IAG shares slip after CEO downplays easyJet bid
IAG shares fell 1.9% to 454.4 pence in London after CEO Luis Gallego said EU competition
Diageo Shares Tick Up While Dave Lewis Moves Ahead With Cuts
Diageo shares rose 0.33% to 1,534 pence Friday as CEO Dave Lewis pressed executives to meet cost-cutting targets, with an internal note on job cuts expected next week. Bank of America lowered
Glencore Dips in London as Congo Worker-Equity Law Puts Copper in Focus
Glencore shares fell 0.6% to 562.6 pence in London, extending recent losses amid uncertainty over Congo’s new rule requiring miners to give a 5% stake to local employees by July 31. Copper prices dropped 0.7% as Rio Tinto resumed shipments from Mongolia and the dollar hit a 13-month high, pressuring metals markets. Congo is a major source of Glencore’s copper and cobalt output.
Lloyds Banking Group slips after Bank of England holds rates
Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 1.6% to 104.35 pence Friday after the Bank of England left rates unchanged at 3.75% in a 7–2 vote. Lloyds repurchased 5 million shares Thursday at an average 105.45 pence, part of a £1.75 billion buyback. Barclays and NatWest shares also declined. European markets slipped as risk appetite faded.
Rolls-Royce Shares Close to 52-Week Top After SMR Agreement
Rolls-Royce shares traded near a 52-week high Friday, closing around 1,413 pence after Sweden selected its SMR nuclear technology for the Ringhals site. The deal, worth several billion pounds, is not finalized and the first reactor is expected in the mid-2030s. Analysts’ 12-month price targets average 1,425 pence. Rolls-Royce forecasts up to £4.2 billion in 2026 operating profit and £3.8 billion in free cash flow.
Shell Shares Advance on Brent Recovery, ARC and Buyback Pause in View
Shell shares rose 0.7% to 2,984 pence Friday morning in London, rebounding after a 2.4% drop Thursday. Shell paused its $3 billion buyback until July 14, ahead of the ARC Resources shareholder vote on the $16.4 billion buyout. Brent crude climbed above $80 as U.S.-Iran talks were scrapped, but oil prices remained on track for an 8% weekly loss. BP gained 1.5%, outpacing Shell.
WiseTech in Focus as Shares Head for Friday After CargoWise Outage, Tech Weakness Hits ASX
WiseTech shares fell 3.4% to A$37.00 Thursday after a two-hour global outage hit its CargoWise platform on June 17, disrupting customer access and messaging. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.62%, led by tech declines. Nasdaq rebounded 1.9% overnight, potentially lifting Australian software stocks Friday. WiseTech has not disclosed how many users were affected by the outage.
Xero (ASX:XRO) drops 3.9% with tech pressured by higher yields
Xero shares closed at A$71.64 on Thursday, down 3.94%, near a one-year low and extending a 37.1% drop for 2026. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.62% as tech stocks weakened after the Fed’s hawkish stance pushed bond yields higher. Xero’s May results showed FY26 revenue up 31% but net profit down 27%. The company projects FY27 revenue of up to NZ$3.73 billion and plans up to A$550 million in buybacks.
Northern Star Resources Stock Slips as Gold Selloff Tests Elliott-Fuelled Rebound
Northern Star closed Thursday at A$21.50, down 1.6%, despite remaining 16% higher than a week earlier. Gold futures dropped 3.1% after the Federal Reserve signaled possible rate hikes, pressuring sector stocks. Activist Elliott Investment Management holds a stake over A$1 billion and is pushing for board changes. Northern Star is seeking a new CEO and director, with its next quarterly report due July 29.
Qube shares up after ACCC approval for Macquarie-led $11.7 billion deal
Qube Holdings shareholders approved the A$11.7 billion sale to a Macquarie Asset Management-led group, with 98.11% support from those voting. Australia’s competition regulator cleared the deal, but foreign investment approvals in Australia and New Zealand are still pending. Qube shares closed at A$5.12 on Thursday, up 0.59%. The Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for July 7.
Xero (ASX:XRO) drops 3.9% with tech pressured by higher yields
Xero shares closed at A$71.64 on Thursday, down 3.94%, near a one-year low and extending a 37.1% drop for 2026. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.62% as tech stocks weakened after the Fed’s hawkish stance pushed bond yields higher. Xero’s May results showed FY26 revenue up 31% but net profit down 27%. The company projects FY27 revenue of up to NZ$3.73 billion and plans up to A$550 million in buybacks.
Northern Star Resources Stock Slips as Gold Selloff Tests Elliott-Fuelled Rebound
Northern Star closed Thursday at A$21.50, down 1.6%, despite remaining 16% higher than a week earlier. Gold futures dropped 3.1% after the Federal Reserve signaled possible rate hikes, pressuring sector stocks. Activist Elliott Investment Management holds a stake over A$1 billion and is pushing for board changes. Northern Star is seeking a new CEO and director, with its next quarterly report due July 29.
