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In this quarterly report the Australian Fixed Income team provide a concise domestic economic The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the official cash rate by 0.25% to 4.10% in Q125 The cut was well telegraphed at the December RBA meeting when the Board flipped to a more dovish stance our base case was for the RBA to deliver another 25bps cut in July-25 followed up with another 25bps cut in November-25 that assumption has been turned on its head with the amount of market turmoil which has since unfolded The “Liberation Day” tax hikes are likely to be magnified around the globe as some countries retaliate business and consumer confidence is dented the RBA is likely to be drawn into cutting rates sooner We now expect the RBA to cut the cash rate in May with at least another two follow up cuts in 2025 The recent (April) decision by the RBA to leave the cash rate unchanged was in line with consensus expectations The Bank was in no hurry to reduce the cash rate further whilst a high level of uncertainty remains around the risks to inflation the RBA is reluctant to provide forward guidance instead choosing to play a ‘straight bat’ in their communications and press conferences their commentary at the present time leans in neither a hawkish or dovish direction Recent domestic macroeconomic data has been interpreted by the RBA as largely in line with its expectations: "recent information suggests that underlying inflation continues to ease in line with the most recent forecasts published in the February Statement on Monetary Policy the Board needs to be confident that this progress will continue." The RBA statement emphasised the importance of inflation returning sustainably to target with mid-point 2.5% the aim and current forecasts likely remaining at 2.7% throughout the forecast horizon Real GDP in Q4-24 was above the RBA's forecast GDP rose by 0.6%1 q-o-q and 1.3% y-o-y1 (in-line with market) The upswing was led by a recovery in household consumption while public final demand remains strong and infrastructure investment underpinned public spending in Q4 The good news for the RBA is that an economic upswing is underway as “private domestic demand appears to be recovering” the supply-side of the economy remains constrained by weak labour productivity is that unit labour cost growth was 1.7% q-o-q1 The recent large fall in the February employment data was largely downplayed by the RBA as they repeated that the labour market remains tight and the overall picture of forward-looking indicators points towards ongoing tightness Regarding the impact of the tariffs on Australia in 2024 Australian goods exports to the US were $24bn A 10% tariff could be worth up to ~$2.4bn in tariff revenue for the US The actual 'impact' on the Australian economy (i.e on activity and prices) is unclear at this stage will come mostly from the 'indirect' affects the risks of weaker global growth and/or higher inflation The RBA has suggested that if China is impacted negatively by tariffs that could create local disinflationary forces as China attempts to shift some if its exports to other markets The market has now priced in a total of 130bps of rate cuts in 2025 with May reflecting the risk the RBA might need to do an ‘emergency’ 50bps cut The RBA’s task of setting monetary policy has now become far more complicated It’s not unreasonable to think they could cut the cash rate to around 3% to get policy to a more ‘neutral’ setting Services Inflation is expected to remain sticky Credit spreads were priced to perfection at the end of Q4 24 so to experience some widening in Q1 was no surprise and a heavy corporate issuance calendar coincided to push spreads wider the risk for credit is a larger cyclical downturn which is becoming more uncertain by the day Credit markets will likely overshoot as most risk markets tend to do It’s too early to determine the tariff impacts on individual issuers given the global response has so far been muted It’s too early to say what the Fed (or RBA) might do in response to global markets that are rapidly re-orienting The Fed easing monetary policy to cushion the blow to economic activity cannot be ruled out Growth / unemployment / inflation will take centre stage in the medium term higher ratings and defensive business profiles The AUD traded in a very benign US$0.62 to US$0.632 cent range over Q1 With the AUD traditionally seen to be a “risk on” currency we expect the next few months to see some choppy trading The more natural safe-haven currencies like JPY and CHF are benefitting which is a pattern that is likely to be sustained for a while The global economy is facing the “risk off” headwind of higher tariffs and there is a lot of uncertainty about what this means for US and global growth How the USD responds will also matter a lot for the AUD The AUD will be highly sensitive to the scope and size of US-China tariffs How the PBoC responds will be closely watched There is now a higher risk of a stagflation in the U.S and a greater probability of a global recession The USD - in theory - should move higher to partially offset the tariff hike What we have seen so far is broad USD weakening This likely reflects the markets view that this is a growth negative shock to the US and results in an unwinding of overweight US asset holdings by global investors The higher-than-expected reciprocal tariffs from the US will likely hit the Asian region hard and add significant uncertainty which will likely damage the business cycle The expected trading range for the AUD in Q2 will become much larger with downside risk to below US$0.60 a significant risk following a 0.3% QoQ rise.▼ YoY GDP slowed from 1.8% to 1.3% after contracting for the last seven quarters Household spending rose +0.4%  QoQ / +0.7% YoY after declining in the previous two quarters and non-discretionary spending (+0.5% QoQ) rose in Q4 the public sector was a strong driver of growth with public consumption and investments both rising by +0.7% QoQ adding a total of 0.25ppt to growth Household disposable income improved rising by +1.4% QoQ / 5.5% YoY helped by tax cuts and rising incomes of which some was spent and some saved with the savings rate rising from 3.6% to 3.8% ▼Conditions rose by 2pts from +2pts (Nov) to +4pts (Feb)▲Confidence rose by 2pts from -3pts (Nov) to -1pts (Feb) Business conditions improved from 3 to 4 index points in February due to a small lift in trading  conditions and profitability By industry conditions were mixed with an improvement in mining following last months significant fall In trend terms conditions remain strongest in the service sector There was a noticeable fall in confidence which fell 6 points to -1 unwinding the gains made in January Capacity pressures again eased to 81.9%  and remain close to their long run averages the survey is consistent with below trend growth coupled with input cost pressures outpacing output price growth ultimately pressuring business margins MoM from 92.2 in February to 95.9 in March Consumer sentiment regained momentum in March largely driven by the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate cuts and easing cost-of-living pressures with notable optimism around the labour market outlook All sub-indices improved in March though those tracking the economy remained below the levels seen in November next 5 years’ sub-index and the ‘family finances next 12 months’ sub-index are both above the 100 mark The ‘time to buy a major household item’ sub-index had the largest increase this month (+6.9%) This sub-index had been hit hardest over the last 2 years and is still well below the long-run average ▲ Headline CPI increased by 0.2% QoQ▼Annual inflation fell 0.4% from to 2.8% to 2.4% A closely watched measure of core inflation also rose by 0.5% QoQ with the annual rate falling from 3.6% to 3.2% The fall in headline inflation was due to a fall in prices for electricity and automotive fuel and moderating price rises for new dwellings Electricity rebates were introduced in July 2023 decreasing electricity prices by -10.6% to date Excluding rebates electricity prices for households would have increased by 16.7% Electricity subsidies have detracted around -70bps from headline inflation This effect is expected to reverse during 2025/26 The annual rate of goods (+1.3%) continued to run softer than services (+3.6%) Likewise tradable inflation (+0.9% YoY) is running significantly lower than the domestically generated non tradable inflation (+3.2% YoY) ▲Number of jobs saw a large fall of -52.8k.▶The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1% The February labour market report saw a large downside surprise with -52.8k job losses with  full time -35.7k and part time -17k both being impacted The unemployment rate however remained steady at 4.1% as the participation rate collapsed 0.4ppts to 66.8% Seasonally adjusted hours worked fell on the month  (-0.4% MoM +2.4% YoY)  however the annual rate is growing faster than annual employment growth (1.9% YoY) Despite job losses the labour market remains tight with both the underemployment rate and underutilization rate falling -0.1% and -0.2% to 5.9% and 9.9% respectively The 3mth and 6mth average employment growth moderated to +12k ▲ Wages increased by 0.65% over Q4▼Annual wage growth fell  from 3.5% to 3.2% YoY In Q4 Australian Wage Price Index increased by 0.65% QoQ The annual rate fell from 3.5% to 3.2% due to base effects The ABS stated that private sector saw the smallest proportion of wage increases (14%) since December 2019 Public sector wages increased by 0.8% QoQ and 2.8% YoY with wages accelerating in three industries (transport The RBA expect wages growth to pick up from 3.2% in 2024 to 3.4% in 2025 which is predicated on the labour market remaining solid with the unemployment rate expected to peak at 4.2% ▶The RBA left the cash rate unchanged in April after reducing the OCR by 25bps from 4.35% to 4.10% in February The RBA maintained a cautious approach maintaining a  neutral bias stating that “the board will continue to rely upon the data and the evolving assessment of risks to guide its decisions” The RBA noted that the February rate cut reduced the risk that they would undershoot the midpoint of the inflation target however if they were to adopt the market path of 100bps of cuts then the trimmed mean would overshoot that target RBA remain cautious on the prospect of further easing and will require growing confidence that inflation is moving sustainably towards target The Q1 CPI report along with March and April employment reports will be important in the policy debate around additional cuts ▲ The CoreLogic national HVI rose 0.4% in March▲ The CoreLogic national HVI increased 3.4% over the year The CoreLogic national home value index rose +0.4% in March after a +0.3% rise in February National values are +3.4% higher over the last year The rise in March was broad based with every capital city increasing except for Hobart The improvement in housing conditions is largely due to improved sentiment rising from the RBA’s February rate cut rather than an improvement in affordability Private sector credit grew at 0.5% MoM and 6.5% YoY in March unchanged from February Business credit growth remains