Australian business conditions held steady at +3 in June for a third consecutive month, while confidence jumped to -5 from -14 in May, according to NAB survey. Easing cost pressures from a U.S.-Iran peace deal drove the improvement, though renewed Gulf hostilities have since pushed oil prices higher again.
Corporate Strategy
Stripe and Advent International have made a joint approach to acquire PayPal at $60.50 per share, valuing the payments company at more than $53 billion. The proposal is backed by roughly $50 billion in committed bank financing, but PayPal has not formally responded and there is no certainty of a deal.
Emerging Markets
The U.S. is set to impose a 25% tariff on over 4,000 Brazilian products starting next week, according to sources, and is also opening a separate forced‑labor investigation that could add an extra 12.5% levy. Negotiations failed, and Brazil is now weighing retaliatory measures while seeking dialogue with the Trump administration.
