WH Smith (LON:SMWH) high-street sale faces investor focus after TG Jones court delay
TG Jones, which bought WH Smith’s high street stores, was still waiting on a High Court
South32 Ltd (ASX:S32) share price bounce leaves June selloff intact before quarterly update
South32 Ltd entered Tuesday’s pre-open after a 1.79% rise on Monday, but the bounce did little to repair June’s damage. The miner closed at A$3.98; since June 22 it is down 4.1%,
National Grid stock climbs, £70bn grid plan exceeds market cap
National Grid plc added ground Monday, outpacing the broader London market. Investors continued to pile in, backing a regulated asset-growth pitch with a footprint that now outstrips the company's equity value. The stock was last seen at 1,255p, up 0.76%, at 15:02:06 BST. It traded between 1,239.5p and 1,257p so far today. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.06% on the same feed. Reuters said UK shares lost ground earlier after Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment.
Lloyds (LON:LLOY) buyback questioned as mortgages drop, stock eyes 109p
Lloyds Banking Group plc shares saw a slight gain in late-morning trade in London on Monday. The move came as new data showed UK mortgage approvals dropped about 15% in May, raising questions for Lloyds, given its heavy reliance on home loans. Lloyds traded up on delayed UK quotes, with two other local bank stocks down.
easyJet (LON:EZJ) stock trails Castlelake offer on deal terms snag
easyJet plc shares remain priced with a takeover discount, after the airline gave Castlelake access to only limited commercial information. The delayed quote showed the stock at 580.2p to sell, 580.6p to buy, off 0.51% for the day. Shares opened at 587p and closed previously at 583p. The discount figure is what investors are watching. Castlelake put forward a fourth offer at 650p a share in cash. easyJet turned it down, calling it too low, but said more access to data could bring a “more attractive proposal”.
IAG shares dip on Heathrow cost dispute, offsetting oil price drop and dividend
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA shares dropped Monday. But for investors, fuel wasn’t the only concern. The British Airways parent is trading close to its old highs, as a new dispute about who pays for Heathrow’s expansion brings attention to a costly item the company can’t hedge. IAG was last at 473.25 pence, off 9.45 pence, as of 0946 BST. Volume was 2.24 million shares. The stock is trading 3.99% under its 52-week high of 492.90 pence from June 25, but it's still up 39.5% for the year, per delayed market data.
BAE Systems (LON:BA) buyback case looks better after shares fall with UK defence review coming
BAE Systems plc had a mixed week, bouncing on Friday while the broader market slumped, but still posted a lower finish over five days. The dip means its fresh buyback program will pick up more shares with the same money. BAE closed at 1,808p in London, up 0.89% for the day, Hargreaves Lansdown data said. The FTSE 100 lost 0.21% on Friday. But BAE finished the week 2.1% lower than last Friday's close.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 04.08.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: August 4, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: August 4, 2026, 4:50 PM EDT ASX Explorers Push Aggressive Drill Strategy Seen in Canada August 4, 2026, 4:43 PM EDT. Australian explorers trading on the ASX are starting to take on a drill hard or go home mindset like their Canadian peers. The new push is all about fast, heavy drilling to prove up resources and pull in investors. For years, Canadian miners have used this high-speed drilling to get projects moving and build confidence. Now a growing number of ASX players are going the same route as they look
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 03.08.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: August 3, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: August 4, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT Frasers Group CEO Could Get £100m Payout on 50% Share Jump as Deals Stack Up August 4, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT. Frasers Group (LSE:FRAS) chief Michael Murray stands to pocket a £100m bonus if shares reach £12 by 2030, a 50% climb from the current £8. The remuneration committee called the target a ‘realistic stretch.’ As organic growth slows in retail, Frasers is piling into acquisitions, taking stakes in Debenhams, Asos, and pushing to own all of Hugo Boss in Germany, which trades at about
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 02.08.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: August 2, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: August 3, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT S&P 500 Delivers Strong 2026, But Dell (NYSE:DELL) Triples Investment August 3, 2026, 3:58 AM EDT. A £100,000 stake in the S&P 500 turned into £109,000 in 2026 as the index gained 8.3%, or 9% including dividends. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) did far better, with a 206.8% jump pushing the same amount to £306,800. Dell’s sharp move came as it took the lead in AI-focused servers. The company said AI server revenue for Q1 fiscal 2027 was up 757% year-on-year to $16.1 billion. The numbers put
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 01.08.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: August 1, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: August 2, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT Sydney Auction Clearance Rate Drops to 48% as Price Pressure Builds August 2, 2026, 3:53 AM EDT. The auction clearance rate in Sydney dropped to 48% last week, off 5 points, Domain Group said. That’s well below the 60% mark seen as balanced, pointing to more price falls ahead. A two-bedroom semi in Leichhardt was bought by a young couple for the reserve price of A$1.7 million after getting passed in. Sydney house prices slid 3.3% over the June quarter. Agents reported more buyer interest,