a key driver  (+9.0% YoY) Building approvals remain weak despite the recent modest pick up 2025 Global Investment Outlook: Building the transformation or structural shifts like the rise of artificial intelligence Learn more about our big investment calls for 2025 Stay ahead of markets with the latest insights on the global economy and other timely investment ideas and we are steadfast partners to our clients in Australia because we listen to every one of them Our full range of funds is one way we're helping more investors build solid financial futures As a global investment manager and fiduciary to our clients our purpose at BlackRock is to help everyone experience financial well-being we've been a leading provider of financial technology and our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals forecasts represent an assessment of the market environment at a specific time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research Source unless otherwise specified: BlackRock 1 Issued by BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited ABN 13 006 165 975 This material provides general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives you should assess whether the material is appropriate for you and obtain financial advice tailored to you having regard to your individual objectives Refer to BIMAL’s Financial Services Guide on its website for more information This material is not a financial product recommendation or an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any financial product in any jurisdiction Information provided is for illustrative and informational purposes and is subject to change This material is not intended for distribution to any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation BIMAL is a part of the global BlackRock Group which comprises of financial product issuers and investment managers around the world BIMAL is the issuer of financial products and acts as an investment manager in Australia BlackRock model portfolios themselves are not funds issued by BIMAL They are offered through third party platform providers which are not affiliated with 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and the sources on which it is based (which may be sourced from third parties) are correct as at the date of publication While every care has been taken in the preparation of this material no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility for the information is accepted by BIMAL BIMAL excludes all liability for this information Any investment is subject to investment risk including delays on the payment of withdrawal proceeds and the loss of income or the principal invested estimates and opinions in this material are made on a reasonable basis actual future results and operations may differ materially from the forecasts estimates and opinions set out in this material No guarantee as to the repayment of capital or the performance of any product or rate of return referred to in this material is made by BIMAL or any entity in the BlackRock group of companies This material may contain links to third party websites BlackRock does not control and is not responsible for the information contained within these websites None of these links imply BlackRock's support endorsement or recommendation of any other company No part of this material may be reproduced or distributed in any manner without the prior written permission of BIMAL iSHARES and the stylised i logo are registered and unregistered trademarks of BlackRock All other trademarks are those of their respective owners Our Customer Service Centre is temporarily located at Speers Point Library opposite Council's Administration Building Construction on the landmark Black Rock Motor Resort has hit top gear with the entire international-standard track corridor now cleared and ready for construction Managing Director Tony Palmer said on Thursday all site preparation works were complete along with the 5.4km track’s design and engineering “We’re ready to get stuck into construction of the track in the new year which marks a really exciting phase of this project,” he said “It’s hard to put into words how exciting it is to see the heavy machinery onsite and everything moving so quickly.” “We’re on track to have Stage One café and the first stage of the Black Rock Village and members’ lodge so the next 18 months will no doubt fly by.” Mr Palmer said he was “thrilled” about the progress of the build and by all the national and international interest received since the project’s March sod turn Lake Macquarie Deputy Mayor Jack Antcliff said the $95 million Black Rock Motor Resort demonstrated the vast potential to reuse former mine sites in innovative ways “It has been a long road to get to this point but we are just as excited as Mr Palmer to see things moving ahead so far since the sod turn in March,” he said “This facility will be an enormous boost for Lake Macquarie generating jobs and flow-on revenue from the motorsport enthusiasts who will converge on our city from across Australia and abroad.” Mr Palmer announced a new sponsorship deal between Black Rock Motor Resort and two-time Dakar Rally-winner Toby Price The champion motorcyclist is aiming to win the 2025 rally on four wheels for the first time “We're proud to support a world class Aussie athlete taking on such a monumental challenge on the world stage,” Mr Palmer said “Toby's support of our mission to build Black Rock is based on a deep mutual respect for having an almighty crack at the seemingly impossible.” Mr Palmer said Black Rock had also signed an agreement with construction materials company Boral to provide low-carbon concrete asphalt and natural and recycled aggregate for the track’s base “Partnering with Boral gives us confidence we can deliver this project to the highest possible standard while remaining committed to doing it as sustainably as possible,” Mr Palmer said Hotel and cabin accommodation construction is expected to begin once Stage One is complete with the entire facility operational by June 2027 We remember and respect the Ancestors who cared for and nurtured this Country It is in their footsteps that we travel these lands and waters Lake Macquarie City Council acknowledges the Awabakal people and Elders past Telephone Interpreting Service 131 450 National Relay Service 133 677 Play Duration: 4 minutes 57 seconds4m 57sBrought to you by If you swim across the English Channel from England to France, where do you keep your passport? Brett McLeod asked Jodie Millar, who is training for the giant swim with a six-hour qualifier in Black Rock. She told Brett that tackling the cold will be her biggest challenge. "The water has to be a certain temperature - under 15.5 degrees celsius." Jodie Millar from Griffith in New South Wales is training to swim the English Channel.(Supplied: Jodie Millar) Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio BlackRock has completed its acquisition of private markets research house Preqin saw BlackRock acquire 100 per cent of Preqin for a total consideration of US$3.2 billion ($4.8 billion) This will create a “pre-eminent” private markets technology and data provider and add a complementary data business to the firm’s existing investment technology as private markets are expected to reach $30 trillion by the end of the decade Aussie private credit player expands with key hire Clime IM looks to US for revenue boost Preqin provides data on asset classes such as private equity It currently has 48,000 customers and 16 global offices Preqin will remain available as a standalone solution while joint customers will benefit from product integrations such as access to data analytics tool Aladdin BlackRock said it will integrate Preqin’s proprietary data and research tools with Aladdin and investment software eFront Following the completion of the transaction Preqin founder Mark O’Hare joined BlackRock as a vice chair said: “BlackRock is a perpetual reinvention machine evolving continuously to stay ahead of our clients’ rapidly changing needs Today clients are seeking a ‘common language’ for investing that requires better data to drive investment decisions accelerating clients’ ability to allocate to the growth of private markets and furthering our aspirations to deliver greater value across their whole portfolios.” O’Hare said: “By marrying Preqin with BlackRock’s technology offering we are even better placed to tackle this challenge and help clients build more diverse resilient portfolios by delivering the transparency and insights they seek.” Private markets have grown in popularity in recent years, with numerous fund managers making forays into the space, and traditional asset managers have been warned they risk missing out if they fail to have a presence So we are now underwriting criminal scams?.. The definition of 'significant change is circumstances relevant to the scope of the advice' is s.. BlackRock recently filed a registration statement about plans for the issuance of DLT shares in its $143 billion Treasury Trust Fund (TTF) The shares will only be available via Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) which will use blockchain to mirror the share ownership on-chain Institutional investors are the primary target with a minimum investment of $3 million While BlackRock has leaned into tokenization with its BUIDL tokenized treasury fund issued on permissionless blockchains via Securitize the target market (for now) is primarily crypto institutions Stablecoin and tokenized money market fund (MMF) issuers are the primary BUIDL token holders By contrast, BNY Mellon primarily services mainstream traditional finance (TradFI) institutions as the world’s largest global custodian and a major tri-party agent. However, it also provides custody and cash management solutions for stablecoin issuer Circle, which is also now in the tokenized money market fund business following the acquisition of Hashnote A high profile institutional application is the use of tokenized collateral for margin and other purposes Conventional collateral has several drawbacks including slow settlement times and friction in moving assets because collateral is usually siloed with specific custodians Tokenized collateral transfers can settle instantly Several other industry tokenized collateral initiatives are currently on the cards. The CME recently announced plans to trial tokenization. Plus, Euroclear announced a pilot using the Canton Network Earlier this month the DTCC unveiled a tokenized collateral management platform and last week ran a demonstration showing how blockchain-based collateral could move across continents and 24/7 a subsidiary in one jurisdiction might be short of collateral and another elsewhere might have too much This can be costly because of the need to borrow to cover the shortfall In a future where tokenized collateral enables a global pool of assets the multi-purpose Lake Macquarie motorsport facility is set to open in 2026 headlined by a 5.4km course designed by F1 circuit designer Herman Tilke the asphalt circuit will feature 165 metres of elevation changes across 23 turns it will also have an 800-metre long main straight Groundwork has already begun on the project. Off-road racer Toby Price recently cut a lap