Michael Thompson

BHP hit a record high while gold stocks surged as the price of the precious metal jumped.

Newmont was up almost 7% while Regus Resources climbed more than 13%.

Energy companies moved the other way, though, with Woodside down almost 6% and Santos tumbling more than 8%.

In other corporate news, there was a lot going on today.

Sigma Healthcare, for instance, the owner of Chemist Warehouse, climbed more than 6% after it walked away from a potential $14 billion bid for UK pharmacy chain Boots.

We talked about that one last week.

And market operator ASX Limited rose 2.6% after it admitted 5%.

that a statement that it made back in early 2022 about its big chess technology upgrade was misleading.

It's also agreed to a $20.5 million penalty to settle a legal case with ASIC.

Story number two, as I mentioned, the peace deal out of the

in Switzerland on Friday to sign that agreement between the US and Iran.

The agreement will reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

It'll lift parts of the US blockade on Iran and begin a 60-day process for more detailed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.

President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough on social media, declaring that it would bring

peace and security to the whole region.

He also included the line in his statement, ships of the world, start your engines, let the oil flow.

Last little flourish.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif confirmed the deal having been a mediator during the process.

He said that the agreement meant, and I quote, immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Story number three, back home again, and Pauline Hanson has overtaken Anthony Albanese as Australia's preferred choice for Prime Minister.