit matches and Inferno, with fans counting down excitedly.

Pop Culture

MMA/UFC

Bruce Buffer Celebrates 30 Years as UFC's Iconic Announcer

At UFC Houston on Saturday night, the Toyota Center honored Bruce Buffer for 30 years calling fights, starting from UFC 8 in 1996 and becoming the full-time voice by UFC 13. His signature 'It's time! Ladies and gentlemen...' has introduced 255 pay-per-views and countless events, defining MMA's energy from early days to today. Buffer shared his gratitude online, calling it a cherished lifetime moment, while fans shared paintings, photos, and praise for the GOAT announcer amid the night's knockouts.

Pop Culture

WWE/Gaming/Wrestling

WWE 2K26 Kicks Off Roster Reveal with Stunning Entrances

WWE 2K26 reveal week launched with cinematic videos of superstar entrances, spotlighting Giulia, Nikkita Lyons in her lion-logo fur coat, The Kabuki Warriors' synchronized chaos, Shawn Michaels' DX nod, and Charlotte Flair's royal poise. The game boasts over 400 superstars like CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin, launching March 13, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with early access from March 6. Nikkita Lyons roared her thanks, Roxanne Perez posed with her title, and more reveals continue this week amid flying pre-orders.

News

Pop Culture

Combat Sports/Boxing

Ryan Garcia Dominates Barrios to Win First World Title

Garcia cruised to a unanimous decision victory over the long-reigning welterweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, earning scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109 to claim the WBC title and boost his record to 25-2. He outlanded Barrios 185-106 overall and 103-43 in power punches, showcasing speed and precision throughout the 12 rounds. Post-fight, Garcia called out Shakur Stevenson while rivals like Devin Haney and Conor Benn weighed in online, fueling talk of superfights in the division.

News

Pop Culture/A.I/Hollywood

AI Video of Robots vs Jets Over Eiffel Tower Rattles Hollywood

ByteDance's new Seedance 2.0 tool created the video in minutes from a text prompt, delivering smooth action with realistic physics and multi-shot scenes. Hollywood studios like Disney and Netflix hit back with cease-and-desist letters, claiming it trains on copyrighted films without permission, while SAG-AFTRA worries about actors' jobs. At a February 21 town hall, Matthew McConaughey warned performers to adapt to AI, and Timothée Chalamet called for safeguards to protect human creativity, as reactions split between AI's cost-cutting promise and its current glitches in storytelling.

News

Pop Culture Flashback

Gold by Spandau Ballet

Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony Swain

Music Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4

Spandau Ballet Official YouTube Channel
https://youtube.com/@spandauballet/

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today

Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus] Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing

You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return

There's something I could have learned

You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time

Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago

The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return Something I could have learned You're indestructible, always believing

[Bridge]

Love is like a high prison wall

You could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul

You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned

You're indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always believe in your soul

You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul

You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing

You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return

There's something I could have learned You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime

It's only two years ago The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case

Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you

And love is like a high prison wall

And you could leave me standing so tall

News/Bio

Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet are an English new wave band formed in London in 1979, best known as one of the leading acts of the Second British Invasion of the early 1980s and icons of the “New Romantic” movement.

Key facts

Original line-up (1979–1990, 2009–2019):

Tony Hadley (lead vocals) Gary Kemp (guitar, chief songwriter) Martin Kemp (bass) Steve Norman (saxophone, guitar, percussion) John Keeble (drums)

Plus early member Richard Miller (later replaced) and long-time live/touring keyboardist Toby Chapman.
Biggest hits

“To Cut a Long Story Short” (1980) – their debut single, UK #5

“Chant No. 1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (1981)
“True” (1983) – worldwide #1 in many countries, UK #1 for 4 weeks, US #4; one of the most iconic ballads of the 1980s
“Gold” (1983) – UK #2, became an anthem
“Only When You Leave” (1984)
“I’ll Fly for You” (1984)
“Through the Barricades” (1986) – title track of their most mature album
Career highlights

Five studio albums in the 1980s:

Journeys to Glory (1981), Diamond (1982), True (1983), Parade (1984), Through the Barricades (1986)

Sold over 25 million albums worldwide
Massive success especially in Europe, Australia, and later in the U.S. with the True album
Split in 1990 after the Heart Like a Sky album underperformed
Highly public legal battle in 1999–2000: Gary Kemp won a court case against Hadley, Norman, and Keeble over unpaid royalties (the three had claimed co-writing credits)
Reunion