of the precinct, showing the undulating nature of the facility. project managers revealed they have secured funding from a Sydney-based credit partner to continue work on the development The circuit is being billed as a “private country club and world-class motorsport experiences” facility the venue will feature training facilities Those wellness experiences include a members’ lodge a 25-metre heated infinity pool overlooking the circuit as well as a cafe and bistro alongside premium onsite hospitality “Securing the support of a highly credentialed capital firm is not just a vote of confidence for our plans but also the progress we have made to date,” said Tony Palmer CEO and founder of Black Rock Motor Resort “Black Rock Motor Resort is an ambitious project understood the long-term potential and realised that what we were proposing wasn’t just another racetrack a sanctuary for those who live and breathe exceptional high-performance and luxury experiences.” Developers have earmarked a two-stage build process The first stage will be completed midway through 2026 and the second stage will be completed by mid-2027 Black Rock Motor Resort is built on the former Rhonda Colliery which operated as a coal mine from the late 1800s to the 1970s Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox SUPERCARS F1 NASCAR INDYCAR GT MOTOGP PHOTOS TV PODS ACDELCO Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Black Rock Motor Resort has locked in a funding agreement to complete the $150 million development It’s understood the much-anticipated Lake Macquarie facility recently acquired the backing from a Sydney-based credit partner The first phase will be completed midway through 2026 and the second is slated to open mid-2027 “Securing the support of a highly-credentialed capital firm is not just a vote of confidence for our plans but also the progress we have made to date,” CEO and founder Tony Palmer said Black Rock Motor Resort will combine top-tier driving and training facilities paired with premium accommodation fine dining and rejuvenating wellness practices Ground was first broken on the project in March 2024 the track was meticulously crafted into the undulating landscape throughout late 2024 and into 2025 “Our first true lap was completed by Australian endurance racer and dual-Dakar winner Toby Price in a Can-Am off-roader,” Mr Palmer said Black Rock Motor Resort will offer a mix of motorsport lifestyle and supporting facilities unlike anything else in Australia “While similar high-end precincts exist in the US we’ve set ourselves apart from any existing facility locally we’ve attracted strong interest from enthusiasts real estate investors and corporate partners even before its completion “Black Rock Motor Resort will feature a Tilke-designed 5.4km FIA Grade 2 circuit a handling centre with an integrated skid pan and go-kart track an off-road arena and a state-of-the-art simulator room a fine dining bistro and premium onsite hospitality.” The facility takes its name from a miner’s diary entry celebrating the moment of “hitting the black rock” At the heart of Black Rock Motor Resort is the 5.4-kilometre FIA Grade 2 circuit designed by the renowned F1 track specialists Tilke It offers an unmatched driving experience featuring: Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. 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Click through to read our latest Issue of Newcastle Weekly OECD complaint alleges top firm has increased investments in companies implicated in environmental devastation the world’s biggest asset management company faces a complaint at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for allegedly contributing to environmental and human rights abuses around the world through its investments in agribusiness Friends of the Earth US and the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil accuse BlackRock of increasing investments in companies that have been implicated in the devastation of the Amazon and other major forests despite warnings that this is destabilising the global climate damaging ecosystems and violating the rights of traditional communities The complaint, revealed exclusively to the Guardian, was filed under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which are recommendations from governments to private companies on responsible business conduct In the absence of legally binding international regulations these are seen as a reference for corporate accountability more than the combined government spending of the world’s 10 wealthiest countries Although investment decisions are the responsibility of its clients this giant financial institution provides advice and facilitates investments Two thirds of the assets BlackRock manages on behalf of clients relate to retirement. Highlighting the forward-looking nature of these pension funds, the company website notes: “BlackRock’s mission is to create a better financial future for our clients by building the most respected investment and risk manager in the world.” That claim is countered by the new complaint which states that pension funds and other assets managed by BlackRock are threatening a stable future because they provide capital for companies responsible for deforestation of tropical rainforests “We hope this complaint prompts BlackRock to fulfill its obligations under international frameworks and steer investment away from agribusinesses driving climate chaos and gross human rights abuses,” said Gaurav Madan senior forest and land rights campaigner at Friends of the Earth US our focus is to help our clients achieve their selected investment goals The overwhelming majority of holdings referenced are held in index funds chosen by our clients themselves and we cannot selectively divest from them,” a spokesperson said in an email statement to the Guardian asset management companies say they cannot use clients’ money for third-party objectives because it is up to individual investors to select funds and allocate money Finance firms have also previously argued that they are not responsible for index funds which are investments in a range of assets in a given industrial Friends of the Earth investigated publicly available data on BlackRock’s shareholdings between January 2019 and June 2024 in 20 agribusiness companies that have been implicated in environmental and human rights abuses It found BlackRock has more than $5bn invested in these companies In each of the companies is it a top 10 shareholder Conservation organisations and Indigenous peoples have repeatedly asked BlackRock to stop financing companies that deforest the Amazon and violate communities’ land rights executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) “BlackRock has failed to prevent its investments from endangering entire peoples’ way of life,” he said in a statement we call on BlackRock to stop making excuses and stop funding companies driving deforestation Australia’s first private racing club – charging $24,000 a year in membership fees – is under construction outside Newcastle members’ lounge and 64 luxury villas will be on offer alongside a 5.4-kilometre track on the site of the former Rhondda Colliery The development-approved $250 million Black Rock Motor Resort at Lake Macquarie garaging facilities and trackside cafe when it opens next year is both a property play and a motoring-based hospitality and tourism business iShares ETFs cover a broad range of asset classes To understand the appropriateness of this fund for your investment objective Find out more about iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ): https://www.blackrock.com/au/products/273430/ This product is likely to be appropriate for a consumer:• who is seeking capital growth• using the product for a core component of their portfolio or less• with a minimum investment timeframe of 5 years and• with a high to very high risk/return profile Healthcare fell out of favor with investors following the pandemic but a brighter earnings outlook and strong long-term tailwinds have renewed interest We unpack why adding exposure to healthcare may be beneficial this year despite the impacts of potential US political pressures As we entered 2024, the healthcare sector began transitioning back to a more stable earnings profile after the most severe earnings recession in its history, which culminated in 2023.1 While the pandemic led to unforeseen profits for COVID-19 vaccine producers and research labs these earnings then dramatically receded as the world recovered from the pandemic (see chart below) Last year, an average of 75% of healthcare companies exceeded earnings expectations in the first three quarters of the year – the highest percentage of all global sectors, including technology. As a result, we saw local investor sentiment in the sector begin to recover in 2024, with around $80 million of inflows to the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) last year – within our top 20 exposures for the year on an inflow basis.2 the sector is expected to rebound even further recording the highest year-on-year growth in 18 years (excluding during COVID-19).3 So far in the US healthcare has been one of the best performing sectors in the S&P 500 Index for the year to date.4 Political changes in the US have understandably created investor nerves that the rosy outlook for the sector could be negatively impacted this year While leadership within key federal agencies will no doubt shape regulatory agendas around issues like vaccines we think immediate or drastic policy changes in the US are unlikely due to existing checks and balances vaccine mandates are determined on state and local levels in the US with the federal government acting in an advisory capacity only and in order to remove a vaccine or drug from the market scientific inadequacy must be proven in the courts.5 we believe the regulatory agenda of the new US administration could lead to more flexibility around healthcare mergers and acquisitions potentially easing scrutiny on patents and delivering sector-wide benefits.6 we think innovation in areas like obesity medication surgical robotics and oncology will continue to drive growth in healthcare this year have emerged as one of the most significant and contemporary therapeutic trends influencing the healthcare landscape in recent years Despite a 2000% increase in GLP-1 users from 2021-2023 only 0.1% of qualifying obese patients worldwide are so far using GLP-1s indicating a huge ongoing runway for customer take-up (see chart below).7 Expanding into offering the medications orally could also slash manufacturing costs for providers with almost half the weight loss drugs currently in development being in tablet form.8 robotic assisted surgeries continue to be a strong growth story with the global surgical robotics market expected to grow by US$16 billion over the next seven years9 with over 100 new cancer treatments including antibody and cell therapies expected to launch within the next five years driving nearly US$400 billion in pharmaceutical spending by 2028.10 As well as benefiting from a number of long-term growth trends adding global healthcare exposure to a portfolio can help to boost diversification and potentially reduce volatility when broad equity markets sell