On a Thursday morning in August 2026, Australia's sharemarket reached an all-time high, carried upward by the ancient rhythm of geopolitics shaping commerce — word of potential peace between the United States and Iran sent ripples through global markets, loosening the grip of uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the commodity prices upon which Australia's economic identity so deeply rests. The S&P/ASX 200 climbed to 9,291.30 points, a record, as miners and gold producers surged on the twin tailwinds of easing oil fears and falling Treasury yields. It was a reminder that in a wor