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 31.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 31, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: August 1, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT Rentokil Drops 20% After Margin Cut, Slower Q2 Growth August 1, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT. Shares of Rentokil Initial (LSE:RTO) tumbled about 20% after the pest control giant lowered its 2027 North America operating margin goal and posted weaker organic growth at 2.4% for Q2 against 2.8% in Q1. First-half revenue and adjusted operating profit still climbed 6.7% and 6.6%. The stock is now trading at a forward P/E near 19. Debt improved, with leverage at 2.4. CEO Mike Duffy said he expects North America
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 29.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 29, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 30, 2026, 3:56 AM EDT Endeavour Mining (LSE:EDV) Posts $761M H1 Free Cash Flow as Gold Prices Climb July 30, 2026, 3:56 AM EDT. Endeavour Mining PLC said first-half free cash flow hit a record US$761 million after another jump in gold prices. The company, which trades in London and Toronto under (LSE:EDV) and (TSX:EDV), said it took advantage of strong gold to boost cash and stay flexible. The miner said higher prices helped offset market swings. Analysts called the print a good sign for gold miners as global economic
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 28.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 28, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 29, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT ResMed CDI (ASX:RMD) falls 16.78% for the year as 2026 value outlook stays mixed July 29, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT. ResMed CDI (ASX:RMD) shares have dropped 16.78% year-to-date as investors weigh the stock’s outlook. The company, which is based in San Diego and started in Australia, makes CPAP machines for sleep apnea and cloud-linked software. ResMed posted annual revenue of $4.685 billion, which gave it a 13.6% compound annual revenue growth over three years. Gross margin was 57.4%, and profits hit $1.021 billion, rising at
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 24.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 24, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 25, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT Lane Cove Apartment Draws Only Single Bid, Sells Below Guide as Sydney Auction Market Struggles July 25, 2026, 3:57 AM EDT. A two-bedroom apartment in Lane Cove sold for $785,000 under the hammer, with just one bid recorded. Agents had hoped for more competition, guiding buyers at $790,000. The reserve sat at the same level as the lone bid. Auctioneer Pete Matthews called current conditions the toughest in his 30-year career, saying even the GFC didn’t compare. The unit was one of 451 auctions scheduled
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 22.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 22, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 23, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX:FLT) drops 21% this year as debt clouds recovery outlook July 23, 2026, 3:57 AM EDT. Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX:FLT) shares are down 20.8% year-to-date. Revenue has jumped, with three-year CAGR at 89.8% to $2.7 billion. The company swung from a $433 million loss to a $140 million profit. Gross margin is now 42.4%. Net debt stays high at $283 million-raising questions on leverage and interest expense. Debt-to-equity wasn’t disclosed but matters for balance sheet strength. FLT’s mix of
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 16.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 16, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 17, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT ASX slips 0.5%, miners hit hard; index flat for the week July 17, 2026, 3:47 AM EDT. The S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.5% Friday and finished the week little changed. Miners weighed heavily, with materials off more than 3%. BHP dropped 3% as it cut copper guidance. Regis Resources tumbled 8% after weaker FY27 guidance and an accounting issue. Higher oil prices and geopolitical worries fueled selling in gold and copper names. Energy and defensive sectors helped limit broader losses. Across Asia, major indexes slumped: South
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 10.07.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 10, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 11, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT What it Takes to Build a £1 Million SIPP in 20 Years July 11, 2026, 3:45 AM EDT. To hit £1 million in a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) over 20 years, it comes down to how much you pay in and your investment returns. On a 10% compound annual return from dividends and share price gains, the monthly contribution needed is about £1,395. Because SIPPs get tax relief, that drops the cost for basic-rate taxpayers to £1,116 a month. That monthly figure is under the
London stocks lagged Tuesday as FTSE 100 missed surge in other corners
The FTSE 100 edged lower Thursday, though the main index drop didn’t tell the whole story. A big pharmaceutical stock weighed on the benchmark, but banks, miners, tech names and mid-cap shares all moved up in the background. FTSE 100 slipped 0.2% to 10,472.5. Gains in banks, up 2.2%, and miners, both industrial and precious-metal names, up over 4%, couldn’t make up for AstraZeneca’s trial news. The FTSE 250 added 1.0%, breaking a three-day losing streak and suggesting investors aren’t just pulling out of UK names.
