NASA satellite crash today: Van Allen Probe A heads for Earth years earlier than expected
NASA's retired Van Allen Probe A was expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere Tuesday evening, with debris
Santos Limited greenlights $357 million Moomba Central Optimisation project to cut costs, extend Cooper Basin gas output
Santos Limited and Beach Energy approved a $357 million investment to overhaul the Moomba gas hub in South Australia’s Cooper Basin, replacing seven compressor stations with a single electric-driven facility. Santos expects
British American Tobacco share buyback update: BAT repurchases stock as 2026 outlook stays cautious
British American Tobacco bought back 100,227 shares for about £4.31 million on March 6, cancelling them and reducing its share count to
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc starts £540 million share buyback after Europe warning rattles investors
Reckitt Benckiser launched a new share buyback of up to £540 million on Monday, with Deutsche Bank handling purchases through July 27.
Lumentum stock drops 6% to $677; after-hours steadies as traders hunt the next catalyst
Lumentum shares fell 6.4% to $677 at Thursday’s close, then slipped to $676 after hours. The drop followed an 8.75% surge Wednesday.
Why JPMorgan stock price is slipping today after Dimon’s AI push
JPMorgan shares fell 1.4% to $293.58 Tuesday after a 4.2% drop Monday. The bank reaffirmed its 2026 cost outlook and profit targets
XRP price dips as Trump tariff uncertainty hits crypto — two Feb. 24 catalysts to watch
XRP fell 2.3% to $1.35 as U.S. tariff moves rattled risk assets, with trading volume surging 164% to $3.5 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. President Trump imposed a new 15% tariff on all U.S. imports after the Supreme Court blocked his previous levies. Bitcoin dropped 4.4% and ether 4.1%. Grayscale’s GXRP ETF will start charging a 0.35% fee on Feb. 24.
American Airlines stock rises in premarket as oil dips and storm cancellations mount
American Airlines shares rose 1.8% in premarket trading Monday to $13.59 as a major Northeast winter storm forced over 5,300 U.S. flight
ICON (ICLR) stock steadies premarket after 40% crash on accounting probe — what’s next
ICON shares held at $80.08 in premarket trading Friday after plunging nearly 40% Thursday. The company delayed its 2025 results and withdrew
Waymo robotaxis launch in Miami: who can ride today, where they go, and what’s still off-limits
Waymo began paid, driverless taxi rides in Miami on Thursday, covering about 60 square miles but excluding Miami Beach and highways. Access
Vertical Solar Farms: How Bifacial Panels Are Revolutionizing Solar Energy in 2025
Japan’s Ashikaga City installed a vertical solar farm in May 2024, yielding 5% less rice but selling power to Marubeni. Austria’s 2022
Pro Medicus Ltd locks in A$40 million U.S. renewals as MedStar adds heart-imaging tools
Pro Medicus’ U.S. unit renewed two imaging software contracts totaling at least A$40 million, including a five-year, A$31 million extension with MedStar Health that adds heart-imaging tools, and a separate A$9 million deal with Zwanger-Pesiri. Both contracts were signed at higher per-transaction fees and expand the company’s presence in the U.S. market.
Northern Star Resources Ltd shares rebound with gold rally, but guidance cuts still loom
Northern Star Resources rose 2.6% Tuesday as Australian gold stocks rebounded, with the gold index up 2.5% and the ASX 200 gaining 1.6%. The miner is still trading below January levels after cutting FY26 production guidance and raising cost forecasts due to operational issues. Spot gold climbed 1.9% to $5,231.79 an ounce. S&P Dow Jones Indices will add Northern Star to the S&P/ASX 20 on March 23.
NASA satellite crash today: Van Allen Probe A heads for Earth years earlier than expected
NASA's retired Van Allen Probe A was expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere Tuesday evening, with debris possibly surviving the descent, according to the U.S. Space Force. NASA estimated a 1 in 4,200 chance of harm to people. The probe is returning years ahead of schedule due to increased atmospheric drag from solar activity. The exact timing and location of re-entry remain uncertain.
Wesfarmers Limited’s Bunnings Expands Auto Range With 500 New Products in Fresh Growth Push
Bunnings will add 500 automotive products and expand floor space for the category by 30% across Australia and New Zealand, raising its in-store range to over 1,200 items. The move intensifies competition with specialist auto retailers as Wesfarmers seeks to maintain growth amid uneven consumer spending. Wesfarmers shares rose 1.47% to A$75.46 on Tuesday. Bunnings generated A$10.7 billion in revenue in the half-year to December 31.