off.11 Investors with an existing portfolio of broad Australian and global equities will typically have less exposure to healthcare on a relative basis the ASX 200 Index is made up of approximately 10% healthcare stocks versus 19% materials and 34% financials while the MSCI World Index has 11% healthcare exposure compared to 25% technology and 17% financials.12 Healthcare exposure may also be useful to consider for investors with less tolerance to short-term volatility in their equity allocations. Well-known as a defensive sector, it may help to offset negative returns in a share market downturn – as seen in the chart below, which shows the index tracked by the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ) outperforming in the last 3 calendar years where global equity markets generated a negative return Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index With the sector poised for significant growth and transformation as well as being a useful defensive play and portfolio diversifier we believe healthcare is well worth investor consideration in 2025 Learn more about our big investing calls for 2025 Why there could be more upside in store for AI With technology now making up a near-record share of the global equity market some investors are understandably nervous about a bubble – particularly given the emergence of Chinese AI lab DeepSeek Global Healthcare Sector as represented by the MSCI ACWI Health Care Index Recent history defined as the past 18 years of quarterly earnings 2Source: BlackRock data as of 29 January 2025 11Diversification and asset allocation may not fully protect you from market risk 12Source: S&P and MSCI data as of 31 January 2025 Opinions are subject to change and they are not a guarantee of future results This information should not be relied upon as research blackrock/private-markets/managed-accounts/public-markets/ BlackRock has unveiled a “first-of-its-kind” model portfolio for US investors that delivers access to both private and public market assets in a single account The global asset management giant’s public-private model portfolio was produced using GeoWealth’s unified managed account (UMA) technology and iCapital’s underlying technology capabilities GeoWealth is a financial technology and turnkey asset management platform while iCapital is a fintech platform that enables asset managers and distributors to expand access to private markets this marks the first time that a customisable model portfolio offers access to both private and public markets alongside each other via an UMA structure It was launched off the back of rising adviser demand for allocations to both markets as investors seek greater diversification and returns The announcement also follows BlackRock’s completed acquisition of private markets research house Preqin earlier this month for a total consideration of US$3.2 billion ($4.8 billion) “This launch represents a significant step forward helping advisers allocate across both public and private markets all in one unified professionally managed portfolio,” commented Jaime Magyera co-head of BlackRock’s US wealth advisory business “BlackRock’s mission is to make investing easier and help more people access the full power of capital markets Through our partnership with GeoWealth and iCapital helping advisers deliver differentiated service and outcomes for their clients across their whole portfolio.” Netwealth and JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) also have existing partnerships with iCapital to boost investors’ access to alternative and private market assets. Earlier this month, Lonsec announced it will be utilising the deal with Netwealth and iCapital to launch a wholesale individually managed account (IMA) option focused on alternative assets While the product is only available to BlackRock’s US customers chair of the Institute of Managed Account Professionals (IMAP) said he was already seeing private markets come to fore in the managed account space Drummond Capital Partners launched a private markets separately managed account (SMA) for wholesale investors last year on the BT Panorama platform and this is expected to be opened up to the retail market in due course “This move is symptomatic of the drive to have private markets included in managed accounts The interest in private markets is growing rapidly “I could see something like this offered in Australia; there are already listed vehicles which invest in private markets so nothing would stop people from putting these or an active ETF in their model portfolio or as part of their separately managed account.” BlackRock said it expects managed model portfolios to double in assets over the next four years from US$5 trillion ($8 billion) today to approximately US$10 trillion ($16 billion) In Australia, the firm has been offering managed accounts for a decade now BlackRock accounts for $6.5 billion in assets under management in the managed account space said the partnership with BlackRock will enable advisers to easily incorporate alternative investments into their strategies in a simplified way “We believe models will be an important way for advisers to allocate to private markets and iCapital’s underlying technology allows our clients to customise what they want to buy or deliver into the market,” he said recognised that while advisers and asset managers have long appreciated the role of private market investments the real challenge has been integrating them at scale in a wealth management business “GeoWealth’s UMA technology and workflow solutions in partnership with BlackRock and iCapital creates an entirely new paradigm for advisers considering a public-private portfolio,” he also said Demand for private market investments continues to grow in Australia as the space is further democratised for retail investors. According to Hamilton Lane, Australian advised clients exhibit the highest enthusiasm for the asset class out of all the regions, with 61 per cent of clients described as “very interested”. So we are now underwriting criminal scams?... Completely agree Peter. The definition of 'significant change is circumstances relevant to the scope of the advice' is s... While the market’s attention was locked on ASX-listed Abacus Storage King’s $1.93 billion takeover offer BlackRock – the world’s largest asset manager – was quietly cutting a deal elsewhere in the booming sector Street Talk understands BlackRock is poised to acquire StoreLocal, a privately owned player that’s built a $400 million-plus portfolio across Australia. It was placed on the auction block in January, with boutique firm Highbury hired to find a capital partner to help bankroll its growth strategy Australia’s richest person made a massive $2 billion bet on the US stock market last year. Find out more about iShares Yield Plus ETF: https://www.blackrock.com/au/products/313537/ This product is likely to be appropriate for a consumer:• who is seeking capital preservation and/or income distribution• using the product for a core component of their portfolio or less• with a minimum investment timeframe of 3 years The Reserve Bank has cut Australian interest rates to 4.1% at its February meeting after recent inflation data showed positive progress towards the central bank’s target inflation range With further cuts expected this year in Australia investors may look to step out of cash and consider adding fixed income ETFs to their portfolio that offer enhanced yield Offering a current yield to maturity of 6.98% 1 global high yield bond exposures are a compelling and cost-efficient solution for income-seeking investors in a falling-rate environment Following its most aggressive hiking cycle in history the Reserve Bank has finally begun cutting interest rates With cash set to become less attractive to Australian investors we explore how to position your fixed income portfolio for the rate cut cycle ahead taming inflation remained the Reserve Bank’s most pressing concern until flat economic growth in the September quarter prompted a switch to a more dovish stance While the central bank has taken a conservative approach awaiting further data to confirm inflation is on a sustainable path back to target Q4’s CPI figures effectively gave the RBA the green light to change tacks - with its focus now on supporting private sector growth to return As trimmed mean inflation rose just 0.5% over the December quarter - versus 0.6% consensus – and 3.2% year-on-year the decision to cut rates has come as no surprise and markets are also pricing in a 50% chance of a follow-up cut in April.2 With around 85 basis points of cuts now priced in for 20253 the easing cycle is likely to be slow and steady – but it seems the RBA may have pulled off the seemingly impossible feat of an economic ‘soft landing’ moderating inflation with minimal impacts to growth As seen in the chart below, the economy is expected to grow moderately over the next two years, supported by public sector spending, population growth and household spending as inflation becomes more subdued. For more detailed projections on the domestic economy, read our Q1 2025 Australian Market Outlook Note December 2024 GDP numbers are forecast only – Q4 GDP due for release in March 2025 the income offered by government and investment-grade corporate bond yields will drop high yield bonds still offer elevated yields compared to cash rates making the iShares Global High Yield Bond (AUD Hedged) ETF (IHHY) a compelling option for income-focused investors As investors prepared to insulate their portfolios for the coming rate cut cycle we saw almost $100 million in flows to IHHY in calendar year 2024 - placing the fund within the top 5 iShares fixed income ETFs in Australia on an inflow basis High-yield bonds tend to do well when interest rates are being cut - such as in 2019 when a series of Federal Reserve rate cuts saw high yield bond spreads narrow and IHHY return 13.2%,5 and in 2023 when the Fed paused rates and IHHY returned 10.3% keeping high-yield bonds appealing for income-focused investors Positive factors such as better credit profiles of issuers and increased long-term investor interest could tighten spreads even more in 2025 (see chart below) Markit iBoxx Global Developed Markets Liquid High Yield Capped Index High yield also provides diversification benefits through access to issuers that do not necessarily overlap with equities or more conservative fixed income holdings – such as pharmaceuticals This diversified exposure also helps to reduce default risk which is expected to decline in 2025 across both US and European high yield bonds6 as companies take advantage of falling rates to refinance their debt high yield bonds’ enhanced income potential and moderate volatility make them a good complement or alternative to income-focused equities to which Australian investors often turn because of their tax benefits Looking at the Markit iBoxx Global Developed Markets Liquid High Yield Index this generated a 1-year total return of 7% in calendar year 2024 with annualised volatility of around 2% versus an 11% return for the ASX200 with around 8.5% annualised volatility Markit iBoxx Global Developed Markets Liquid High Yield MSCI World ex Australia (AUD hedged) Index For investors looking at domestic