Reformed in 2009 with original line-up for a world tour and the album Once More (2009, new recordings + acoustic versions)

Toured extensively until 2019

Documentary film Soul Boys of the Western World (2014)

In 2017–2018 Tony Hadley left the band citing irreconcilable differences

Post-2019

Since 2019 the remaining members have continued as Spandau Ballet with new singer Ross William Wild (2018–2019), then briefly with theatre actor/singer Sam Clarkson

Tony Hadley now tours as a solo artist performing Spandau hits plus swing and soul material Gary and Martin Kemp remain active (acting, DJing, podcast “The Rest Is Entertainment” etc.)

They’re remembered for their sharp suits, romantic image, soul-influenced pop, and especially the timeless ballad “True.” One of the defining bands of the 1980s.

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

Media Man

Cryptocurrency, Finance and World

"Volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael Saylor

"Bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme." — Naval Ravikant

"We have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical framework that is free of politics and human error." — Tyler Winklevoss

"You can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere, and the world will have to readjust. World governments will have to readjust." — John McAfee

"Bitcoin is the most important invention in the history of the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver

"Cryptocurrency is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn governments." — Charles Lee

"In the future, national currencies will become obsolete. Bitcoin will become the single global currency." — Jack Dorsey

"The future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng Zhao

"Crypto offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged." — Elizabeth Stark

"The new frontier of innovation is in decentralization. Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott

"Digital currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter of how long before governments embrace it." — Brad Garlinghouse

Pop Culture

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking

Santa vs Grinch

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

February 18, 2026

Mining For Intel
Sports, Streaming And Headlines Biz
Mid Week Motivation
Biz Disruptors To Step Back Into Cage and Ring
Big Biz Betting On Combat Sport And Pop Culture

Sydney, Australia to Wall Street, New York

ASX 200 futures up 54 points/0.6%: 8955
AUD +0.2% to US70.89¢
BTC $67,622.29 -1.34%
Dow +0.3%
S&P +0.3%
Nas +0.4%
VIX -1.05 to 20.15
Gold -2% to $US4891.56 an ounce
Silver 73.220 -2.21
Oil -1.7% to $US67.48 a barrel
Iron ore -0.3% to $US96.40 a ton

News

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.7080 USD (up $0.0005 USD)
Iron Ore: $96.40 USD (down $0.40 USD)
Oil Price): $62.35 USD (down $1.38 USD)
Gold Price: $4,875.84 USD (down $117.88 USD)
Copper Price: $5.6740 USD (down $0.0855 USD)
Dow Jones: 49,561.88 (up 60.95 points)

News

Mining rally lifts ASX as BHP beats forecasts

The Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.2 per cent to close at 8,958.9 points. BHP rose 4.7 per cent to $52.74, JB Hi-Fi was up 8.1 per cent at $89.10 and Baby Bunting advanced 8.6 per cent to end the session at $2.39. However, Reliance Worldwide fell 9.1 per cent to $3.50, WiseTech Global was down 1.6 per cent at $47.34 and Seek finished 3.3 per cent lower at $16.54. (RMS)

News

Mining rally lifts ASX as BHP beats forecasts

News

Profit season off to 'unusually strong start'

Banks and resources stocks have been the key drivers of a strong earnings performance so far in the February reporting season. However, there have been mixed earnings outside of these sectors, which has been reflected in share prices; Cochlear and Temple & Webster are the stocks that fell sharply after their latest financial results were below expectations. Hasan Tevfik from MST Marquee notes that overall, there has not been such a strong start to the earnings season since February 2021, when the market was recovering from the impact of the pandemic. (RMS)

News

Mining and gaming to lead wave of debuts

Foreign companies currently comprise about 10 per cent of stocks listed on the Australian sharemarket. Sixteen overseas-based companies debuted on the ASX in 2025, which is a four-fold increase on the previous year; they included both IPOs and dual listings. Millie Horton from Jarden says more international companies are now recognising the ASX as one of the premium listing venues; indeed, the ASX itself notes that its volume of new listings often exceeds that of New York and London. Resources and gaming companies are tipped to drive future growth in foreign compamies listing in Australia. (RMS)

