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Commonwealth Bank hits $192 while BHP slides — What’s triggering this wild Aussie market tug-of-war

Banks fly high, miners tumble, and investors bet on a July rate cut as the ASX dances on a knife’s edge

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CBA Soars to $192 While BHP Stumbles: Is a July Rate Cut Fueling the ASX Chaos
While banks break records, miners hit turbulence — a snapshot of Australia’s volatile sharemarket dance.

It was a day of contrasting fortunes on the Australian sharemarket, as investors watched Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) soar to a fresh record while mining heavyweights like BHP and Fortescue Metals stumbled amid falling iron ore prices and inflation surprises that reignited interest rate cut hopes.

The ASX 200 index ended the day barely in the green — up just 3.70 points or 0.04%, closing at 8,559.20. Similarly, the broader All Ordinaries rose by a modest 0.06% to settle at 8,779.90.

While seven out of eleven sectors slipped into the red, gains in the financial sector provided a critical cushion. Leading the charge, CBA powered up by 1.7%, closing at a jaw-dropping $191.40, after reaching an intra-day high of $192, a figure that could rewrite its own history books.

Other banking giants followed suit:

  • ANZ jumped 1.8% to $29.10
  • NAB edged up 0.75% to $40.05
  • Westpac gained 0.73%, ending at $34.54

But just as the banks cheered, miners mourned.

The price of iron ore dipped to below $US93 per tonne on Tuesday, triggering a chain reaction among Australia’s mining titans.

  • BHP dropped 1.01% to $36.11
  • Rio Tinto fell 0.61% to $104.30
  • Fortescue Metals tumbled 2.30% to $14.88

The root of the market’s tug-of-war? All eyes are on the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), which is now tipped for a potential interest rate cut in July.

According to fresh ABS data, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the year to May rose by just 2.1%, lower than the expected 2.3%, while the trimmed mean inflation rate — a key RBA metric — stood at 2.4%.

Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist at HSBC, weighed in:

While the jobs market has remained resilient, GDP growth in Q1 was sluggish, and today’s data points to further disinflation… our central case sees the RBA cut by 25bp in Q3, with today’s data meaning that a cut in July is likely.

In Corporate Buzz:

  • Japanese firm Mixi is closing in on a full takeover of Pointsbet, after securing enough shareholder support. Pointsbet shares rose 1.27% to $1.20.
  • ASX-listed Betr, also chasing Pointsbet, saw its shares plunge 5.17% to $0.27.
  • DroneShield locked in a $61.1 million defence contract with a major European military, surpassing its entire 2024 revenue.
  • Humm Group soared 8% after revealing a takeover bid from Chairman Andrew Abercrombie’s family office.
  • Struggling casino operator Star Entertainment moved closer to its Bally’s rescue package as shareholders approved key motions that could hand control to the US gaming giant.

Sports

Lou Holtz confirms return to Fayetteville for Notre Dame vs Arkansas fans say history is repeating itself

Legendary coach Lou Holtz, who once led both Arkansas and Notre Dame, will attend the Week 5 clash between the Fighting Irish and Razorbacks in Fayetteville.

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Lou Holtz returns to Fayetteville for Notre Dame vs Arkansas Week 5 matchup
Lou Holtz, 88, will return to Fayetteville to watch Notre Dame face Arkansas, two programs he once led to national prominence.

College football is about more than just touchdowns and rivalries — it’s about history, legacy, and the legends who shaped the game. Few names embody that spirit like Lou Holtz.

The 88-year-old coaching icon confirmed through a video message posted by the Notre Dame Club of Arkansas that he will be in attendance at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday, September 27, when Notre Dame takes on Arkansas in a much-anticipated Week 5 non-conference matchup.

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A coach who belongs to both schools

Holtz’s connection to both programs is deep. After brief stints at William & Mary and NC State, he took the reins at Arkansas in 1977. His very first season set the tone — an 11-1 record capped off with an Orange Bowl victory. Over seven seasons, he delivered a 60-21-2 record, establishing the Razorbacks as national contenders.