Qube shares up after ACCC approval for Macquarie-led $11.7 billion deal
Qube Holdings shareholders approved the A$11.7 billion sale to a Macquarie Asset Management-led group, with 98.11% support from those voting. Australia’s competition regulator cleared the deal, but foreign investment approvals in Australia and New Zealand are still pending. Qube shares closed at A$5.12 on Thursday, up 0.59%. The Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for July 7.
CSL Edges Up 1.2% While ASX Slips, Investors Test Turnaround
CSL shares rose 1.21% to A$108.08 on Thursday, outpacing the S&P/ASX 200, which fell 0.62%. The stock is up 5.52% for the week but remains down 54.87% over the past year. No new operational news drove the move, with investors seen adjusting positions after recent declines. CSL will report full-year earnings and its final dividend on August 18.
easyJet stock steady as IAG boss talks EU roadblocks to deal
easyJet shares traded near 501 pence on Thursday, up about 26% since Castlelake’s interest surfaced, but slipped 0.5% in line with the FTSE 250. Castlelake has until June 26 to make a formal bid or walk away. IAG and Air France-KLM both cited EU antitrust hurdles to any takeover. easyJet reported a £552 million first-half loss in May and warned on outlook due to high fuel costs.
Persimmon share price falls 6% after ex-dividend as UK rate worries return
Persimmon shares dropped 6.2% to 1,051 pence in London after going ex-dividend for a 40-pence payout. The Bank of England held its rate at 3.75% in a 7-2 vote, with two members backing a hike. The FTSE 350 homebuilding index fell 2.4%. UK home prices rose 3.8% in April, but June asking prices dropped 0.6%, the steepest June fall in 14 years.
Commonwealth Bank Stock Edges Higher as AI Push Meets Rate Risk
Sydney, June 20, 2026, 02:02 AEST Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares edged higher on Friday, bucking a broad market decline after the lender divided oversight of its technology operations between a new group chief information officer and group chief technology officer. Victoria Ledda and Rodrigo Castillo will take the respective roles from July 1, subject to regulatory approval. Chief Executive Matt Comyn said the bank remained focused on delivering “better, safer and more resilient technology for customers.” (Australian Financial Review) The modest gain matters because CBA carries about A$272 billion in market value and trades at roughly 26 times trailing
BHP sheds 5.6% with Jansen potash costs in focus
BHP shares fell 5.6% to A$61.40 Friday after the company raised its Jansen Stage 2 cost estimate to US$6.9 billion and flagged a US$2.3 billion impairment. The Stage 1 estimate also rose to US$8.4 billion. BHP kept its 2027 capex guidance near US$11 billion. Union talks on possible Port Hedland strikes are set for Tuesday.
CSL jumps 7.6% as buyers step back into healthcare stocks
CSL shares surged 7.6% to A$116.32 on Friday, their best session in over four years, despite the S&P/ASX 200 falling 0.92%. The stock traded over 8 million shares but remains 58% below its 52-week high. CSL has not issued new operating updates since June 9. Full-year results and a final dividend are due August 18.
J Sainsbury Shares Dip; Asda Books Loss, Tesco Growth Cools
Sainsbury shares traded at 300.9 pence, down 0.36% in London as of 15:37 BST. Asda reported a £989 million pretax loss for 2025 after sales fell 3.4%. Sainsbury’s continues its share buyback, purchasing 1.15 million shares on June 18 at an average 300.80 pence. Tesco’s UK like-for-like sales rose 1.8% in Q1, missing analyst forecasts.
Barratt Redrow stock slides after Rebecca Napier announced as CFO
Barratt Redrow named Rebecca Napier as CFO, effective Aug. 3, filling a key board vacancy amid a challenging UK housing market. Shares fell 0.9% to 261 pence late Friday, down 30.8% for the year. The next trading update is set for July 15. Napier previously held CFO roles at Britvic and British Airways.
Aviva Shares Up After Buyback Filing, Probitas Rebrand
Aviva shares closed up 0.13% at 634.8 pence, outperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.3% drop. The insurer cancelled 52,762 shares and redeemed £113.8 million in subordinated notes after a regulatory-capital event. Aviva expanded specialty insurance and pension-support distribution but kept earnings guidance unchanged.
Tate & Lyle stock stays around 552p as discount to Ingredion bid sticks
Tate & Lyle traded near 552p in late London hours Friday, 43p below Ingredion’s 595p-per-share cash bid. The FTSE 250 slipped about 0.7% as risk appetite cooled. Tate & Lyle shares went ex-dividend for 13.2p on June 18; holders on June 19 will be paid July 31. The deal, backed by both boards and major shareholder Huber Equity, is set to close in the second half of 2027 pending approvals.
Vodafone slips 1.2% as debt worries, Germany pressure weigh
Vodafone shares fell 1.24% to 107.35 pence Friday, marking a fifth straight daily loss and a 7.43% drop over five sessions. The company priced $3.5 billion in new unsecured notes this week ahead of its planned £4.3 billion VodafoneThree buyout. Barclays downgraded Vodafone, citing ongoing subscriber losses in Germany. Net debt rose to €25.4 billion, with fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDAaL at €11.4 billion.