options that can optimise income as cash rates come down, but maintain a level of capital preservation, enhanced yield exposures like the iShares Yield Plus ETF (IYLD) can also help to balance these competing needs Giving investors exposure to a diversified mix of short-term fixed and floating rate bonds IYLD aims to provide the highest income for the lowest amount of interest rate risk The fund currently offers a 12-month trailing yield of 4.66% compared to between 3.5-3.9% for a major bank 6-month term deposit7 Bond ETFs allow investors to be more precise in targeting their fixed income allocations – in this case to access higher yields as cash rates become less attractive – for a generally lower cost than active management investors also benefit from the expertise and experience of a global portfolio management team that can take advantage of new bond issues and restructures among issuers managing over US$25 billion in the high yield space specifically iShares’ securities lending program can also help to offset expenses for our fixed income investors bond ETFs do come with risks which investors should consider The bonds held by the ETF have different levels of sensitivity to interest rates based on their coupon rate Bonds with longer maturities are more affected by changes in interest rates Investors should carefully consider the duration of their fixed income investments and regularly review and adjust their portfolio to manage this risk Given the shifts in economic conditions we may see in Australia this year targeting the right sectors of the market is key With a long and protracted rate cut cycle on the cards from the RBA we think investors would do well to consider stepping out of cash and looking to exposures that harvest the best available income some investors are understandably nervous about a bubble - particularly given the emergence of of Chinese AI lab DeepSeek 1Source: BlackRock data as of 4 February 2025 Based on current hedged yield to maturity of iShares Global High Yield Bond (AUD Hedged) ETF 3Source: BlackRock data as of 29 January 2025 4Source: Reserve Bank of Australia data as at 18 December 2024 5Source: BlackRock data as of 4 February 2024 Performance is gross of fees and refers to calendar year 2019 and 2023 This material may contain links to third party websites. BlackRock does not control and is not responsible for the information contained within these websites. None of these links imply BlackRock's support, endorsement or recommendation of any other company, product or service. No part of this material may be reproduced or distributed in any manner without the prior written permission of BIMAL. © 2025 BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All Rights reserved. BLACKROCK, BLACKROCK SOLUTIONS, ALADDIN, iSHARES and the stylised i logo are registered and unregistered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners. Global investment giant BlackRock and local fund manager Wentworth Capital have acquired a Red Cross blood-processing facility in Alexandria and a pharmaceutical laboratory in Macquarie Park as the first seed assets for a $1.5 billion Life Sciences investment platform. The acquisitions follow the JV partners identifying life sciences – an emerging alternative real estate sector that includes laboratories and research hubs – as a sought-after asset class by global institutional investors and Australia as a market offering attractive buying opportunities ShareSaveCommentLeadershipLeadership StrategiesHow BlackRock Abandoned Social And Environmental EngagementByMichael Posner Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights I write about human rights and leadership in a global context.Follow AuthorSep 04 05:59pm EDTShareSaveCommentThe trading symbol for BlackRock is displayed at the closing bell of the Dow Industrial Average at .. More the New York Stock Exchange on July 14 I reached out to BlackRock but the firm declined to comment on this article voting against almost all resolutions that address environmental and social topics investment firms and many of the companies in which they invest have joined BlackRock in bowing to conservative political pressure and wishing away pressing environmental and social challenges they should recognize the need to seriously address these escalating problems which pose material risks to people and our planet and devastating fires are becoming commonplace The business practices of many companies are contributing to this climate crisis Many of these same companies have the resources and expertise to help address these problems All of this makes a compelling case for why companies need to pursue business models that take climate change seriously and invest in concrete measures that will help mitigate these risks More difficult but no less important is the need for global companies to devote greater time and attention to ensuring the well-being of outsourced workers are now moving to regulate how global companies treat workers throughout their global supply chains Smart investors and corporate leaders should get ahead of this evolving regulatory framework They will face serious consequences if they fail to comply including stiff fines or restrictions on their access to European markets The report offers practical recommendations to shareholder activists for strengthening corporate performance with respect to these issues it urges activists to pursue shareholder resolutions that focus on measuring real-world outcomes rather than directing companies to issue self-serving transparency reports Securities and Exchange Commission enable shareholder activism rather than impeding it the SEC allows companies to remove shareholder resolutions from proxy ballots without offering a compelling justification The Center’s report also recommends that shareholder advocates should focus greater attention on protecting the rights of workers in global supply chains reinforcing the emerging European regulatory system These proposals address serious environmental and social challenges and provide a roadmap for socially responsible investors and corporate leaders This more ambitious approach is long overdue but thus far has failed to gain traction in the U.S spurred on by public demands for government regulation of environmental and social norms globally investment community can either step up and embrace this important and timely agenda or it will default this space to European regulators who also will set the standard for the largest U.S The departure of Mark Wiedman from BlackRock after his 21-year tenure at the asset manager has prompted a reshuffle BlackRock’s head of global client business is set to depart following more than two decades spent at the firm Wiedman first joined in 2004 as the head of financial markets advisory and progressed through several senior positions global head of iShares and index investments and head of international and corporate strategy He was promoted to the head of global client business role in January 2023. In the executive position, Wiedman is responsible for BlackRock’s commercial relationships, partnerships, and joint ventures across financial institutions and investors globally. Wiedman also oversees capital formation across private markets, iShares, active and index strategies, and whole portfolio mandates. During his time as global head of iShares and index investments between 2011 and 2019, he accelerated its growth from US$500 billion to US$1.7 trillion. Wiedman took to LinkedIn to confirm his departure, writing: “After 20 years here at BlackRock, this is the right time for me to return to my entrepreneurial roots for the next phase of my career. “I’ll be with BlackRock through the spring. I’ll be taking the time, at least through the summer, to sort out what that next thing is. Probably in finance, probably global, definitely entrepreneurial, and I can only hope as much fun as the past 20 years.” As reported by Bloomberg, Wiedman was once viewed as a potential successor to BlackRock’s chief executive Larry Fink. The exit has prompted a reshuffle at the asset management giant through the announcement of several senior promotions to grow its business in the Americas. Joe DeVico is set to become BlackRock’s head of the Americas client business and will also continue in his position as co-head of US wealth advisory. Jaime Magyera, also co-head of the US wealth group, will take on new responsibilities for the company’s retirement business, as stated in a memo to employees confirmed by Bloomberg. Armando Senra will continue as the head of Americas institutional business and overall business in Canada and Latin America. Moreover, the firm will be opening a “global partners office” to oversee business involving large investors and corporations seeking to raise funds in capital markets. It was confirmed that Charles Hatami, global head of financial and strategic investors group who also oversees BlackRock’s Middle East business, will lead the new office alongside the firm’s global chief of staff Stacey Mullin. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Dakar winner Toby Price took to the circuit Price set a time of 3:29s around the 5.4-kilometre circuit Visited by Speedcafe midway through last year the FIA Grade 2 circuit is set to be unlike anything else in Australia The undulating track takes in 23 corners and will boast 64 trackside villas A unique business model has been wrapped around the venue with its primary target being the track day and experience markets rather than operating as a traditional racing venue A total of 64 trackside villas will be constructed alongside a hotel and function centre just south of Newcastle and near the Hunter Valley wine region Construction of the venue remains ongoing with the initial road base having recently been delivered to the site Black Rock Mining Limited (ASX: BKT) has announced the successful completion of a A$5 million placement to institutional and sophisticated investors involves the issuance of 217,391,305 new ordinary shares The funds raised will be allocated to general corporate costs and to advancing discussions for securing the remaining finance required for the Mahenge Graphite Project in Tanzania The placement was managed by Petra Capital Pty Ltd The placement price reflects a discount of 17.9% to the last closing price of BKT shares on February 28 and a 22.6% discount to the 15-day volume weighted average market price (VWAP) Black Rock intends to offer placement participants one free unquoted option for every two new shares subscribed These options will have an exercise price of A$0.035 and expire three years from the issue date subject to shareholder approval expected at a general meeting in late April 2025 CEO John de Vries expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the importance of these funds in diligently pursuing the remaining project funding Black Rock’s Mahenge Graphite Project is poised to become a significant player in the graphite market The project features include a modular development approach aiming for a first-quartile position on the global cost curve The project has substantial upside potential with a post-tax NPV estimated at A$2.1 billion The successful placement represents a crucial step toward realizing the Mahenge project’s full potential amid increasing demand for graphite in energy storage and other high-tech applications Black Rock is positioning itself to capitalize on this demand with a project designed for attractive returns and scalability Copyright Finance TV Pty Ltd All Rights Reserved Would you like to receive our daily news to your inbox Community feedback confirms Barwon Water’s plans to memorialise a historic wind turbine at Black Rock Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535. Monday to Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST) New York | A BlackRock-led consortium agreed to buy control of key ports near the Panama Canal from Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings after pressure from US President Donald Trump to limit Chinese interests in the region The deal is a major victory for Trump, who had argued without evidence that China had taken over the critical waterway and that the US was paying too much for the passage of ships He previously demanded that the fees charged on US naval and merchant ships to be lowered or else Panama should return the canal to the US Black Rock Mining’s (ASX:BKT) strategic alliance partner POSCO (KRX:005490) has nominated Kim Dongjoo as a non-executive director effective from 24 February 2025.  