News

Australian steel tariffs hit China's mills

Industry data shows that China exported a record 119 million tonnes of finished steel in 2025, which is 7.5 per cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, Chinese steel producers' margins have fallen significantly in recent years, and some smaller producers are concerned that the Australian government's move to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese steel imports will have a major impact on their profits. Other countries are also pursuing anti-dumping measures against China's steel industry. (RMS)

News

Cryptos

Bitcoin dips below short-term support

Market Overview

The crypto market cap stood at $2.35 trillion on Tuesday morning, roughly the same as it was yesterday and seven days ago. The leaders in growth among the most liquid coins over the past week are the anonymous Zcash and Cosmos, which are widely involved in the tokenisation of debt assets, adding over 20%. At the same time, the leaders in decline during this period are Ethereum (-1.7%), BNB (-1.5%) and Bitcoin (-1.1%). The decline of the largest coins is an ominous sign for smaller ones, as it may soon pull them down with it at an accelerated pace.

Bitcoin technically fell below the support line that ran through the extreme lows of the first half of February, as another attempt to break above $70K on Monday attracted the interest of sellers, which quickly pushed the price back to $67K. On Tuesday morning, BTC is trading near $68K, where it was the day before, but the former support now looks like local resistance. Confirmation of this trend reversal will be a fall below the recent lows of $67K, with subsequent targets at $65K and $60K. News Background

The current situation is more reminiscent of a change in the global BTC trend than a local correction, according to CryptoQuant. The market has already entered a ‘stress zone’ but has not yet reached the stage of final capitulation. To form a ‘true bottom,’ a peak in loss-taking and a complete exhaustion of selling pressure are necessary.

Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards cited the quantum threat as one of the reasons for the current BTC correction. In contrast, Benchmark considers such fears to be exaggerated, and Blockstream expects supercomputers to appear only in 20-40 years. Growing attention to the threat of quantum computing is beginning to reduce the long-term appeal of Bitcoin compared to gold, said analyst Willy Woo. In his opinion, about 4 million ‘lost’ coins could be dumped on the market after a quantum computer hacks Bitcoin.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back criticised the BIP-110 update aimed at combating ‘spam’ on the Bitcoin network. He called the initiative a threat to the reputation of the first cryptocurrency.

In the fourth quarter, Harvard University's management company withdrew more than 20% of its investments from the Bitcoin ETF, investing in an Ethereum-based ETF for the first time. Despite the partial sale, Bitcoin ETF shares remain the most significant public asset in Harvard's portfolio. (FxPro)

News

Biz/Politics/World

The dollar is not in a rush

EURUSD remains prone to consolidation

The yen is strengthening thanks to capital flows

The US markets, closed for Presidents' Day, brought calm to the Forex market. Traders are not forcing events, awaiting the publication of the January FOMC meeting minutes. This has resulted in EURUSD moving into a narrow trading range. The pair showed no interest in the news that the ECB is ready to offer liquidity to other central banks to prevent tensions in the money markets. This involves an increase in repo operations from the third quarter.

ING believes that the euro's growing global role is positive for EURUSD. The exchange rate is closely linked to capital flows, and their movement from the US to Europe is good news for the regional currency. Christine Lagarde shares this opinion. According to the Frenchwoman, the general mood is currently in favour of the euro, as money is flowing into the region. The head of the ECB prefers incentives to taxes. Therefore, cheap liquidity will accelerate rotation.

However, in the short term, the US dollar has a counterplay. The longer the Fed pauses in the easing cycle, the wider the rate differential will be. The high attractiveness of US assets will prevent investors from rushing to transfer capital to Europe.

Japan is also scoring points with international investors. According to Kazuo Ueda (BoJ Governor), Sanae Takaichi (Prime Minister) did not make any specific requests that would restrict the activities of the central bank. They discussed economic and financial conditions. If the central bank continues to make decisions independently, political stability will play into the hands of the bears on USDJPY. Investors are trying to understand whether the Prime Minister is pressuring the BoJ to stop raising rates, which also increases debt servicing costs.

Gold is trying to find a balance point, treading water around $5,000 per ounce. According to Jefferies, two main macro factors are supporting the precious metal: the depreciation of the US dollar and high inflation. This allows the company to raise its forecast for the end of the year from $4,200 to $5,000. It notes the high risks of a short-term peak in Gold amid growing fears among traders concerned about the collapse in prices at the end of January.