Admiral Group slips after RBC cuts rating on UK motor pricing concerns
Admiral shares fell as much as 5.8% Friday after RBC downgraded the stock and cut its 2026 profit forecast, citing slower UK motor pricing. The bank now expects group pretax profit to drop 8% and trimmed its UK motor profit outlook by 5%. Admiral posted a record £1 billion UK motor profit in 2025, but group turnover slipped 1% as rates and premiums fell. UK motor premiums averaged £560 in Q1, down £20 year-on-year.
Informa gets Citi upgrade, shares climb as Gulf travel risks recede
Informa shares rose 1.6% to 877.2 pence Friday after Citi upgraded the stock to “buy” and raised its price target. The company reported 6.4% underlying revenue growth in the first five months and maintained its 2026 earnings outlook. About 90% of its live-events business is growing outside Middle East conflict zones, though over 15 brands have been postponed to 2026. Interim results are due July 30.
3i Group Drops 1.8% in London With Action Still in Focus
3i Group fell 1.8% to 2,205 pence in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100 after going ex-dividend for a 48-pence payout. Action, which makes up nearly three-quarters of 3i’s portfolio, reported slower sales growth and weaker margins. 3i shares traded about 27% below net asset value. The company’s next update is due July 23.
Antofagasta Shares Fall Almost 4% with Copper Prices Lower, Pricing Change in Spotlight
Antofagasta shares fell 3.8% to 4,012 pence in London after the miner proposed linking copper-concentrate processing charges to spot indexes, replacing fixed fees. First-quarter copper output dropped 8% to 143,000 tonnes, but the company kept its 2026 target of 650,000–700,000 tonnes.
Centrica trades steady close to 173p after 6.7% weekly drop
Centrica shares traded flat at 173.35 pence Friday, down 6.7% for the week and 21% below April’s 52-week high. No new company announcements have explained the drop. The stock underperformed other UK utilities and the FTSE 100, despite steady oil prices. Centrica reports interim results July 23, with the market focused on retail profit guidance and infrastructure earnings.
IHG shares slip 1.3% as London trading pares back weekly rise
IHG shares fell 1.3% to $168.90 in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100. The company bought back 20,000 shares at an average $171.12 each, to be cancelled. IHG signed a franchise deal for Sweden’s first Hotel Indigo in Stockholm, aiming for a 2029 opening. The stock remains up about 1.5% for the week.
Legal & General Dips 0.7% with UK Rate and Gilt Risks in Focus
Legal & General shares fell 0.7% to 283.1 pence in London on Friday as UK gilt yields rose after public sector borrowing exceeded forecasts. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% in a 7–2 vote, with two members backing a hike. L&G began a £600 million buyback phase set to finish by September 18. The company also announced a new three-year tech partnership with Microsoft.
Bunzl Stock Falls With Elliott Activist Watch Ahead of June 23 Update
Bunzl shares fell 0.16% to 2,490 pence in London after gains from Elliott Investment Management’s activist stake faded. Elliott is urging a strategic review of Bunzl’s North America unit and a buyback of up to 10% of market value. Investors await the June 23 trading update for details on US margins and shareholder returns. Bunzl’s market cap stands near £8.1 billion.
IAG shares slip after CEO downplays easyJet bid
IAG shares fell 1.9% to 454.4 pence in London after CEO Luis Gallego said EU competition rules make a takeover of easyJet “very difficult.” Investors approved a €0.05 final dividend per share, payable from June 29. IAG completed a €500 million buyback and started another. The company ended 2025 with a 15.1% operating margin but gave no new 2026 guidance.
Tesco Down 2% as UK Sales Growth Slows
Tesco shares fell 2.25% to 442.2 pence in London Friday after quarterly UK like-for-like sales rose 1.8%, missing analyst forecasts. Total UK and Ireland sales reached £13.44 billion. Tesco kept its profit guidance and continued its £750 million share buyback. CEO Ken Murphy cited poor spring weather and Middle East conflict as factors behind the slowdown.
Reckitt shares slip after £1 billion buyback ends, cost risks linger
Reckitt shares fell 0.7% to 4,616 pence in London, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.3% drop. The company completed its £1 billion share buyback this week and faces margin pressure after missing first-quarter revenue estimates. An Illinois court overturned a $60 million verdict against its Mead Johnson unit, but nearly 1,000 similar lawsuits remain. Half-year results are due July 29.
Prudential share price slips as Hong Kong wealth scrutiny clouds Asia growth
Prudential shares dropped 0.7% to 1,002.5 pence in London on Friday, lagging a nearly flat FTSE 100, as investors focused on China’s tighter controls on offshore wealth. The company’s June 18 sustainability roadshow offered no new earnings guidance. First-quarter new business profit rose 10% to $686 million, while annual premium equivalent sales climbed 6% to $1.823 billion.