Australia Briefing
Good morning, it’s Keira here in Sydney. But first...Today’s must-reads:• Electricity market reforms • Australian immigrants learn to swim•
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Good morning, it’s Keira here in Sydney. But first...

Today’s must-reads:
Electricity market reforms 
Australian immigrants learn to swim
New Zealand to replace petrol tax 

What's happening now

A panel of independent experts has urged Australia to adopt sweeping electricity market reforms to unlock long-term investment in clean energy and improve access to hedging tools, as grid volatility intensifies.

A growing share of Australia’s immigrants are learning to swim as part of adapting to a beach-centric national culture, but limited access to public pools in diverse suburbs like Parramatta is a challenge.

New Zealand has announced plans for a radical reform of how it pays for roading, turning its back on petrol taxes that were first introduced almost a century ago.

Indonesia started sounding out investors Wednesday for its maiden Australian dollar-denominated bond deal after data earlier this week showed quarterly economic growth quickened to the fastest in two years.

New Zealand’s jobless rate rose to the highest in almost five years in the second quarter, the latest sign of an economic slowdown that could prompt the central bank to resume interest-rate cuts.

What happened overnight

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

Apple Inc. led US stocks higher, spurring what some call “animal spirits” among investors. In the tariff space, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over its purchases of Russian energy, while the Swiss were yet to strike a deal, weighing on the franc. The dollar ended lower against all major peers, helping Aussie and kiwi post solid gains. Australian trade data and New Zealand two-year ahead inflation expectations are due today. Stock futures indicate a soft open for Australian equities.

Emboldened by military successes and Trump's backing, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows no signs of letting up in the face of increased international pressure. As international condemnation intensifies — arms embargoes, arrest warrants, cultural boycotts — Israel is not merely defying the pressure, it is redefining itself. 

US President Donald Trump will apply an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over its ongoing purchases of Russian energy. Meanwhile, he said he would impose a 100% tariff on imports that include semiconductors, though would exempt companies moving production back to the United States.

Trump also indicated he would likely nominate a temporary Federal Reserve governor to fill the soon-to-be vacant seat on the central bank’s board within the coming days, rather than use the seat to signal his choice to replace Jerome Powell as chairman.

The US has entered talks with the Cook Islands to develop seabed mineral resources, just months after the South Pacific nation formalized cooperation pacts with China that included exploration for undersea deposits.

What to watch

• 11:30 a.m. Australia trade balance for June
• 1:00 p.m.  New Zealand two-year ahead inflation expectations

One more thing...

The Chota Char Dham, a circuit of four sacred Hindu sites, is one of the world’s fastest-growing tourist sites, attracting more visitors than the Statue of Liberty, the Tower of London, or Pompeii. It’s also one of the locations most at risk from devastating natural disasters as our planet warms, writes Bloomberg Opinion’s David Fickling. 

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