Rio Tinto Just Bounced. The Volume Tells a Different Story
Rio Tinto plc climbed on Thursday, clawing back just over half of the previous session’s drop, as investors moved back into large miners before next week’s production update and after a rough day for London equities. The shares closed up 2.85% at 6,675 pence, while the FTSE 100 fell 0.16% to 10,472.45. The harder number was volume: 1.6 million shares changed hands, against a 65-day average of 2.56 million, suggesting the rebound was not yet a full-throated reversal of Wednesday’s selloff.
Adnams Shares Trade in £300,000 Block as Small Brewer Runs Turnaround Math
Adnams plc Class B got a jolt of activity Thursday, as a single £300,000 chunk traded in the afternoon and ended up making up nearly all of the session’s turnover. The mid-price held steady at 1,600p after the AQSE close. Aquis data showed 18,851 shares moved in three trades, about 6.6% of Adnams’ B ordinary shares. The final trade came at 15:43 BST. Liquidity mattered more than price here. The main trade was 18,750 shares at 1,600p, almost all the day’s volume at 99.5%. The spread stayed so wide it could take out half the mid-price. For a stock this illiquid, that’s the story—not momentum, at least not now.
Unilever (ULVR.L) Sinks After $66 Billion Food Deal Hit by More Terry Smith Criticism
Unilever PLC dropped almost 2% in London on Thursday, giving up most of Tuesday’s bounce. The move came as ex-shareholder Terry Smith renewed criticism of its $66 billion food deal, keeping focus on management and governance instead of product lines or profit margins. Delayed data from AJ Bell put the shares at 4,566p, off 1.9%, with market cap just under £98 billion. Based on Tuesday’s £46.89 close, the drop has wiped out about £2.6 billion from Unilever’s equity value. This matters now because the latest drop isn’t about a new profit warning. Investors are reacting to Unilever’s plan for a new structure. The company aims to dig further into beauty, wellbeing, personal care and home care, while splitting off Foods
Northern Star Resources Shares Slide as Gold Selloff Puts CEO Reset Under Pressure
Northern Star Resources heads into Thursday’s ASX session on the back foot after its shares fell 1.69% to A$20.31 in the previous session, caught in a broader selloff in Australian gold names as bullion retreated. The S&P/ASX 200, the main local share benchmark, closed 0.21% lower at 8,785.10 on Wednesday. The market had not yet opened at the dateline time. With July 9 not listed among ASX’s 2026 market closures, regular cash trading was due to start at 9:59 a.m. Sydney time and run to 4 p.m.
Macquarie Shares Slip Near 52-Week High as Oil Shock Tests Deal Revival
Macquarie Group Ltd ended lower on Wednesday, slipping 0.5% to A$252.04 as Australian shares softened ahead of Thursday’s open, with investors balancing a strong earnings backdrop against fresh oil and rate worries. The stock last traded just below its A$254.31 52-week high and carried a market value of about A$96.69 billion. That makes the next few sessions less about one day’s price move and more about how much good news is already in the stock. Macquarie has gained 24.8% in 2026, according to Intelligent Investor data, outpacing many domestic financial names and leaving less room for disappointment before its July 23 annual meeting.
FTSE 100 drops as oil surge stokes rate fears
UK stocks fell Wednesday as oil’s rally stopped being an easy win for London. Brent prices lifted BP and Shell, but higher oil brought rate fears back. The FTSE 100 had energy names up, but most other shares fell. FTSE 100 lost ground Wednesday, showing the index hasn’t been a safe spot for investors. Still, it’s up 5.62% in 2024 and has gained 18.29% over the last 12 months, so there were profits on the table before the drop. The easy path for UK stocks in June now faces stiffer tests as earnings season arrives in July.
FTSE 100 slips after Trump ends Iran deal, oil surges
FTSE 100 drops even as oil majors BP and Shell climb. Crude prices rose, energy was the standout sector, but the main index still logged its steepest loss in almost eight weeks. Investors saw that London’s exposure to oil couldn’t shield the broader market once crude shifted into a rates and inflation story. London markets were closed at the time of writing. The LSE runs from 8:00 to 16:30 local. Moves below show closes or the last confirmed trades, not live prices.
Anglo American share sell-off puts copper merger premium back on trial
Anglo American plc did not trade like a company hit by a fresh profit warning. It traded like a crowded restructuring and copper-merger position being marked down before the next production update. The latest confirmed regulatory item was a July 1 total voting rights notice, not an operating update, so the day’s price action looks market-led first and company-specific second. The closing screen was blunt: