Diageo dips 1.5% on LSE as investors watch for cost-cut news
Diageo shares fell 1.5% Monday in London, erasing about £480 million in market value, nearly matching
National Grid drops as high gilt yields, UK political risk weigh on shares
National Grid shares fell 0.7% to 1,203.5p in London on Monday, trailing the FTSE 100 after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation. The stock traded between 1,193.5p and 1,215.5p by midday,
British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) Rebounds — Why Friday’s 12.7m-Share Sell-Off May Overstate the Damage
British American Tobacco shares rose 0.4% to 4,356p in early London trading Monday, recovering part of Friday’s 1.43% drop. Friday’s turnover hit 12.7 million shares, nearly triple the 50-day average, amid FTSE index rebalancing. BAT disclosed buybacks at an average 4,531.7p per share, about 4% above Monday’s price. No change to 2026 profit or revenue guidance was announced.
Barclays (LSE: BARC) up as buyback nears completion
Barclays shares rose 0.26% to 497.75p in early London trading after a new share-cancellation filing. The bank has bought back 101.4 million shares for £455.9 million, using 91% of its £500 million buyback program. Barclays’ share count now stands at 13.52 billion. About £44 million remains in buyback capacity.
Two US Reactors Hit Critical in Two Weeks as Pentagon Presses Nuclear Effort
Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactor reached zero-power criticality in Utah on June 18, the second advanced U.S. reactor to do so in two weeks. The Army and Defense Innovation Unit have committed over $2 billion for military microreactor development. A third reactor is slated for criticality by July 4. The military aims to have an operational reactor by September 2028.
WiseTech Global stock near lows as CargoWise outage tests confidence
WiseTech Global closed Friday at A$36.88, down 0.3% and just above its 52-week low, after a June 17 outage hit its CargoWise platform. The company restored service within hours but did not say how many users were affected. JPMorgan downgraded the stock and cut its price target to A$40. WiseTech forecasts FY26 revenue of up to US$1.44 billion and EBITDA up to US$585 million.
Lynas shares start week up; G7 supply effort and CEO departure in focus
Lynas Rare Earths closed Friday at A$18.18, up 2% for the day and 2.3% for the week, with trading volume nearly double the average. Chief Operating Officer Pol Le Roux will take over as interim CEO when Amanda Lacaze retires at the end of June. Lynas recently secured a deal to supply Japan 5,000 tonnes of NdPr per year at a minimum of US$110 per kilogram through 2038. The company posted March-quarter sales of A$265 million.
Greatland Resources shares jump 11% in a week, gold prices in focus
Greatland Resources shares fell 4.5% Friday to A$13.59 but ended the week up 11%. The company expects to update the Telfer Ore Reserve and close a A$225 million debt tranche by month’s end. Spot gold slipped 0.9% to US$4,169.44 an ounce, pressured by a stronger dollar and hawkish U.S. rate signals. Telfer produced 82,723 ounces of gold and 4,128 tonnes of copper in the March quarter.
Liontown shares drop 9% on lithium retreat, brokers cautious
Liontown shares closed at A$1.98 Friday, down 2.9% for the day and 9.2% for the week, with volume more than triple the average. The stock fell despite no new company news, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200, which rose 0.3%. Analyst price targets range from A$0.70 to A$2.90. Liontown reported March-quarter revenue of A$197 million, but costs and lithium price declines remain concerns.
Xero Trades Near 52-Week Low; Melio Testing Sets Pace for ASX
Xero closed Friday at A$71.88, up 0.34% for the day but down 2.2% for the week, near its 52-week low. Shares have dropped 37.1% in 2026, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200. Investors remain cautious ahead of the August 27 annual meeting, watching for signs the Melio acquisition can boost growth without further hurting margins. Xero forecasts full-year revenue up to NZ$3.73 billion and adjusted EBITDA up to NZ$920 million.
Greatland Resources shares jump 11% in a week, gold prices in focus
Greatland Resources shares fell 4.5% Friday to A$13.59 but ended the week up 11%. The company expects to update the Telfer Ore Reserve and close a A$225 million debt tranche by month’s end. Spot gold slipped 0.9% to US$4,169.44 an ounce, pressured by a stronger dollar and hawkish U.S. rate signals. Telfer produced 82,723 ounces of gold and 4,128 tonnes of copper in the March quarter.
Liontown shares drop 9% on lithium retreat, brokers cautious
Liontown shares closed at A$1.98 Friday, down 2.9% for the day and 9.2% for the week, with volume more than triple the average. The stock fell despite no new company news, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200, which rose 0.3%. Analyst price targets range from A$0.70 to A$2.90. Liontown reported March-quarter revenue of A$197 million, but costs and lithium price declines remain concerns.
Xero Trades Near 52-Week Low; Melio Testing Sets Pace for ASX
Xero closed Friday at A$71.88, up 0.34% for the day but down 2.2% for the week, near its 52-week low. Shares have dropped 37.1% in 2026, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200. Investors remain cautious ahead of the August 27 annual meeting, watching for signs the Melio acquisition can boost growth without further hurting margins. Xero forecasts full-year revenue up to NZ$3.73 billion and adjusted EBITDA up to NZ$920 million.
NEXTDC Shares Edge Higher as GE1 Geelong Data Centre Moves Forward
NEXTDC shares closed at A$15.18 Friday, up 1.6%, capping a 4.3% weekly gain. Kapitol Group began construction on NEXTDC’s GE1 edge data centre near Geelong, with first-stage opening targeted for late 2027 and costs near A$85 million. State Street cut its stake to 10.48%. Macquarie Technology Group plans to open its IC3 Super West facility in Sydney in September.
Accenture Stock Crash Puts AI Threat to Consulting Model Under Scrutiny
Accenture shares plunged 18% to $127.98, their steepest one-day drop on record, after the company cut its annual revenue growth forecast and reported a decline in new bookings. Third-quarter revenue rose 6% to $18.72 billion, but consulting growth slowed and Middle East business took a $400 million hit from the Iran conflict. The warning dragged down peers including IBM and Cognizant.
Macquarie Group Up 3% This Week; Eyes on Australia Inflation Data
Macquarie shares closed at A$249.82 Friday, down 1.17% for the day but up 3% for the week, outpacing Commonwealth Bank and the ASX 200. The Reserve Bank of Australia held rates at 4.35% as investors await May inflation and jobs data. Macquarie’s full-year net profit jumped 30% to A$4.85 billion, boosted by commodity trading and asset sales. The company will pay a A$4.20 final dividend on July 2.
CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) drops 3% with rebound meeting resistance
CSL shares fell 2.96% to A$112.88 on Monday, reversing a 7.62% surge from Friday that saw unusually high trading volume. No new company update accompanied the moves. The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.1%, with CSL dropping more sharply than the broader market. CSL’s next full-year results are due August 18.
Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) stock pinned at A$5.10 as IFM nears control threshold
Atlas Arteria closed at A$5.10, matching IFM Investors’ bid, after 59.1 million shares traded and IFM’s stake rose above 45%. The board is targeting at least A$0.60 in distributions and has entered exclusive talks to sell the Warnow Tunnel to Eiffage. Crossing 50% would extend IFM’s offer and could trigger financing tied to Atlas’s Chicago Skyway stake. Independent directors continue to advise shareholders to reject the bid.
BHP (ASX:BHP) share price falls again as Jansen costs test capital discipline
BHP shares fell 1.73% to A$60.34 Monday, extending a two-day loss to 7.2% after the company raised Jansen Stage 2 cost estimates to US$6.9 billion. Nearly A$24 billion in market value has been wiped out since Friday. BHP’s New York shares dropped about 2.3% in late-morning trade. The S&P/ASX 200 slipped just 0.1%, with BHP alone accounting for most of the decline.
Autotrader Group up in London as buyback plan and China brands fuel EPS hopes
Autotrader shares rose 1.4% to 484.9 pence Monday, outpacing the FTSE 100. The company bought back and cancelled 5 million shares last week, reducing voting rights to 790.47 million. Chinese automakers made up 15.8% of UK new-car registrations this year and 43% of the plug-in hybrid segment, according to Autotrader.
Babcock International (LSE:BAB) shares fall 6.5% as Type 31 risks offset buyback
Babcock shares fell 7.2% in London on Monday, leading FTSE 100 fallers after the company detailed remaining risks in its £1.25 billion Type 31 frigate contract. Full-year underlying operating profit dropped 19% to £293.3 million after a £140 million charge. Revenue rose to £5.18 billion. Babcock estimates about £700 million of Type 31 costs remain.
IMI drops off year high after £500 million buyback cuts shares
IMI plc fell 1.38% to 2,996 pence in London on Monday, retreating from Friday’s one-year high. The company bought back 54,318 shares at an average of £30.31 each, reducing issued capital to 250.56 million shares, down 3.5% since February. IMI’s buyback program could reach £500 million, with J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Numis managing the purchases. The FTSE 100 rose 0.56%.
Coca-Cola HBC stock (LSE:CCH) rises as World Cup mix, Africa deal timing draw focus
Coca-Cola HBC AG shares traded near 4,560 pence in late London trade, up 0.4% and trailing the FTSE 100’s 0.6% rise. First-quarter volume growth slowed to about 3.5% after adjusting for extra selling days, while revenue per case rose 1.8%. The company will hold a South Africa investor roadshow June 29-30 before releasing half-year results August 5. Brent crude fell over 2% to $78.83, easing some freight and energy cost pressures.
Halma shares close flat at 3,954p as photonics focus weighs on premium
Halma shares closed down 0.15% at 3,954p on Monday, remaining 19% below their June 3 peak. A single hyperscale tech customer now accounts for 20% of group revenue and 54% of last year’s revenue growth. Halma forecasts low-double-digit organic growth through March 2027, with photonics contributing five percentage points, down from eight last year. The FTSE 100 rose 0.59%.