But it was his decade at Notre Dame that turned him into a household name. From 1986 to 1996, Holtz rebuilt the Irish into a powerhouse, culminating in the 1988 national championship season. That undefeated 12-0 run remains one of the proudest chapters in Notre Dame history. To this day, Holtz is one of only three coaches to win at least 100 games with the Irish.

Lou Holtz returns to Fayetteville for Notre Dame vs Arkansas Week 5 matchup


A rivalry inside a friendship

Holtz has also remained in headlines for his fiery back-and-forth with Ryan Day, the head coach of Ohio State. Their exchanges, sometimes testy, have become a quirky subplot in the broader college football world — a reminder that Holtz’s passion for the game hasn’t dimmed even at 88.

The series years in the making

Saturday’s matchup marks the beginning of a long-awaited home-and-home series between Notre Dame and Arkansas. Originally announced back in 2017, the series was set to begin in 2020 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a reshuffling, pushing that leg of the matchup to 2028.

For fans, that makes this Fayetteville showdown even more meaningful. It’s more than just a football game — it’s the merging of two programs Holtz once guided, with the man himself watching from the stands.

Why it matters

For Arkansas fans, Holtz’s return is a chance to celebrate a golden era when he turned the Razorbacks into a national force. For Notre Dame, his presence recalls the last time the Irish reached the pinnacle of college football. And for the sport as a whole, it’s a reminder that legends never really leave — they simply return at the right time.

As Holtz makes the trip back to Fayetteville, fans from both sides will feel a sense of history in the air. Whether you wear the gold and blue of Notre Dame or the cardinal red of Arkansas, Saturday promises to be more than a game. It’s a reunion with one of college football’s greatest storytellers.

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Business & Finance

Dutch firm Amdax raises $23M to chase 1% of Bitcoin supply what it means for global markets

Crypto service provider Amdax launches AMBTS with bold plans to secure 210,000 BTC and list on Amsterdam’s Euronext exchange.

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Dutch crypto firm Amdax launches $23M AMBTS to target 1% of Bitcoin supply
Dutch firm Amdax launches AMBTS with a $23M raise to target 1% of global Bitcoin supply.

A new player has entered the global race for Bitcoin dominance. Dutch cryptocurrency service provider Amdax has raised €20 million ($23.3 million) to launch a new Bitcoin treasury company, AMBTS, with an audacious goal — to accumulate 1% of all Bitcoin that will ever exist.

ALSO READ : Trump family linked American Bitcoin seals Nasdaq debut after merger with Gryphon shareholders say yes

The announcement, made on Friday, confirmed that multiple investors participated in the initial funding round. AMBTS will operate as an independent, privately held firm with its own governance structure, aiming for a listing on Euronext Amsterdam.

If successful, AMBTS would eventually hold 210,000 BTC, currently valued at over $23 billion, cementing its place among the largest Bitcoin treasuries in the world.

AMBTS intends to leverage the capital markets to increase its Bitcoin holdings and sequentially generate equity appreciation and grow Bitcoin per share for its shareholders,” the company said in its announcement.

Corporate Bitcoin treasuries on the rise

The move by Amdax is part of a wider trend in which corporations have increasingly adopted Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. The strategy gained global attention in 2020 when Michael Saylor’s company MicroStrategy (then Strategy) pioneered the corporate Bitcoin treasury model.

Since then, the list of companies holding Bitcoin has expanded far beyond crypto-native firms. Electric vehicle giant Tesla, e-commerce powerhouse MercadoLibre, Brazilian fintech Méliuz, and even Canadian video platform Rumble have disclosed Bitcoin on their balance sheets.

Other notable adopters include Norway’s Aker ASA, Thai telecom Jasmine, U.S. coal producer Alliance, and investment manager Samara based in Malta. Each of these firms has contributed to a shrinking supply of Bitcoin available in circulation, reinforcing the narrative of scarcity that underpins Bitcoin’s market value.

International momentum builds

Amdax’s move comes on the heels of several other ambitious treasury strategies worldwide.

Earlier this week, Metaplanet, a Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm, approved plans to raise nearly $880 million, with most of the capital earmarked for Bitcoin purchases. Meanwhile, French semiconductor company Sequans Communications filed for a $200 million equity offering aimed at expanding its own Bitcoin treasury strategy.

