Magnitude 6.5 earthquake near Taiwan

AI job cuts hit 16K/month, Gen Z faces pay cuts & long job searches. Scarring effect noted.

ANZ commodity index rose 4.1% m/m in March, near record highs, as Middle East conflict drove broad gains. Dairy and aluminium led on supply fears, while NZD weakness pushed the local index to a record high.

TAO up 47% YTD, targets $2.2K by 2030 (7x gain), but AI crypto risks loom.

Australia household spending rose 0.3% in Feb, but inflation pressures surged with the TD-MI gauge up 1.3% in March. Job ads fell 3.1%, pointing to softer labour demand as energy-driven cost pressures build.

Goldman's private credit fund sees <5% redemptions, bucking sector trend. Barings caps withdrawals.

Japan's energy crisis hits Nikkei 225, IMF projects 0.8% growth. Oil prices surge, household bills rise.

Yuan seen strengthening to 6.8/USD in Q2, defying seasonal weakness. Strong trade flows, a widening surplus and large reserves support the currency, which is increasingly viewed as a regional haven.