Antofagasta (LON:ANTO): 10% move in a week brings by-product credits into view
Antofagasta shares closed Friday at 3,825p, up 0.84% on the day but down 2.2% for the
easyJet stock lags Castlelake offer by £508 million with time running out
easyJet closed Friday at 583p, up 1.53%, valuing the airline at about £4.42 billion. Castlelake’s 650p-per-share bid, rejected by easyJet’s board, values the company around £4.93 billion. Leading shareholders now want at
Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) drop puts lithium prospects up against iron ore cash
Rio Tinto shares closed at 7,168p in London on Friday, down 0.25% for the day and 3.1% for the week. The stock is 21.4% below its 52-week high from May 27. Iron ore futures fell to $100.33 per ton on June 26. Rio plans to triple lithium output by 2028, while iron ore still accounts for about 60% of earnings.
Experian (LON:EXPN) buyback takes in 8% of trades, stock lags FTSE 100
Experian closed Friday at 2,520p, down 0.9% since June 19, while the FTSE 100 rose 1.4% in the same period. The company bought back 2.38 million shares for cancellation over five days, spending about £60 million. Shares remain 39% below the 52-week high. The next dividend date is July 3.
BAE Systems (LON:BA) buyback case looks better after shares fall with UK defence review coming
BAE Systems closed Friday at 1,808p, down 2.1% for the week, with 36% of trading volume concentrated in Thursday’s selloff. The company began a new £500 million buyback tranche, set to acquire about 27.7 million shares at current prices. BAE’s half-year results are due July 30. UK government plans to boost defence spending are expected to influence the market next week.
NatWest share price: Berenberg 860p target leaves £16 billion gap after weekly gain
NatWest Group closed Friday at 656.40p, down 0.7% on the day but up 2.9% for the week, outperforming the FTSE 100’s 1.4% gain. Berenberg initiated coverage with a buy rating and an 860p target, implying 31% upside. A High Court ruling favored NatWest and other banks, limiting some old credit complaints at the Financial Ombudsman Service. NatWest raised its 2026 income outlook in May.
Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) buyback price now in focus after shares slide on Friday
Barclays PLC closed Friday at 510.70p, down 2.03%, with trading volume at 24.46 million shares, about half the recent average. The bank completed a £500 million buyback at an average 454.30p per share, retiring 110.1 million shares. Barclays US LLC’s minimum CET1 ratio in the Fed stress test was 12.3%, above the 11.2% aggregate floor. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.21% on the day.
Lidl £149 Air Conditioner Sells Out Fast in UK Heatwave
Lidl’s £149 Tronic 3-in-1 Air Conditioner sold out nationwide as shoppers queued outside stores during the UK’s record June heatwave. Competing portable air conditioners were listed at £399.99 and £679.97. Retailers reported surging sales of fans and air conditioners, with Lakeland’s online fan sales up 600% week on week. The Met Office recorded a provisional new June temperature record of 37.3C in Suffolk.
National Grid rises on grid-spend talk as heatwave draws attention
National Grid closed Friday at 1,245.50p, down 0.6% for the day but up 2.8% for the week. Ofgem advanced 16 long-duration storage projects as NESO issued a second power-margin alert during a heatwave. National Grid’s five-year capital plan stands at a minimum £70 billion, exceeding its £61.97 billion market cap. The company reported 10.9% asset growth and a 3.8% dividend increase for the year.
UK product recalls raise new questions about marketplace oversight and supermarket suppliers
Amazon removed a 50,000-piece water bead set after UK regulators labeled it a choking risk for children. Prepworld recalled 13 fruit packs sold at six major UK grocers after Salmonella was detected. Morrisons issued two separate recalls this week for products with undeclared milk allergens. The Food Standards Agency and Office for Product Safety and Standards posted multiple alerts in June.
Lidl £149 Air Conditioner Sells Out Fast in UK Heatwave
Lidl’s £149 Tronic 3-in-1 Air Conditioner sold out nationwide as shoppers queued outside stores during the UK’s record June heatwave. Competing portable air conditioners were listed at £399.99 and £679.97. Retailers reported surging sales of fans and air conditioners, with Lakeland’s online fan sales up 600% week on week. The Met Office recorded a provisional new June temperature record of 37.3C in Suffolk.
National Grid rises on grid-spend talk as heatwave draws attention
National Grid closed Friday at 1,245.50p, down 0.6% for the day but up 2.8% for the week. Ofgem advanced 16 long-duration storage projects as NESO issued a second power-margin alert during a heatwave. National Grid’s five-year capital plan stands at a minimum £70 billion, exceeding its £61.97 billion market cap. The company reported 10.9% asset growth and a 3.8% dividend increase for the year.
UK product recalls raise new questions about marketplace oversight and supermarket suppliers
Amazon removed a 50,000-piece water bead set after UK regulators labeled it a choking risk for children. Prepworld recalled 13 fruit packs sold at six major UK grocers after Salmonella was detected. Morrisons issued two separate recalls this week for products with undeclared milk allergens. The Food Standards Agency and Office for Product Safety and Standards posted multiple alerts in June.