The situation on the silver market is even worse. Backwardation is intensifying, and futures contracts with distant delivery dates are falling in price. This is usually characteristic of perishable goods such as agricultural products. (FxPro)

News

Streaming/Australia

2.5 million Young Australians aged 6-13 watch YouTube

The latest Roy Morgan Young Australian Survey shows that 89% of the 6-13 age group watches YouTube (an estimated 2.5 million people). The leading YouTube video category is Gaming, watched by 1.33 million children aged 6-13 (53% of YouTube watchers in this age group), ahead of 930,000 watching the Animation category (37%), 900,000 watching Comedy (36%), and 850,000 watching the Animals and Music categories (34%). The survey also shows that 67% of boys aged 6-13 watch YouTube, compared with 39% of girls. Boys are also far more likely to watch the Sports category (36% cf. 17%). In contrast, girls show a strong preference over boys for categories such as Animals, Music, Fashion, Unboxing, DIY and Cooking. This research is part of an ongoing programme of research into Young Australian life experiences, preferences, priorities and opinions. This programme has been operating since the early 2000s, with the latest data collection on YouTube between April and December 2025, with a nationwide sample of 1,129 Young Australians aged 6-13. (Roy Morgan)

News

Tech News

Palantir Moves Headquarters from Denver to Miami

The data analytics company, founded in Palo Alto in 2003 by CEO Alex Karp and Peter Thiel, shifted to Denver in 2020 to step away from Silicon Valley. Now, with no official reason stated, it has relocated to Florida—a state without personal income tax that attracts tech firms with business-friendly policies and quality of life. Miami leaders hailed the move as a milestone for the city's tech scene, while critics like Rep. Maxwell Frost and candidate James Fishback raised civil liberties concerns tied to Palantir's government contracts.

News

x News/AI News

xAI Launches Grok 4.2 Beta with Multi-Agent Team

The 4.20 beta, available now to X Premium+ and SuperGrok subscribers on web, iOS, and Android, requires selecting 'Heavy' mode to activate Grok as leader, alongside Harper for research, Benjamin for fact-checking, and Lucas for logic and creativity. Demos show it querying SpaceX-NASA missions and summarizing global news with transparent steps and sources. Early testers praise its unbiased research prowess and rapid learning via weekly updates, though some note glitches like a botched pelican SVG, as xAI refines it through user feedback.

News

Pop Culture/Sports

Ronda Rousey Faces Gina Carano in Netflix MMA Superfight

The bout headlines Netflix's first live MMA event on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as a five-round pro fight at 145 pounds inside a hexagon cage, promoted by Jake Paul's MVP. Rousey, absent since her 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes, called it the biggest superfight in women's combat sports history, while Carano shared a pumped-up training montage saying she's ready to make the walk again. Though skeptics note their ages—Rousey at 39 and Carano at 44—the legacy showdown has MMA buzzing with excitement ahead of UFC's big card.

News

Pop Culture/Pro Wrestling/WWE/Brands

WWE Partners with DUDE Wipes for In-Ring Branding Deal

WWE announced a multi-year partnership with DUDE Wipes, making the flushable wipes brand its official hygiene product, complete with wrestler gear branding, event sponsorships, and a custom commercial featuring Superstars. Reigning Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio debuted the logo on his bandana ribcage t-shirt during his Monday Night Raw return from injury in a triple-threat match. WWE's Jesse Tomares praised the disruptive integrations, while DUDE Wipes' Ryan Meegan called partnering with 'Dirty Dom' surreal, promising fun and cleanliness amid fan puns and mixed reactions on commercialization.

News

Gaming/Casino/Betting

This 29-year-old is worth $15b and wants you to bet on everything

The co-founder of America’s biggest predictions market on the “wisdom of the crowd”, political polarisation – and the company’s adviser, Donald Trump jnr.

Tarek Mansour believes deeply in prediction markets – or so he tells me again and again. He says they will, variously, play the role of modern oracle, innovative asset, public educator, new journalism and political saviour. At the moment, however, most of the money flowing through them is gambling on American football.

“We’re making the world a little bit smarter about the future, and I think that’s a very valuable thing to build,” Mansour says. “It’s not something that you should take as the Holy Grail truth, but it’s better than the alternatives.”

