Markets

Shares in Domino’s Pizza were in freefall after the fast-food giant revealed hefty restructuring costs related to mass store closures had delivered a $22.2 million loss in the first half of the financial year.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has used the first day of his charm offensive in Washington DC to highlight Australia’s financial contribution to the US economy, as he attempts to gain a carve-out from US tariffs.

Woodside boss Meg O’Neill has declared opponents of the Karratha Gas Plant life extension are effectively pro-coal, following reports the project could become a bargaining chip in a hung parliament.

Having previously committed to cut $50m of costs by the end of June, the group now expects to realise an additional $100m by the end of the 2027 financial year, including $10m to $20m this year.

Lower oil and gas prices have dragged down underlying profit at Woodside Energy, dropping 13 per cent to $US2.88 billion ($4.54b) — a fall from the previous year’s $US3.32b.

Apple says to plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas as it vows to invest more than $US500 billion in the US amid tariff threats.

Worries among investors about hefty spending on the technology have mounted since low-cost AI models from China's DeepSeek rattled the industry in January.

Petrol retailer and refiner Ampol’s profits have been smashed but the company reckons fuel demand will stay strong until the 2030’s amid a slow energy transition.

Gold jewellery accounts for $5 million of Cash Converters’ retail inventory, so bullion’s record price run has enabled the subprime and pawn chain operator to cash in.

Perpetual pulls plug on $2.1 billion asset sale and warns KKR may demand break fee.

Shares in Brett Blundy’s fashion jewellery pedlar Lovisa Holdings slipped as profit growth falls short of store expansions.

The ASX200 was hovering between gains and losses at midday amid sharp drops by Wisetech Global and Reece.

Policymakers are racing to catch up with the rapid rise of stablecoins — a version of cryptocurrency that rarely fluctuates, is backed by cash or government bonds and run on public blockchains.