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Here’s what you need to know today

• President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday in a push to advance peace talks with Russia. In a sharp contrast to Zelensky’s tense Oval Office visit in February, the meeting was cordial, with both sides calling it the most constructive yet on ending the war. Security guarantees for Ukraine were a key focus of discussions, with Trump saying Europe would take the lead with coordination by the U.S. (ABC). Afterward, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had begun arranging a meeting between Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. (Truth Social)
  
  

• On Tuesday, the Albanese government opened a three-day summit in Canberra with business leaders, unions and policymakers to address Australia’s sluggish productivity growth. Nearly 900 submissions were received ahead of the talks, with tax reform, AI, regulation, the NDIS and wage growth on the agenda. (AFR)
  
  

• Meanwhile in a positive sign for the Australian economy a new Westpac survey shows Australian consumer confidence has climbed to its highest level in three and a half years, ending what the bank called a “long period of pessimism.” It’s the first time in 42 months that the sentiment index has risen above 100, the threshold where optimists outnumber pessimists. (Reuters)
  
  

• Intel was back in the headlines again after Bloomberg reported the Trump administration is in discussions to take a 10% stake in Intel Corp. At current market value, the stake would be worth about $10.5 billion and could make the US government Intel’s largest shareholder. The idea is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to take a more aggressive role in strategic sectors, including semiconductors and rare earths. (Bloomberg). Just hours later, Japanese investment giant SoftBank announced a US$2 billion stake in Intel, sending shares up 6% after hours. (BBC)
  
  

• Shares in Novo Nordisk climbed 6.6% after the company cut the U.S. out-of-pocket price of Ozempic to $499 a month for uninsured patients and secured conditional FDA approval to expand Wegovy’s use. The approval, based on a 72-week trial, allows the drug to treat adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and moderate to advanced liver fibrosis. (CNBC)
  
  

• CSL, the third-largest company on the ASX, saw its shares plunge 16.9% on Tuesday, the biggest one-day drop in its history, after annual results missed revenue expectations and management unveiled a surprise restructure. The biotech giant announced it will cut about 3,000 jobs, or 15% of its workforce, and spin off its vaccine arm. (Capital Brief)
  
  

• BHP reported its lowest annual profit in five years as weak Chinese demand hit iron ore prices and the miner flagged cuts to capital and exploration spending. However, a larger-than-expected final dividend lifted investor sentiment, sending shares higher by 1.5%. (Reuters)

  
  

• AI start-up valuations may be heading into bubble territory, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Speaking with reporters in San Francisco, Altman compared the frenzy to the dot-com boom, saying investors are “overexcited about a kernel of truth.” While he believes AI is the most important technological advance in decades, he said that the rush of cash into anything labeled “AI” is pushing beyond reason. (Quartz)
  
  

• Soho House, the high-end private members’ club, has agreed to delist from the New York stock exchange as part of a $2.7 billion deal led by MCR Hotels. Actor and startup investor Ashton Kutcher, a long-time member, will join the board of directors, while MCR chief executive Tyler Morse will serve as vice chair, in a high-profile push to revive the brand after years of financial struggles. (Guardian)

What the…?

Four reactors at one of Europe’s biggest nuclear plants were taken offline last week, not by hackers or storms, but by a spineless and squishy foe: jellyfish.

A “massive and unpredictable” swarm clogged the cooling water intake screens at France’s Gravelines Nuclear Power Station, triggering a sudden shutdown.

The plant, which uses seawater to keep its reactors cool, has screens that prevent debris and marine life from being sucked into those cooling systems, but large swarms of jellyfish can block the screens themselves.

This isn’t the first time nuclear plants around the globe have been affected by jellyfish. Similar swarms have shut down reactors in Israel, Japan, Scotland and Sweden over the past decade. (New York Times)

Investing is a lifelong journey

Here’s what you can learn today.

Financial warning signs in relationships

This is taken from the Equity Mates Investing clip titled ‘Financial Red Flags In Relationships’ (YouTube)

What are some red flags or early warning signs that a partner might not be financially compatible?

There would be three, I would argue that probably stand out to me the most:

• Hiding income or expenses. Lack of transparency about earnings or spending can undermine trust and make long-term planning difficult.

• A poor relationship with “bad debt” like credit cards or personal loans. Understanding your partner’s willingness to pay it down is key, as high-interest debt can derail shared financial goals.

• Avoiding the conversation. Reluctance to talk about money is a red flag, but my caveat is, it doesn’t always have to be a “money” chat. Focusing on shared goals (and attaching dollar figures to them) makes the conversation much more engaging. For example, discussing how financial choices can enable taking a year off to start a family can be more exciting and motivating than just the money conversation.

Want to watch the full clip? Check it out on the Equity Mates YouTube Clips page:

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