British American Tobacco up 9.5% as buyback window opens ahead of July results
British American Tobacco shares rose 9.5% last week, closing at 4,751p as the company prepares a closed-period buyback with UBS from June 30 to July 29. The £1.3 billion buyback equals about 1.3% of BAT’s equity. Group guidance remains unchanged, with global cigarette volumes now expected to fall 2.5% in 2026. Investors are watching if the buyback will reduce share count ahead of half-year results.
Glencore sinks more than copper as traders look to July output test
Glencore shares fell 7.6% this week, closing Friday at 514.70p, while LME copper dropped 2.6%. Over 237 million Glencore shares changed hands, with the heaviest trading on Thursday. Glencore’s decline outpaced copper despite tight inventories and steady production guidance. The company’s Philippine smelter was put on care and maintenance, but Australian plants remain open after a government cash injection.
Lloyds slips off February high as traders eye motor-finance deadline and rates
Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 0.77% Friday to 109.20p, ending the week up 3.9% after a Monday jump. Friday’s volume hit 193.81 million shares, about 22% above average. The stock closed just 4.7% below its 52-week high. Investors await the June 30 motor finance rollout and July 30 half-year results.
Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) trades ex-date as 0.47% payout compares to A$14.5 bln data-centre workbook
Goodman Group closed Friday at A$32.01, down 0.56%, with 2.71 million shares traded, below average volume. The stock goes ex a 15-cent distribution on Monday, equal to 0.47% of Friday’s close. Work in progress reached A$14.5 billion as of March 31, with 73% in data centres. Goodman expects WIP to rise to about A$18 billion in June.
Xero Limited (ASX:XRO) heads into July after sharp swings
Xero will raise Australian subscription prices by A$2–A$28 per month from July 1, with average hikes of 8.7%. The stock closed at A$69.05 on June 26, up 1.77% for the day but down 39% in 2026. FY26 operating revenue rose 31% to NZ$2.75 billion, while net profit fell 27% to NZ$167.4 million. The company’s market value stands at A$11.78 billion.
Fortescue (ASX:FMG) lags ASX as $100 iron ore price spotlights product mix
Fortescue closed Friday at A$19.07, up 0.69%, but ended the week down 4.51%, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 0.73% weekly drop. Iron ore prices hovered near US$100 a tonne after an 8.18% monthly fall. Fortescue’s June-quarter production report is due July 31. Iron Bridge shipment guidance was cut to 9–10 million tonnes for FY26 after cyclone disruptions.
Pro Medicus rally pushes Echo IQ AI note toward A$1 billion mark
Pro Medicus closed Friday at A$188.88, up 1.88% for the day and 9.31% for the week, adding about A$1.03 billion in equity since announcing a finance deal with Echo IQ. The stock’s gain far exceeded the proposed A$20 million investment in Echo IQ. Pro Medicus will provide an initial A$10 million convertible note, with another A$10 million possible if FDA approval is secured. The shares ended just below the average analyst target of A$189.47.
QBE Insurance (ASX:QBE) trades close to 52-week peak as June half wraps up
QBE closed Friday at A$24.84, up 3.2% for the week and near its A$25.08 high, while the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7%. The insurer’s half-year ends June 30, with results and a dividend due August 14. QBE’s 1Q26 update kept full-year guidance unchanged, calling for mid-single-digit premium growth and a 92.5% combined operating ratio. No new trading updates were issued this week.
Atlas Arteria’s A$5.10 bid spread tightens as IFM takes control
Diamond Infraco, backed by IFM, now controls over 50% of Atlas Arteria’s voting power, with its A$5.10 per security offer extended to July 7. Atlas closed Friday at A$5.08, just below the bid, after 150.4 million securities traded last week. The board maintains its rejection, citing a 60-cent distribution target and asset sales. IFM says its offer is final unless a rival emerges.
PLS share price: A$3.6 billion selloff tests Pilgangoora lithium expansion plan
PLS Group shares fell 6.32% to A$5.04 Friday, erasing A$3.64 billion in value over seven days. The drop followed a 13.84% monthly fall in China lithium carbonate prices and speculation over a possible CATL mine restart. Reported short positions reached 281.5 million shares, or 8.74% of stock, worth about A$1.42 billion. PLS enters the week with a market value near A$16.2 billion.
Aristocrat Leisure (ASX:ALL) holds A$1.12b buy-back as July update nears
Aristocrat Leisure closed at A$58.69 Friday, down 1.16%, but gained 8.2% for the week. The company has repurchased 24.56 million shares for A$1.38 billion, leaving about A$1.12 billion in its A$2.5 billion buyback plan. Aristocrat’s 2026 investor briefing is set for July 1, when it will pay a 50-cent interim dividend. The S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.7% for the week.
