Australia Briefing
Good morning folks, it’s Adam here in Sydney bringing you all the latest news from our bureaus across the globe. Today’s must-reads:• Rio Ti
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Good morning folks, it’s Adam here in Sydney bringing you all the latest news from our bureaus across the globe. 

Today’s must-reads:
• Rio Tinto executive defends future of the Pilbara
• Bitcoin hits record high 
• Ex-BofA banker faces insider trading probe

What's happening now

We start with a division of opinion over the future of Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Rio Tinto executive Simon Trott has defended the iron ore hub’s prospects, after mining billionaire Andrew Forrest delivered a downbeat message.

Simon Trott, chief executive officer of iron ore at Rio Tinto Group, during the Australian Financial Review Mining Summit in Perth, Australia, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.  Photographer: Matt Jelonek/Bloomberg

Bitcoin briefly hit an all-time high after stablecoin legislation in the US stoked hopes of regulatory clarity under President Donald Trump. The largest cryptocurrency climbed as much as 2.7% to a record $109,856, before paring much of the gain while broader financial markets retreated.

A high-ranking Bank of America Corp dealmaker who lost his job in March in a round of cuts is awaiting his fate on a second front, as the Justice Department sifts evidence in an insider-trading probe. The US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan has been looking into whether Jason Satsky, who was global head of power, utilities and energy infrastructure investment banking, tipped off someone ahead of an $8 billion takeover announced in 2022, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Meanwhile, LVMH is warning investors and analysts that demand remains soft after the luxury conglomerate missed revenue estimates for the first three months of the year, people familiar with the matter said. With a view to managing expectations, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE is putting out cautious signals on second-quarter trends amid lackluster consumer confidence, particularly in China, according to the people, who declined to be identified discussing information that’s not public. 

A bag on display at a Christian Dior SE store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, US, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.  Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg

What happened overnight

Here’s what my colleague, market strategist Mike “Willo” Wilson says happened while we were sleeping…

A weak Treasury auction drew focus toward concerns over the US deficit and long term debt which saw a broader decline in stocks and bonds. The S&P 500 fell 1.6% and 30-year yields jumped. The US dollar dropped for a third day with some worried that the greenback’s current dose of the cold may morph into the flu. Today sees the New Zealand government deliver its budget and a RBA official talk about a recent trip to China. The former may be more market moving than the latter. Futures show the ASX looks poised to open about 1% lower. 

Nicola Willis, New Zealand's finance minister. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg

OpenAI is making its largest ever deal to acquire the AI device startup co-founded by Apple Inc. veteran Jony Ive in a nearly $6.5 billion all-stock transaction, joining forces with the legendary designer to make a push into hardware.

Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI.  Photographer: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is adding to bets on the AI within its US model portfolios while trimming its overall equity risk because of tariff uncertainty.

On the trade front, the European Union has shared a revised proposal with the US, as it aims to inject momentum in talks with the Trump administration amid lingering skepticism that a transatlantic deal can be reached.

And, a top White House official said efforts will be maintained to keep advanced artificial intelligence technology out of China’s hands, brushing off calls from Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang to ease restrictions on chip exports to the world’s second largest economy.

What to watch

  • New Zealand releases annual budget at 2 p.m. in Wellington (midday in Sydney)
  • RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser speaks at 6:30 p.m. at Lowy Institute in Sydney 

One more thing...

Have you ever paid up for a sporting event? Well, New York City’s frenzy over the Knicks’ first appearance in the National Basketball Association’s conference finals in 25 years is sending ticket prices at Madison Square Garden soaring. For courtside seats near the Garden’s famous Celebrity Row, where Timothée Chalamet, Bad Bunny and Spike Lee usually sit, the price is $62,000, according to StubHub. 

Bad Bunny, left, and Timothée Chalamet during a NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden in New York, on May 16.Photographer: Al Bello/Getty Images
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