Santos Limited greenlights $357 million Moomba Central Optimisation project to cut costs, extend Cooper Basin gas output
Santos Limited and Beach Energy approved a $357 million investment to overhaul the Moomba gas hub in South Australia’s Cooper Basin, replacing seven compressor stations with a single electric-driven facility. Santos expects over $600 million in savings and a 40,000-tonne annual cut in Scope 1 emissions. The project’s economics partly depend on finalising a gas supply deal with South Australia. Completion is targeted in three years.
Fortescue Ltd Completes Alta Copper Deal, Deepening Peru Copper Bet
Fortescue Ltd has acquired all remaining shares of Alta Copper for C$1.40 each, valuing the Peru-focused copper developer at about C$139 million. Alta shares will be delisted from Toronto, Lima, and OTCQX exchanges. Fortescue’s Cañariaco copper project in Peru is not expected to start production until next decade. The company posted a 23% rise in first-half profit to $1.91 billion in February.
Macquarie hires former Ares executive Eli Appelbaum for EMEA lending push as private credit strains deepen
Macquarie Group has hired Eli Appelbaum from Ares Management to lead its EMEA lending and asset finance business as it expands private credit operations in the region. The firm recently funded AI infrastructure projects, including a €117 million commitment to Polarise’s Munich data center. Macquarie reported less than £50 million exposure to the collapsed UK lender Market Financial Solutions. Industry defaults and fund withdrawals have increased.
ANZ Group Holdings to Reopen Chinchilla Branch as Pressure Builds on Big Banks to Keep Regional Services
ANZ Group will reopen its Chinchilla branch in regional Queensland in the second half of 2026, following the closure of the town’s Suncorp Bank agency on May 29. The move comes after ANZ’s A$4.9 billion purchase of Suncorp Bank and amid government restrictions on regional branch closures until July 2027. ANZ said it will support Suncorp customers during the transition.
NASA Satellite Crash Alert: Van Allen Probe A Set for Earth Re-Entry With Low Risk to People
NASA said its defunct Van Allen Probe A satellite, weighing 1,323 pounds, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around 7:45 p.m. EDT Tuesday, with some debris likely to survive. Officials say there is no targeted landing area and the exact timing remains uncertain. The mission ended in 2019, years earlier than planned, after increased solar activity accelerated the craft’s descent. NASA maintains the risk to the public is low.
Westpac Banking Corporation Sees Consumer Sentiment Lift, but Late-Week Drop Sets Up RBA Test
Australian consumer sentiment rose 1.2% in March, but late survey responses showed a sharp drop as Middle East tensions escalated, Westpac said Tuesday. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index reached 91.6, while a rival ANZ-Roy Morgan measure fell to 73.4, its lowest since July 2023. Westpac reported A$1.9 billion in unaudited December quarter profit, but flagged housing supply and inflation as ongoing concerns.
National Australia Bank Survey Shows Australian Business Confidence Turns Negative After RBA Hike
Australian business confidence fell to -1 in February, its first negative reading in 11 months, according to NAB’s monthly survey, while business conditions stayed at +7 and sales rose. The decline followed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Feb. 3 rate hike to 3.85%. NAB’s first-quarter cash earnings climbed 16% to A$2.02 billion as business banking volumes increased. Inflation pressures persisted, with purchase and labour costs up 1.5% for the quarter.
Woodside Energy Launches Trion Drilling Campaign, Testing Mexico Oil Bet Amid CEO Search
Woodside Energy has begun drilling at the $7.2 billion Trion oil field with Pemex, targeting first oil in 2028. The campaign will drill 24 wells tied to a floating production unit, with capacity for 100,000 barrels per day. The Deepwater Thalassa drillship entered Mexican waters on March 5. Woodside owns 60% of Trion and approved the project in 2023.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says Wage Growth Held at 3.1% Ahead of RBA Rate Call
Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported internal wage growth steady at 3.1% for the year to February and about 21,000 jobs added last month. The Reserve Bank meets March 16-17, with markets pricing a 50% chance of another rate hike after February’s increase to 3.85%. Major banks have already passed on higher rates to home-loan customers. CBA’s data shows stable wages despite a tight labor market.