ANZ faces dividend week as Judo credit issues weigh on carry trade
ANZ Group Holdings closed Friday at A$35.04, up 0.52%, with its 83-cent interim dividend set for July 1, representing 2.37% of the closing price. Judo Capital cut FY26 profit guidance to A$163–169 million and raised credit risk costs, sending its shares down 40.3% Thursday. The S&P/ASX 200 ended at 8,764.20, up 0.18% for the day but down 0.73% for the week.
Woodside Energy (ASX:WDS) set for ASX start as oil drop challenges WA gas backstop
Woodside shares closed Friday at A$27.65, down 4.8% for the week, while Brent crude lost 10.86% amid increased tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Woodside signed a deal to supply Alcoa with about 21 terajoules of gas per day from 2027 to 2030, nearly double AEMO’s initial 2030 WA gas supply gap forecast. Barclays cut its Brent outlook for 2026 to $96 a barrel.
Telstra Group (ASX:TLS) looks toward July price rise after buyback
Telstra ended Friday at A$5.15, up 0.19%, after completing a A$1.25 billion buyback that removed 245.9 million shares. The stock trades 4.6% below the buyback’s peak price. Most mobile postpaid plans rose A$4 monthly from May 5, with some internet plans set to increase A$4–A$5 from July 1. Telstra reports annual results August 13.
Westpac (ASX:WBC) heads into DRP gap with slower growth
Westpac closed Friday at A$35.14 after paying a 77-cent fully franked interim dividend. The dividend reinvestment plan was priced at A$36.08, with 13.9% take-up. Westpac’s nowcast sees Q2 GDP growth at 0.2%, with a 27% chance of contraction. RBA minutes are due Tuesday.
WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) short positions approach A$887 million ahead of ASX open as shares fall 14% this week
WiseTech Global closed Friday at A$31.55, down about 14.5% for the week after hitting a 52-week low of A$28.76 on Tuesday. Short sellers held 8.36% of shares as of June 22, or roughly A$887 million. Trading volume surged to 4.62 million shares Friday, more than double the average. The company faces scrutiny after reports of an AFP investigation into its executive chairman, which WiseTech denies.
NAB slips as credit risk review hits ahead of dividend week
NAB closed Friday at A$37.51, down 4.7% from June 30 last year and 24.1% below its 52-week high. The bank faces new control risks after a June 27 statement on mortgage fraud, ahead of a scheduled A$0.85 interim dividend payout this week. NAB would need a 4.9% gain by Tuesday to end the financial year above last year’s close.
Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) stock stays close to highs with A$1.7 billion share demand buffer gone
Macquarie Group closed Friday at A$249.36, down 0.25%, with volume 21% below average. Its A$734 million employee share plan and A$1.013 billion buyback have both ended. Shares are up 22.72% this year, near the A$250.14 analyst target. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.18% Friday but fell 0.73% for the week.
Volkswagen (ETR:VOW3) China push puts spotlight on German jobs, factories
Volkswagen is weighing up to 100,000 job cuts and possible closure of four German plants, sources told Reuters. Lower Saxony, which owns 20% of VW voting rights, is urging the company to build China-developed models in Germany to protect jobs. VW shares closed at 74.28 euros Friday, down 28% since January. The supervisory board will discuss the restructuring plan on July 9.
Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) outperforms ASX 200 while goods demand drags on rally
Wesfarmers closed Friday at A$90.74, up 5.78% for the week, outpacing the S&P/ASX 200’s 0.73% drop. Turnover reached 2.8 million shares Friday, the week’s highest. No new company statements were issued after a June 10 strategy briefing. Wesfarmers shares have gained 13.44% since that update, despite flat goods spending in May.
CSL (ASX:CSL) in focus for Monday as shares face test after Sanofi probe, Tavneos setback
CSL shares closed at A$114.87 Friday, down 2.36% for the day and 1.2% for the week, with trading volume above average. The EU opened an antitrust probe into Sanofi’s flu vaccine push involving CSL Seqirus’ Fluad after the market closed. The EMA separately advised pulling Tavneos’ EU approval. CSL reports full-year results and its final dividend on August 18.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) trades near A$162 as shorts test the stock ahead of FY26 close
Commonwealth Bank of Australia closed Friday at A$162.02, down 0.42% for the day and 0.23% for the week. Shares are down 11.68% so far in FY26 after a 46% surge last year. Hedge funds hold nearly A$11 billion in short positions against the big four banks, with CBA the main target. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.18% Friday but lost 0.7% for the week.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) cuts A$30.7bn as Jansen reset hits before CEO shift
BHP shares closed at A$58.99 Friday, up 0.80% but down 9.3% since June 18, erasing about A$30.7 billion in equity value. The company raised Jansen Stage 2’s capital cost estimate to US$6.9 billion and flagged a US$2.3 billion impairment. Brandon Craig becomes CEO July 1. BHP’s next operational review is set for July 16.