Australia Breaking News

President Donald Trump lashed out again at allies for not supporting the US in Iran and says if they want jet fuel, they should just "take it" from the Strait of Hormuz. Retired US Army Colonel Wayne Sanders, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, talks about the latest developments in the Middle East on Bloomberg Open Interest.

Gas prices in the US keep surging. The nationwide average has now topped $4 a gallon for the first time since August 2022 due to the war with Iran. Bloomberg's Julian Lee reports.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says the US is insulated from supply chain effects from the Strait of Hormuz and discusses the Trump administration's perceived shortfall of the World Trade Organization and the possibility of a returning to a 20% tariff level with China. Greer says, "I see stability with China over the next year" as the nations prepare for talks in May.

South Africa is better equipped than other emerging markets to withstand the current energy shock from the war in Iran, according to the country's Deputy Finance Minister. David Masondo spoke with Jennifer Zabasajja from the South Africa Investment Conference in Johannesburg.

Speaking to BTV's Jennifer Zabasajja, South African Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Alexandra Abrahams said her country was strategically positioned to accommodate trade routes disturbed by the conflict of in the Middle East.

Anna Edwards, Lizzy Burden and Adam Linton break down today's key themes for analysts and investors on "Bloomberg: The Opening Trade."

Sharon Bell, senior European equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, says the Iran war will continue to have a negative economic impact even if there's a fast resolution. "You'll still see people seeing higher energy costs, etc., and therefore lower confidence and low growth," Bell tells Bloomberg Television. "PMI surveys, for example, have already started to come down. So I think there's already been damage. It's really a case of how permanent that is or not."

Sharon Bell, senior European equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, says the Iran war will continue to have a negative economic impact even if there's a fast resolution. "You'll still see people seeing higher energy costs, etc., and therefore lower confidence and low growth," Bell tells Bloomberg Television. "PMI surveys, for example, have already started to come down. So I think there's already been damage. It's really a case of how permanent that is or not.

AGL Energy (ASX:AGL) reached a final investment decision to proceed with its Kwinana Gas Power Generation 2 (K2) Project.

Red Sky Energy (ASX:ROG) announced a strategic capital raising initiative to secure up to $5.2 million in funding.

The Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) confirmed that its flagship Sydney casino licence will remain suspended for the foreseeable future.

Biopharmaceutical innovator Firebrick Pharma (ASX:FRE) has secured $1.5 million in firm commitments through a strategic placement.