Tanzanian graphite developer Black Rock formed a strategic alliance with POSCO to develop the Mahenge Graphite Project in Tanzania including an equity investment of US$7.5 million followed by an offtake agreement plus a US$10 million prepayment facility.  South Korean steel manufacturer POSCO elected its right to appoint a director to the company’s board.  who holds a Bachelor’s degree in German from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is a senior manager at POSCO International’s Sydney office His responsibilities include purchasing and investing in raw materials in Australia alongside managing various investment projects.  he has amassed more than 15 years of experience in the raw materials Black Rock Chairman Richard Crookes says POSCO’s director nomination is an endorsement to their commitment to support the company as it builds the Mahenge Graphite Project.  “DJ is an experienced POSCO corporate executive with a range of skills which will be invaluable to the company,” Crookes says.  “The actions we’ve recently taken to expand board capabilities are well-timed as we transition to the development of the Mahenge Graphite Project.” which is a South Korean steel conglomerate is a major shareholder and offtake partner to Black Rock and is the world’s largest anode producer outside of China.  Black Rock Mining is an Australia-based graphite mining company.  Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au    Unico Silver makes ‘multiple new discoveries’ at Cerro Leon Unico Silver (ASX:USL) says the final results from phase-two diamond drilling at.. Dateline Resources pursues OTCQB listing in US North Bay advances gold production optimisation  Gilded market: Has jewellery demand lost lustre? ASX ends winning streak as energy sector... Critica readies to drill satellite rare earths... Metro on track to hit 2025 bauxite... ASX shifts down a gear Stay Informed on up-to-the-minute mining news Get the best articles straight to your inbox ASX ends winning streak as energy sector tumbles05 May, 2025 Military Metals discusses antimony exploration in Slovakia05 May, 2025 Unico Silver makes ‘multiple new discoveries’ at Cerro Leon05 May, 2025 Critica readies to drill satellite rare earths targets    05 May, 2025 has cut its exposure to the Australian sharemarket the latest in a growing list of investment giants fleeing local stocks in favour of more attractive opportunities offshore which manages more than $US11.6 trillion ($18.4 trillion) in funds told advisors on Friday that its multi-asset division – which invests across a range of asset classes – had lowered its allocation to Australian equities Read MoreSharesBlackRockLatest In Equity marketsFetching latest articles Larry Fink says 30-year fixed rate mortgages could change AustraliaBlackrock CEO Larry Fink says 30-year fixed rate mortgages could supercharge Australian economic growth and dynamism And he knows exactly who can back the idea BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink found himself in a meeting with 12 of Europe’s top chief executives on the sidelines of the annual Davos conference that he came away optimistic that things could only get better But the chief executive of the $18 trillion investment giant BlackRock has found a much different vibe on his trip to Australia this week: a sense of mild optimism and a distinct lack of the divisiveness he finds in America and Europe Two-time Dakar Rally winner Toby Price has given the $95 million Black Rock Motor Resort the “thumbs up” The Australian off-road and enduro motorcycle racing world champion joined the facility’s managing director Tony Palmer Lake Macquarie City deputy mayor Jack Antcliff Lake Macquarie City Council CEO Morveen Cameron and Boral general manager concrete David Hardy for a special tour of the Wakefield site on Thursday 19 December He even produced a “hot lap” on the 5.4km track “It’s fantastic to have a circuit like this in the region,” Price said “I’ll have to drop by more often when it’s completed.” The entire international-standard track corridor is now cleared and ready for construction “We’re ready to get stuck into it in the new year which marks a really exciting phase of this project,” Mr Palmer said “It’s hard to put into words how exciting it is to see the heavy machinery onsite and everything moving so quickly café and the first phase of the Black Rock Village and members’ lodge Mr Palmer said he was “thrilled” about the progress of the build as well as all the national and international interest received since the project’s March sod turn He also announced a new sponsorship deal between Black Rock Motor Resort and Price who’s aiming to win the 2025 rally on four wheels for the first time “We’re proud to support a world-class Aussie athlete taking on such a monumental challenge on the world stage,” Mr Palmer said “Toby’s support of our mission to build Black Rock is based on a deep mutual respect for having an almighty crack at the seemingly impossible.” Mr Palmer said they had signed an agreement with construction materials company Boral asphalt and natural and recycled aggregate for the track’s base “We are proud to be pioneering the reuse of a former coal mine into a world-class facility and tourism destination,” he added “That now extends our circularity approach to the materials we will use in our construction “We were impressed by Boral’s range of sustainable lower carbon and recycled materials and welcomed them as our major supplier on this project.” Boral CEO Vik Bansal was equally complimentary “This is an exciting development and attraction which is set to drive local jobs and tourism,” he told the Newcastle Weekly it has a positive story – being built on the former Rhonda Colliery coal mine “When we were tapped for our sustainable and lower carbon construction material offering we knew this is a project we want to partner with look at ways to rehabilitate and repurpose our quarries at the end of their life we are committed to being a sustainable business “This extends to the development and supply of our innovative and lower carbon materials “With the building and construction industry traditionally being carbon intensive a circularity approach is always encouraged and plays an important role we look forward to a future where a repurposed approach takes centre stage.” Construction of the hotel and cabin accommodation is expected to begin once Stage One is finished Mr Antcliff admitted the Black Rock Motor Resort demonstrated the vast potential to reuse former mine sites in innovative ways “It has been a long road to get to this point,” he said we are just as excited as Mr Palmer to see things moving ahead “This facility will be an enormous boost for Lake Macquarie generating jobs and flow-on revenue from the motorsport enthusiasts who will converge on our city from across Australia and abroad.” Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here Subscribe to Newcastle Weekly. News, Community, Lifestyle, Property delivered direct to your inbox! 100% Local, 100% Free. Here’s Larry Fink’s new portfolio for a $108trn prizeBlackRock boss Larry Fink says capitalism hasn’t failed And he thinks he knows how to acheive this The worst start to the year on the ASX 200 since the COVID-19 crash – the index ended the March quarter down 4.4 per cent – is easily dismissed by seasoned investors who know these sorts of sell-offs are nothing new co-founding and chief executive of the $US11.6 trillion ($18.4 trillion) financial giant BlackRock nails the reason this one feels different: capitalism itself suddenly feels under threat Read MoreChanticleerOpinionInvestingBlackRockLatest In Equity marketsFetching latest articles while a new cafe and kiosk is making waves at the iconic bathing boxes in Brighton Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime “We underutilise our beaches in Melbourne,” says Andre Salem the longstanding but recently renovated North Point which is in pole position overlooking the iconic bathing boxes of Brighton Beach “Any opportunity a beachfront venue has to open Salem is one of a few enthusiastic operators hustling to broaden the bayside dining and drinking landscape Frustrated that “nowhere in a 10k radius does a decent steak frites” Black Rock locals Bonne and Kevan Squires have brought the inner city’s European bistro boom to their suburb “We’re really passionate about building a dining culture here,” Bonne says The husband and wife team acted swiftly when a site across from Black Rock Gardens – and beyond it a bit Balthazar,” says Bonne of the fit-out Classic black and white bistro tiles line the floor and fluted glass separates the booths so those rolling in off the beach for chips and a spicy Paloma feel at home alongside those splurging on oysters and grower champagne The couple is well-equipped to strike the balance given Bonne co-owned Cheltenham cafe The Parlor and Kevan previously worked front-of-house for Lucas Restaurants which currently features house-made crumpets topped with spanner crab Shop 1, 300-302 Beach Road, Black Rock, winstonsmelbourne.com Beach House cafe and kiosk is within spitting distance of Brighton Beach’s colourful bathing boxes Andre Salem’s sunny cafe and kiosk is within spitting distance of Brighton Beach’s colourful bathing boxes giving locals and visitors to the bona fide tourist attraction somewhere scenic to refuel Part of Brighton Life Saving Club’s new Dendy Beach Pavilion in which the council invested $10.6 million the 55-seat Beach House is all floor-to-ceiling glass and timber battens with an easy-breezy deck set above an amphitheatre-like public seating area Beach House overlooks Brighton Beach and its famous bathing boxes The dine-in menu deals in all the usual suspects from a soft chilli scramble to beer-battered barramundi and chips including brioche rolls generously stuffed with king prawn and octopus Salem bought the biggest soft-serve machine he could find serving ice-cream with an array of