At the same time, MicroStrategy continues to dominate the space. The company currently holds 632,457 BTC, worth more than $69.5 billion, representing more than 3% of all Bitcoin that will ever exist. In August alone, co-founder Michael Saylor hinted at three separate Bitcoin acquisitions, underscoring the company’s relentless pace.

A bold bet from Amsterdam

While $23 million is only a small step compared to MicroStrategy’s multibillion-dollar holdings, Amdax’s vision is clear — establish AMBTS as a European counterpart in the Bitcoin treasury race. Its decision to pursue a listing on Euronext Amsterdam reflects growing institutional demand for Bitcoin exposure in regulated financial markets.

As the firm sets out to acquire 210,000 BTC, one question looms large: can Amdax’s AMBTS secure its place among the titans of Bitcoin accumulation, or will the challenge of competing against giants like MicroStrategy prove too steep?

For now, the launch represents another signal that Bitcoin’s role as a corporate reserve asset is far from slowing down. The fight for who controls the world’s Bitcoin supply has just intensified — and Amdax wants a full 1% stake in it.

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Business & Finance

Trump family linked American Bitcoin seals Nasdaq debut after merger with Gryphon shareholders say yes

Gryphon Digital Mining shareholders approve a reverse merger with American Bitcoin, paving the way for Nasdaq trading under ticker ABTC.

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Trump family backed American Bitcoin merges with Gryphon for Nasdaq ABTC debut
Trump family-backed American Bitcoin merges with Gryphon to debut on Nasdaq as ABTC.

In a move that could reshape the landscape of public Bitcoin mining companies, Gryphon Digital Mining has officially approved its reverse merger with American Bitcoin, a crypto mining venture backed by the family of Donald Trump, the current President of the United States.

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The decision came after Gryphon shareholders voted in favor of the all-stock merger on Wednesday, with the company confirming the outcome on Friday. The deal sets the stage for a five-to-one reverse stock split and a rebranding of the combined company under the American Bitcoin name. Starting September 2 at 5:00 pm ET, the new entity will trade on Nasdaq under the ticker “ABTC.”

A dramatic shift for Gryphon

The reverse stock split will cut Gryphon’s outstanding shares to just 16.6 million from 82.8 million, streamlining the share base ahead of its new market debut. The merger provides American Bitcoin with a shortcut to public markets, leveraging Gryphon’s existing Nasdaq listing instead of pursuing a separate initial public offering.

Following the announcement, Gryphon’s stock experienced sharp volatility. After soaring 41% on Thursday, shares slid more than 10% on Friday as investors weighed both the excitement and risks of the deal.

The Trump family’s Bitcoin bet

American Bitcoin is no ordinary mining company. Launched in March after a rebrand from American Data Center, the project is spearheaded by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. The initiative was created in partnership with Hut 8, a well-known digital asset mining and infrastructure provider.

From the outset, American Bitcoin has marketed itself as a “pure-play” Bitcoin miner, with the explicit goal of amassing a substantial BTC treasury. Current disclosures confirm holdings of 215 BTC, but estimates from BitcoinTreasuries.net suggest the company could control as many as 1,941 BTC, positioning it among notable corporate Bitcoin holders.

Strategy and market impact

The merger theoretically fuses Gryphon’s low-cost mining operations with American Bitcoin’s bold accumulation strategy, creating a company designed to appeal to investors seeking both efficiency and aggressive exposure to the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

Industry observers note that this move comes amid a wider trend: public companies expanding their Bitcoin treasuries to hedge against inflation and attract crypto-focused investors. Collectively, listed firms now hold nearly 989,926 BTC, with MicroStrategy — led by Michael Saylor — accounting for almost 64% of the total corporate stash.

What’s next for ABTC?

As the merged entity prepares to debut on Nasdaq, questions remain about how investors will respond to its unique blend of political ties and crypto strategy. The Trump family connection adds a layer of intrigue, especially as regulatory scrutiny around digital assets intensifies in the United States.

For now, the merger signals a bold gamble: blending established infrastructure with an ambitious Bitcoin hoarding plan, all while entering the public markets under one of the most politically charged brand names in crypto history — American Bitcoin (ABTC).

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