Markets & Rates: The ASX 200 ended a volatile week down just under 1%, pressured by Middle East tensions, rising bond yields and renewed expectations of an RBA rate hike. AI & Data Infrastructure: Australian firms are investing in AI, but the bigger bottleneck is whether database infrastructure can handle new data volumes, faster freshness demands and unpredictable query patterns. Housing & Cost of Living: Reports point to a divided property market, with falling prices, higher rents and rate pressure weighing on affordability. Construction Skills Push: The federal government’s free upskilling push for mature workers aims to ease the construction labour crunch, fast-tracking experienced people into formal qualifications. Energy & Mining Deals: Exxaro agreed to sell its Moranbah South coal project to Stanmore for $105m as it trims noncore assets; Sibanye approved the restart of Tasmania’s Mt Lyell copper-gold mine, targeting first production in early 2029. Finance & Investment: IFM Investors is opening a Singapore office to expand Asian private credit origination and execution, supported by Export Finance Australia backing. Policy Watch: Australia’s privacy reform draft and child online safety debates abroad are raising compliance and risk questions for businesses.