toppings Cafe open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm; Sat-Sun 7am-5pm Kiosk open Mon-Tue 7am-4pm; Wed-Sun 7am-sunset 133 Esplanade, Brighton, beachhousebrighton.com.au Malena Cucina & Bar in Brighton focuses on southern Italian flavours.Kate PascoeMalena Cucina & Bar The team behind new southern Italian spot Malena – Peter Aloi, Francesca Sanzo and Leonardo Alfieri – will likely be familiar to Brighton residents. Between them, they run the similarly Italian Aromi and Cucina & Co They haven’t ventured far to open their latest lured by the village vibe of Martin Street who know us personally and feel like extended family,” Aloi says Former Cucina & Co head chef Domenico Fazzari focusing on specialty dishes from Italy’s southern regions Start with a trio of arrosticini (grilled lamb skewers) progress to cavatelli with a rich pork-sausage ragu layered with pistachio cream as well as mascarpone 151 Martin Street, Brighton, malena.au Golden hour: 12 of Melbourne’s best rooftop dining and drink specialsContinue this series Box Hill, Frankston and Eltham have been thirsty for good new bars, and now they have themThe much-needed newcomers include a big boozer channelling ’80s Miami and a second bar for two seasoned operators in the north-east. There’s nowhere else quite like this Chinese restaurant in an ornate Melbourne mansionJishan Garden is a fine dining and afternoon tea destination, with a garden bar in the works for summer. Carlton’s exciting new Greek Taverna is here for a good time, not a long timeOwners Angie Giannakodakis and Guy Holder are looking for a permanent home for the new concept, popping up in the Carlton terrace formerly known as Epocha. news and the hottest openings served to your inbox 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Rock Coffee Bar founded in Oregon and known for its premium roasted coffees smoothies and flavorful Fuel Energy drinks is kicking off summer with the launch of its new drink campaign the limited-time lineup features three refreshing nostalgic drinks inspired by summer memories The Camp Black Rock collection invites customers to sip into the season with: we’re all about creating moments that spark connection,” said Jessica Wegener-Beyer “The Camp Black Rock lineup captures the spirit of summer — from the taste of gooey s’mores around a campfire to the sweetness of a sunny day We can’t wait for our customers to experience these flavors.” The Camp Black Rock drinks will be available at participating Black Rock Coffee Bar locations nationwide for a limited time Black Rock Coffee Bar recently announced the relaunch of Black Rock Rewards making it easier for rewards members to order and get rewarded quicker whether in-store Customers who register for the new loyalty program today can receive a free medium drink which is guided by three principles - coffee Its mission is to be a positive force in the communities it serves an area of the Pacific Northwest known for its coffee excellence Black Rock Coffee Bar continues its rapid expansion in the West and into the Sunbelt with locations in Arizona the boutique coffee chain was named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington by the Portland Business Journal Black Rock Coffee Bar ranked 1179th among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc The Black Rock culture prides itself on providing opportunities for young people to learn how to lead Black Rock Coffee Bar is a national boutique coffee shop that is known for its premium roasted coffees smoothies and flavorful Fuel® energy drinks Founded as a family owned and operated business in Oregon in 2008 Black Rock Coffee Bar has grown to 154 retail locations in seven states The Black Rock culture prides itself on not only being a positive force for the communities it serves but also the team members that fuel their locations day in and day out An important aspect of their team mission is to recognize those that go above and beyond by displaying the 4G’s of Black Rock - grit For more information, visit https://br.coffee/ BlackRock says Bitcoin will soon be risky not to own the price of the top cryptocurrency truly manages to break free of its tight correlation to riskier assets like US technology stocks “The correlation between bitcoin and tech stocks is going to be an absolutely critical driver,” Robbie Mitchnick it is not very interesting to institutions.” But if Bitcoin trades with low or even negative correlation to what he calls “left tail” events “then it becomes potentially a very important portfolio asset to all manner of institutional portfolios.” who wrote the comments following his appearance at the Token2049 crypto conference: “Then the conversation goes from Bitcoin backers are optimistic as the coin’s performance continues to “decouple” from equities and begins to stand on its own as a relatively low-volatility asset The disconnect is a signal to some that the cryptocurrency is starting to behave like a safe haven Mitchnick’s comments came during Token2049 the cryptocurrency conference in Dubai this week where he appeared on a panel hosted by Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas Balchunas later spoke more about the discussion with Mitchnick they’re looking for digital gold,” Balchunas told an interviewer on the sidelines of the conference something that can hedge inflation and the market.” Balchunas recounted the panel conversation with Mitchnick where the BlackRock executive said that when Bitcoin first started decoupling from stocks institutions called the firm to find out more not just for the ETF but Bitcoin in general,” Balchunas said BlackRock is the world’s biggest investment firm CEO Larry Fink has long touted Bitcoin as digital gold in a bid to lure more investors to the firm’s record-breaking Bitcoin exchange-traded fund. The ETF has lured about $57 billion since its debut in January 2024 The firm runs the $2.7 billion onchain BUIDL fund the iShares Bitcoin Trust and the iShares Ethereum Trust ETFs BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, dominates the Bitcoin ETF space with about $37 billion more in assets than its closest competitor, Fidelity’s FBTC ETF, according to DefiLlama. “IBIT is probably the one used by the large institutions themselves,” Balchunas said. Andrew Flanagan is a markets correspondent for DL News. Have a tip? Reach out to aflanagan@dlnews.com. which has an executive on the artificial intelligence start-up’s board are joining forces with one of their chief rivals Microsoft and BlackRock said Elon Musk’s xAI was joining their effort to build $US30 billion ($47.4 billion) worth of data centres and other artificial intelligence infrastructure 160K-strong crypto YouTuber and Cryptosea founder, dedicated to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency education. Welcome to your premier source for the latest in AI, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and AI search tools—driving tomorrow's innovations today. Home-grown EV charging station business JOLT Charge is pedal to the metal on its global expansion with investing juggernaut BlackRock riding shotgun it’s time for a pit stop to refuel on dry powder The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) experienced a calmer day of trade with no major surprises emerging from the Trump administration.  The S&P/ASX200 ended the session up 13.1 points Over the last five days the index has gained 3.35% but is down 4.87% for the last year to date with health care the day’s top performer on a 1.34% climb.  The financial sector rose 0.48% and materials edged up 0.42% While the uncertainty surrounding the US tariffs has forced many out of riskier assets like equities global investment firm BlackRock is buying back into US equities The move follows the S&P 500 registering one of its largest daily jumps last week which is the world’s largest asset manager with US$11.5 trillion in assets under management in 2024 US equities are supported by the artificial intelligence theme resilient corporate earnings and a solid economy so far “The broad-based equity selloff has created opportunities to tap into certain sectors and selectivity is key,” BlackRock says.  On the S&P/ASX200, Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) held onto its early gains to end the day up 5.23% at $3.62. Gold producer Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) jumped 3.92% to $8.21 after announcing record operating cash flow of $600 million for the March quarter Evolution has also green-lit the planned extension to the Cowal operation through to 2042 Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) lifted 3.08% at $8.02 and Nickel Industries (ASX:NIC) advanced 3.03% to $0.51 Gold and base metals explorer Dalaroo Metals (ASX:DAL) lifted 33.33% to $0.02 on news it was preparing to undertake maiden fieldwork at its Blue Lagoon Zirconium Niobium and Rare Earth project in Greenland The company notes that the US administration continues to show considerable interest in Greenland highlighting the importance of the country for critical metals and their ownership Southern Hemisphere Mining (ASX:SUH) also added 33.33% to close at $0.028 on news a magneto-telluric survey has further reinforced the Curiosity target’s potential to host a “significant copper-gold porphyry deposit” in Chile The S&P/ASX200 is Australia’s leading share market index and contains the top 200 ASX-listed companies in terms of market capitalisation and accounts for about 80% of the country’s equity market The index is designed to measure the performance of the 200 largest index-eligible stocks listed on the ASX by float-adjusted market capitalisation It is recognised as the institutional investable benchmark in the country Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au  ASX ends winning streak as energy sector tumbles05 May Military Metals discusses antimony exploration in Slovakia05 May Unico Silver makes ‘multiple new discoveries’ at Cerro Leon05 May Critica readies to drill satellite rare earths targets    05 May Bitcoin (BTC) fell 0.98% on Saturday reversing Friday’s 0.50% gain to close at $95,988 BTC avoided sub-$95,000 for the second session News of Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoing the recently passed Bitcoin reserve bill dashed hopes for the first-ever state-level Bitcoin reserve bill. Governor Hobbs justified her decision, stating: The Arizona State Retirement System is one of the strongest in the nation because it makes sound and informed investments Arizonians’ retirement funds are not the place for the state to try untested investments like virtual currency.” Governor Hobbs’ stance may encourage broader Democratic resistance to digital assets A political divide on Capitol Hill could stall Senator Cynthia Lummis’ Bitcoin Act Senator Cynthia Lummis reintroduced the Bitcoin Act proposing the US acquire one million BTC over five years with a 20-year holding period “The BITCOIN Act is the only solution to our nation’s $36T debt I’m grateful for a forward-thinking president who not only recognizes this While prospects for the Bitcoin Act weakened US BTC-spot ETF flows cushioned the downside ETF issuers reported total net inflows of $1,805.1 million in the week ending May 2 after inflows of $3,033 million the