Mansour is a co-founder and chief executive of prediction market Kalshi, the largest such platform operating in the US. He has chosen to meet me at Serafina, one of a small chain of Italian restaurants, in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District because it is close to Kalshi’s offices and rarely crowded. The sky above New York is a threatening grey, and Kalshi traders are forecasting a 74 per cent chance of rain.

Serafina is empty and, in fact, locked when I arrive at our appointed 11.30am. The waiter unbolts the heavy door and shows me to a corner table at a plush banquette. The walls are of rough brick, and the floors are of unfinished wood. There are a few other small tables and a large bar. A radiant portrait of a woman decorates one wall. The waiter, Angel, turns on dance music that blares just for the two of us.

Mansour, 29, arrives a couple of minutes later, wearing a cream-coloured hoodie and thick glasses, lenses slightly tinted. His hair is dark and curly and falls over one side of his forehead. He is unshaven and says he has not been sleeping well.

“When people talk about, ‘We believe in markets’, what do they actually believe?” Mansour says. “What it means is that you believe that they’re a good way to figure out what the price of something is … And in this case, we’re pricing the future.”

The idea behind prediction markets such as Kalshi is simple and powerful. Participants trade shares of some future event (for example, whether it will rain in New York today). The shares are redeemable for $1 if the event occurs and $0 if it does not. Beforehand, the price (74¢, say) can therefore be read as a probability of the event occurring (74 per cent). Thus, in theory, if large and liquid, these markets quantify and broadcast the “wisdom of the crowd”. (AFR) *Full article and coverage via The Australian Financial Review

Culture

'Welcome To The Blockchain' aka

The Bitcoin Song

Intro

We're now standing on the precipice of a global revolution

Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain

verse

Power corrupts, money is power

The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus

Welcome to the blockchain

Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

verse

Bitcoin is a decentralized ledger

And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain

Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

bridge

Now that we got control

We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus

Welcome to the blockchain

Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

Writer: Toby Ganger

News

Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz

Rio Tinto dodges merger bullet

Rio Tinto has dodged two 'bullets' due to Glencore's rejection of a merger proposal: a possible BHP takeover bid and a dangerous acquisition. BHP looked closely at whether to bid for Rio Tinto if the latter announced a merger with Glencore. The two companies would make excellent merger partners; amongst others things, their staff and senior people have similar cultures, they are co-operating on future Australian iron ore projects and they are copper joint venture partners in Chile and the US. Meanwhile, there are significance cultural differences between Rio Tinto and Glencore; there is little doubt that Rio Tinto's CEO Simon Trott would have had doubts about a merger once he understood these cultural differences. (RMS)

News/Snapshot

Australian Mining

Global Commodity Rankings

Australia holds some of the world's largest reserves and is a leading producer of several key minerals.

#1 Producer: Iron Ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Rutile, and Zircon.

#1 Reserves: Iron Ore, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Rutile, Uranium, and Zinc.

#2 Producer: Gold, Alumina, and Manganese.

Key Mining Hubs & Major Projects

Western Australia: The nation's "engine room," producing 98% of Australia's iron ore and 60% of its gold. Major sites include the Pilbara (iron ore) and the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie (gold).

Queensland: A global leader in metallurgical coal (Bowen Basin) and silver/lead production (Cannington mine).

South Australia: Home to Olympic Dam, which contains the world's largest single uranium deposit and significant copper and gold reserves.

Major Players

The sector is dominated by several multinational giants and significant domestic players:

BHP: Often ranked as Australia's most valuable company; major interests in iron ore, copper, and coal.

Rio Tinto: A world leader in iron ore (Pilbara) and aluminum.
Fortescue (FMG): Primarily focused on iron ore and rapidly expanding into green energy.

Hancock Prospecting: Australia's largest private mining company, led by Gina Rinehart, the nation's wealthiest person.

South32: Spun out of BHP; manages a diversified portfolio including manganese, silver, and nickel.

2026 Trends & Developments

Critical Minerals Push: The government has introduced a $23 billion package to support domestic processing and manufacturing of critical minerals to reduce global reliance on single-country supply chains.

Uranium Rally: Prices exceeding US$100/lb have sparked renewed interest in Australian prospects like the Kalkaroo project.

M&A Activity: Major merger talks continue between giants like Rio Tinto and Glencore as they seek to consolidate copper exposure for the EV market.

Workforce Challenges: The Minerals Council of Australia is currently calling for migration reforms to address a significant "skills crunch" in the sector.