Marks & Spencer (LSE:MKS) climbs 3% as UK retail mix helps margins
Marks & Spencer shares rose 3.3% to 359.5 pence on Monday, outpacing other UK retailers. Retail volumes in May climbed 1.2%, led by department stores and online sales, according to official data. M&S’s Fashion, Home & Beauty segment saw operating margin fall to 5.5% last year, with each margin point worth about £39 million in profit. Online sales at M&S remain less profitable than in-store.
Imperial Brands holds steady as buyback and index moves lend support
Imperial Brands bought back 320,000 shares Friday for about £8.8 million, reducing its share count to 770.8 million. The stock traded near 2,740 pence Monday, underperforming the FTSE 100. Two iSTOXX indexes added Imperial, but the impact from passive flows appeared limited. First-half operating profit rose 0.6%, trailing analyst expectations for the year.
Diageo dips 1.5% on LSE as investors watch for cost-cut news
Diageo shares fell 1.5% Monday in London, erasing about £480 million in market value, nearly matching its $625 million three-year savings target. Shares touched a session low of 1,498.5 pence before recovering slightly. Pernod Ricard and Rémy Cointreau also declined, reflecting broader weakness in European spirits stocks. Investors await details on Diageo’s restructuring and possible job cuts.
SSE Shares Edge Higher with Grid Debt Linked to Indexation (LSE:SSE)
SSE shares rose 1.2% to 2,352 pence Monday, outperforming the FTSE 100, which gained 0.6%. The company’s recent €1.3 billion hybrid bond sale and indexed network-debt allowances provide some financing cushion, but do not eliminate project or valuation risk. SSE’s leverage stood at 3.3 times EBITDA as of March 31, with £1.7 billion debt maturing in the next year. No new trading update was issued.
GSK Stock Slips as Tivicay Priority Review Sets Up Busy FDA Calendar (LSE:GSK)
GSK shares fell 0.6% to around 1,914 pence on Monday, trailing a rising FTSE 100, after the FDA granted priority review to a filing to extend Tivicay PD to newborns. The agency set an August 25 decision date. European regulators also validated a similar application. The muted stock reaction reflects limited near-term sales impact and focus on upcoming regulatory milestones.
LSE slides as debate on AI risk halts rebound
LSEG shares fell 0.5% to 8,416p on Monday, extending last week’s losses after Rothschild & Co Redburn downgraded the stock and cut its price target to £104. The broker warned that up to 30% of group EBITDA could face pressure from AI-driven competition in data and workflow products. Investors await interim results on July 30. LSEG’s first-quarter income rose 9.8% on an organic, constant-currency basis.
Fresnillo shares edge up 2.7% on silver gains, Sinda IPO move
Fresnillo shares rose 2.7% to 3,051.5 pence in London after the miner agreed to buy up to 5% of Sinda Ltd at its planned New York IPO price. Sinda aims to raise up to $235.2 million, valuing the company at as much as $1.97 billion. Fresnillo’s investment could total $84 million to $99 million. The deal depends on the IPO closing and locks up Fresnillo’s shares.
Legal & General share price (LSE:LGEN) rises 1.9% as implied capital-return yield nears 15%
Legal & General shares rose 1.9% to a 288.7p midpoint Monday, outpacing the FTSE 100. The insurer has spent £389.6 million buying back shares at an average 256.61p, with £810.4 million remaining in the programme. Planned shareholder returns of £2.4 billion over the next year equal nearly 15% of L&G’s equity value. Core operating profit rose 6% in 2025, but Solvency II coverage fell to 210%.
British Land (LSE:BLND) rises despite UK political uncertainty as asset discount stays wide
British Land rose 0.75% to 403.6p on Monday, diverging from broader UK stocks, which fell after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation. The shares traded about 31.6% below the company’s 590p net tangible asset value, with a projected dividend yield near 5.7%. No new company updates were issued. Ten-year gilt yields hovered near 4.82%.
RELX PLC (LSE:REL) falls 0.8% with AI valuations still in focus
RELX PLC fell 0.8% to 2,359p by 14:01 BST Monday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.5% gain. The company admitted 75,000 new shares for an employee plan, a negligible portion of its total. RELX is buying back £200 million in shares this month as part of a larger £2.25 billion program. Shares remain 41.5% below last year’s high.
BT Group (LSE:BT.A) falls 1.35% as UK political uncertainty shadows telecoms
BT shares fell 1.35% to 193.05 pence in London midday trading Monday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.47% gain. Vodafone dropped 1.36%. No new BT announcement was issued, and the latest regulatory notice was dated June 18. BT’s indicated dividend yield of 4.31% stood about 54 basis points below the 10-year UK gilt yield.
Reckitt Benckiser Shares Fall, LSE:RKT Down 5% From Buyback Level
Reckitt shares slipped 0.22% to 4,602 pence in London midday trade, trading 5.2% below the group’s recent buyback average. The company’s Q1 like-for-like revenue rose 1.3%, missing analyst forecasts, and it warned of a 200 basis point margin drop. An Illinois court overturned a $60 million verdict against its Mead Johnson unit, but nearly 1,000 similar lawsuits remain. Brent crude fell 0.7% to $80.07.