previous week shared the top weekly inflows and outflows across the ETF space IBIT ranked second behind the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF which had weekly net inflows of $3,597 million “Now 14 straight days of inflows for iShares Bitcoin ETF… $4+ bil total IBIT in top 10 of all ETFs by inflows this year (out of nearly 4,200 ETFs).” BlackRock’s net inflows of $43,681 million since launch underscores the importance of major ETF issuers’ presence in the crypto ETF space Several key catalysts will influence BTC’s near-term trajectory: For ongoing insights into macro trends, regulation, and ETF data, follow our analysis here BTC trades above the 50-day and the 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 66.43 suggests BTC could climb toward the record high of $109,312 before entering overbought territory (RSI > 70) Stay ahead of market trends by accessing real-time BTC price data and technical indicators here Turning to (Ethereum) ETH ETH-spot ETF flows remain key near-term price drivers The US ETH-spot ETF market reported net inflows of $106.8 million in the week ending May 2 down from $157.1 million the previous week ETH continues trading below the 50-day and 200-day EMAs The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 57.96 suggests ETH has room to reach $2,000 before entering overbought territory (RSI > 70) Stay informed on BTC and ETH trends by tracking macroeconomic developments, ETF flows, and technical indicators in real-time here. With over 28 years of experience in the financial industry, Bob has worked with various global rating agencies and multinational banks. Currently he is covering currencies, commodities, alternative asset classes and global equities, focusing mostly on European and Asian markets. Saudi Arabia’s Output Surge Reshapes Crude Oil Outlook and Market Sentiment Gold (XAUUSD) Price Forecast: Bulls Eye Breakout Above $3351.08 for $3500.20 Push Silver (XAG) Forecast: News Focus Turns to 50-Day MA for Rally Confirmation Natural Gas News: Forecast Turns Cautious as Market Hits Resistance at $3.733 XRP News Today: XRP Dips, but ETF Momentum and Legal Progress Offer Hope; BTC at $94k BlackRock's Australasia head of fixed income.That would reduce the prospect for more rate cuts to stimulate growth for Australia's households he added.(This story has been refiled to add more details to job role in paragraph 2)Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Jamie Freed Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF isn’t just winning the race — it’s lapping the competition BlackRock’s IBIT fund hauled $2.45 billion capturing around 80% of the entire $3 billion that flowed into Bitcoin ETFs BlackRock was the only ETF provider to post positive numbers IBIT investors accumulated $972 million in Bitcoin BlackRock’s supremacy over the market comes just as Donald Trump’s trade war with China sends shock waves through traditional asset classes Investors have been scrambling for uncorrelated alternatives that can weather geopolitical instability — favouring gold and Bitcoin Bitcoin has shown resilience during the recent market turmoil — rising about 13% in the past month while equities struggled and the dollar tumbled Bitcoin is “decoupling" from tech stocks, a narrative echoed by CNBC anchor, Scott Wapner, during Monday’s “Fast Money Halftime Report.” There are several factors driving the overwhelming concentration of capital BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager with more than $12 trillion under management creating a self-reinforcing network of liquidity Some of BlackRock’s top brass have also become de facto ambassadors for Bitcoin adoption “If you zoom out you tend to see the longer term fundamental thesis of Bitcoin really drives it to behave differently to traditional assets,” Jay Jacobs BlackRock’s head of US equity said last week “Crypto over the long run is decoupled from tech stocks,” he said And on Monday, the firm’s CIO of ETF and Index Investments, Samara Cohen, said “institutional investors are largely focused on Bitcoin, particularly in this environment.” Much like Bitcoin, which commands roughly 62% of the cryptocurrency market value BlackRock is the overarching leader of the ETF landscape The firm commands 50% market share with $53 billion in Bitcoin under management, according to Dune Analytics Fidelity Digital Assets lands in second place with $18 billion accounting for 16% of the market with $17 billion in Bitcoin under management Pedro Solimano is a markets correspondent based in Buenos Aires. Got a tip? Email him at psolimano@dlnews.com Written By:Sourabh Parihar Reviewed By:Pratima Pareek The financial sector is fast changing and undergoing a powerful transformation driven by environmental and technological accelerations The finance landscape is often volatile but extremely rewarding similar to the cryptocurrency market a leading asset manager and provider of investment BlackRock has entered the crypto world and more specifically blockchain space The fund aims to combine traditional investing tactics with the latest technology institutional investors want secure and innovative solutions BUIDL is BlackRock’s initial venture into tokenized assets which links stability of traditional markets with efficiency of blockchains This change represents a tectonic shift in how digital assets are perceived and used BUIDL has been introduced as a transformative product poised to reshape institutional finance It also provides a glimpse into the future of digital finance The BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) is BlackRock’s first tokenized fund developed for institutional investors and was introduced by Securitize and BlackRock in March 2024 The fund invests in high-quality short-term U.S BUIDL bridges the gap between traditional finance and blockchain providing institutional investors with the protection they require while introducing them to the efficiency and innovation of blockchain technology BUIDL offers various functionalities of tokenisation investment management and accessibility to the digital assets Following are some of the key functionalities of BUIDL:  one of the most stable and popular blockchains Tokenisation provides for real-time auditing of fund transactions which increases investor trust and transparency This functionality allows for smooth interaction with blockchain-powered financial systems government securities to maintain liquidity and reduce risk making BUIDL a good option for institutional investors looking for low-risk exposure to blockchain assets Investors can access BUIDL through platforms that specialise in digital asset trading such as ‘Securitize Markets.’ This accessibility broadens the fund’s appeal by allowing institutions to join the blockchain ecosystem without any technological obstacles BlackRock’s involvement in the crypto industry extends beyond BUIDL The asset manager’s engagement with the blockchain ecosystem is not new It has been active in the market by launching a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) that has attracted significant investments has also emphasised on the legitimacy of Bitcoin as an asset class which signals a shift in institutional attitude towards cryptocurrency BUIDL is a vital link between traditional and digital finance BUIDL attracts those institutional investors who are cautious of entering the cryptocurrency market BUIDL offers a tokenised fund backed by stable This makes it a low-risk investing alternative with the benefits of blockchain transparency The fund provides financial institutions with a realistic introduction to the blockchain ecosystem Its approach reduces risks while displaying the use and accessibility of tokenised assets The development allows traditional finance players to experiment with blockchain technology promoting increased trust and understanding of the digital asset market The success of BUIDL could inspire other asset managers to develop tokenised financial products As more institutions adopt these solutions the blockchain industry’s credibility will grow narrowing the gap between traditional and digital finance BUIDL’s emergence highlights the transformative potential of tokenisation for enhancing liquidity By tokenizing a trusted investment vehicle BlackRock’s BUIDL fund offers institutions a familiar structure for entering the blockchain arena This hybrid strategy ensures that investors get the benefits of blockchain technology while maintaining security and regulatory compliance The fund also simplifies the investment process for institutions BlackRock improves availability and liquidity by tokenising on the Ethereum blockchain This effort draws institutional investors who are hesitant but interested in digital assets where blockchain can be used easily in traditional finance BUIDL showcases BlackRock’s long-term plans of expanding into the blockchain space The fund shows its reach to multi-chain interoperability by expanding its integration with Avalanche This method increases its utility and makes it more accessible to cross-chain investors The fund represents its adaptability by enabling investors to benefit from increased liquidity and transparency across networks It demonstrates the benefits of a decentralised strategy BUIDL could act as a blueprint for new and innovative tokenised financial products As tokenisation attains mainstream acceptance BlackRock’s expertise and strategic initiatives position it at the forefront of this transformation BUIDL is more than a product; it provides an understanding to the investors that traditional and digital finance can seamlessly converge BlackRock’s BUIDL aims at building and contributing to the blockchain and crypto market It reveals that the traditional financial products could be made more accessible through digitisation By using blockchain technology to tokenize a traditional money market fund BlackRock is trying to change the way institutional investors interact with digital assets and stability in the financial environment BlackRock’s BUIDL fund is expected to play an important role in linking traditional finance and the digital economy With its multi-chain expansion and attention to innovation BUIDL signifies the future of institutional finance Also Read: BlackRock Pushes BUIDL Token as Collateral for Crypto Trades Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ac351e4a343f9c9e5907759c453a2077" );document.getElementById("h3fb7f912f").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay ahead of the curve with authentic news and exclusive in-sight reports only on The Crypto Times All NewsAI NewsExclusiveExplained About UsEditorial PolicyPress Release Contact UsCareerAdvertise With Us The $18.4trn reason to listen to BlackRock’s three lessons in 2025Wall Street and its biggest investors like the global investment giant influence the ASX more than anything else The 2025 market outlook pieces are flowing thick and fast Chief investment officers get a once-a-year free pass to stare into their crystal balls without being held accountable for last year’s performance While these reports are best read for what they are (marketing documents) one worth considering because of the firm’s sheer size and presence in financial markets globally is BlackRock’s