News 4 March 2026 - 5 March 2026

Qantas rolls out fee-free rebooking as Middle East airspace closure snarls Australia-Europe travel
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Qantas rolls out fee-free rebooking as Middle East airspace closure snarls Australia-Europe travel

Qantas will offer fee-free changes, credits, or refunds for tickets on flights touching the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Jordan, or Oman between Feb. 28 and March 15. The airline is adding flights and refuelling stops to meet demand after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted regional airspace. Qantas shares rose 1% Thursday after some Emirates flights resumed, but most services remain cancelled. Oil prices above $83 a barrel are raising airline fuel costs.
March 5, 2026
Dollar back in favor as Iran war jolts energy prices and flips euro bets
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Dollar back in favor as Iran war jolts energy prices and flips euro bets

Options traders pushed the euro to its weakest in over a year as Europe’s energy crisis deepened and the Iran war lifted oil prices. The dollar index touched its highest since November before easing 0.3% to 98.83 Wednesday, while the euro rose 0.2% to $1.1632. Funds cut short-dollar trades, and strategists warned of a potential funding squeeze if demand for dollars intensifies.
March 5, 2026
CBA dividend update: Commonwealth Bank says 13.5% will reinvest as March payout nears
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CBA dividend update: Commonwealth Bank says 13.5% will reinvest as March payout nears

Commonwealth Bank of Australia said 13.5% of its ordinary shares will take the A$2.35 interim dividend via its dividend reinvestment plan, according to an ASX filing. The bank updated currency conversion rates for UK and New Zealand payments ahead of the March 30 payout. A separate notice showed CBA and controlled entities had voting or disposal power over 0.03% of shares as of March 3.
March 5, 2026
BHP Group Ltd says Queensland coal returns are zero, shuts Mackay FutureFit Academy
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BHP Group Ltd says Queensland coal returns are zero, shuts Mackay FutureFit Academy

BHP’s Queensland coal joint venture reported zero return on capital for the half-year to December 31, 2025, citing high royalties and rising costs. The company will close its FutureFit Academy in Mackay and cut about 750 roles across Queensland. BHP flagged the Saraji South mine for temporary shutdown in fiscal Q2 2026. New coal projects in Australia face financing and permitting difficulties.
March 5, 2026
CSL buyback hits 4 million shares as Australian biotech keeps buying after profit shock
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CSL buyback hits 4 million shares as Australian biotech keeps buying after profit shock

CSL repurchased 59,751 shares for A$8.57 million on March 4, bringing total buybacks to 4.03 million shares and A$739 million under its ongoing program. The company also issued 39,627 shares after employee performance rights were exercised. The buyback, capped at US$750 million, is scheduled to run through June 30. Shares will trade ex-dividend on March 10.
March 5, 2026
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) stock jumps on Telus equity stake in Canada satellite-to-phone plan
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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) stock jumps on Telus equity stake in Canada satellite-to-phone plan

AST SpaceMobile shares rose 13% Wednesday after Telus announced it will take an equity stake and invest in ground infrastructure to support satellite-to-phone coverage in Canada. Telus plans to offer satellite-powered mobile services in remote areas by late 2026. AST also signed a partnership with AXIAN Telecom to launch direct-to-device service in Africa, pending regulatory approval. AST’s market value reached about $17.6 billion.
March 5, 2026
Robinhood stock jumps ahead of JFK “Take Flight” event as CFO previews $5.5 billion February inflows
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Robinhood stock jumps ahead of JFK “Take Flight” event as CFO previews $5.5 billion February inflows

Robinhood shares jumped about 8% Wednesday ahead of its “Take Flight” product keynote in New York. CFO Shiv Verma said February net deposits topped $5.5 billion, with trading activity remaining strong. A surge in bitcoin to nearly $74,000 boosted crypto-linked stocks, including Robinhood and Coinbase. ARK Investment Management bought nearly 160,000 Robinhood shares on Tuesday.
March 5, 2026
Circle Internet Group stock jumps again as rates drive the USDC story
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Circle Internet Group stock jumps again as rates drive the USDC story

Circle shares climbed 5.7% to $105.27 on Wednesday, marking a third consecutive gain. Mizuho raised its price target to $100, citing inflation risks and fewer expected rate cuts. Officer Hossein Razzaghi filed to sell up to 43,119 shares valued at $4.31 million, according to a Form 144. Circle’s rally followed better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue and higher USDC circulation.
March 5, 2026
Oracle joins White House power pledge for AI data centers as Oracle earnings near
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Oracle joins White House power pledge for AI data centers as Oracle earnings near

Oracle signed a White House pledge to cover power costs for new AI data centers, joining Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. The agreement aims to prevent rising household electricity bills as data-center construction accelerates. Oracle will report quarterly results on March 10, with investors focused on cloud spending. The pledge is voluntary and lacks enforcement provisions.
March 5, 2026
Fortnite’s back: Alphabet’s Google loosens Play Store billing and cuts Android fees
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Fortnite’s back: Alphabet’s Google loosens Play Store billing and cuts Android fees

Google will allow Android app developers to use their own billing systems and reduce fees, following a settlement with Epic Games that could return Fortnite to the Play Store after five years. The agreement, filed in San Francisco federal court, awaits a judge’s approval with a hearing set for April 9. Google plans to lower its standard in-app purchase fee to 20% and subscription fee to 10%, phasing in changes through 2027.
March 5, 2026
Morgan Stanley layoffs: Wall Street bank cuts 2,500 jobs across all divisions
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Morgan Stanley layoffs: Wall Street bank cuts 2,500 jobs across all divisions

Morgan Stanley has cut about 2,500 jobs across all divisions, roughly 3% of its workforce, according to the Wall Street Journal. The layoffs began last week and peaked Wednesday. The bank did not immediately comment, and Reuters could not independently verify the report. Roles affected include private bankers, back-office staff, and some mortgage-related positions.
March 5, 2026
Meta signs White House power pledge as AI data centers put U.S. electricity bills in focus
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Meta signs White House power pledge as AI data centers put U.S. electricity bills in focus

Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed a White House pledge to cover new power and grid costs for data centers, aiming to prevent higher household electricity bills. The Trump administration announced the agreement as AI-driven data center expansion faces local opposition and scrutiny over energy use. Critics say the voluntary pledge may be difficult to enforce and may not address power supply delays.
March 4, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • ASX Set to Rise as U.S. Inflation Hits Three-Year High Amid Iran Deal Optimism
    May 28, 2026, 2:42 PM EDT. The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is expected to rise following U.S. inflation data showing the fastest increase in three years. Investors are also eyeing signs of a potential U.S.-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. Citadel Securities strategist Frank Flight cited Iran's restored internet connectivity and reduced military tensions as key indicators of a likely peace deal. This anticipated reopening could trigger a relief rally across financial markets globally, prompting cautious optimism among investors.