U.S. equity markets continue to explore alternative routes to public listing. On Monday, Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp and Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company JVSPAC Acquisition Corp $JVSAU announced they have received regulatory approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to move forward with their planned business combination.

The S&P 500 Index $^SPX ended Monday’s session in positive territory as investors maintained a cautiously optimistic outlook on U.S. trade negotiations, even in the face of escalating protectionist measures. The uptick came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, intensifying economic pressure on key trade partners—most notably China.

Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced a 3.5% increase to the national minimum wage, effective from July 1, 2025. The decision directly impacts approximately 2.6 million of the country's lowest-paid workers and comes at a time when inflationary pressures are receding, giving policymakers room to support real income growth without reigniting price instability.