BHP Group Ltd Succession Spotlight Sharpens as Geraldine Slattery Emerges in Twin CEO Race
BHP Australia President Geraldine Slattery is under consideration to succeed BHP CEO Mike Henry and is also a contender for the top job at Woodside Energy, according to reports from The Australian and Reuters. Woodside is interviewing candidates and plans to name a CEO in early 2026. BHP has not commented on succession. The miner’s next production update is set for April 22.
ConocoPhillips Shares Slide as Oil Plunges 11%, Putting 2026 Cash Plan in Focus
ConocoPhillips shares dropped 2.5% to $114.16 Tuesday after Brent and U.S. crude prices plunged over 11%, their steepest one-day fall since 2022. The company kept its 2026 production target steady and is aiming for $1 billion in cost cuts this year. ConocoPhillips is also exploring a $2 billion Permian Basin asset sale after closing $3.2 billion in sales last year.
CoreWeave rolls out flexible AI cloud pricing after capex selloff rattled investors
CoreWeave launched Flex Reservations and Spot instances Tuesday, expanding its AI cloud offerings as it ramps up spending to $30–$35 billion in 2026. Shares rose 0.7%. The company’s revenue backlog reached $66.8 billion at the end of 2025, but management warned the rapid build-out will pressure margins. Flex Reservations is in preview; Spot is generally available.
Capital One Financial Corporation Could Get Capital Relief After Discover Deal as U.S. Basel Rewrite Nears
U.S. regulators plan a softer rewrite of Basel bank-capital rules, which could benefit Capital One as it absorbs Discover and awaits the Brex deal. The draft is expected in coming weeks and may lower capital requirements for large banks. Capital One completed its $35.3 billion Discover purchase in May 2025 and agreed to buy Brex for $5.15 billion. A proposed 10% cap on credit card rates remains a risk for card-heavy lenders.
Spotify Delays Some API Restrictions After Developer Backlash, Keeps Premium Rule
Spotify on Monday delayed changes to its developer API after complaints from third-party app makers, but kept new restrictions including a Premium subscription requirement, five-user cap, and single client ID per developer. Some developers say the limits have already forced them to shut down public access to their apps, citing unclear upgrade paths and stricter rate limits. Spotify cited security and automation risks for the overhaul.
Australia Fuel Prices Spike as ACCC Checks Gouging and Reserve Claims Unravel
Diesel prices in parts of Australia have surged past A$2.50 a litre, with some stations near Dubbo hitting 259.9 cents, as Middle East tensions disrupt supply. The ACCC is investigating pricing and supply practices, warning fuel companies against misleading explanations. United Petroleum has begun rationing deliveries, and some wholesalers are restricting sales. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Australia has 34 days of diesel in reserve.
Qualcomm’s New Wayve Deal Puts Self-Driving AI at the Center of Its Auto Push
Qualcomm announced a partnership with UK startup Wayve to combine Wayve’s AI Driver software with Snapdragon Ride chips for advanced driver-assistance and automated driving systems. Qualcomm shares fell 1.9% to $135.54 Tuesday after the company warned last month that a global memory shortage was hitting phone demand. Wayve recently raised $1.5 billion at an $8.6 billion valuation. The joint platform is drawing automaker interest.
Occidental Petroleum Debt Tender Advances as OXY Stock Slides With Oil
Occidental Petroleum’s $1.2 billion debt tender offer took effect after bond-term changes, with $843.3 million of 2031 notes and $335.2 million of 2030 notes accepted. OXY shares fell 3.5% to $53.08 Tuesday. The company aims to cut principal debt to $14.3 billion in 2026, down from $20.63 billion at year-end. Oil stocks broadly declined as Brent crude dropped 12.6% to $86.50 a barrel.
RTX Corporation’s Pratt & Whitney Wins Leidos AGM-190A Engine Contract as U.S. Pushes Missile Output
Pratt & Whitney secured a new contract from Leidos Dynetics to supply TJ150 engines for the AGM-190A small cruise missile, with no financial terms disclosed. The deal follows a Pentagon push for higher weapons output after recent operations and comes as Leidos’ missile received its official U.S. Air Force designation. RTX and other defense contractors are increasing factory investment and scaling missile production.
GE Aerospace to Invest Another $1 Billion in U.S. Jet Engine Plants Amid Supply Crunch
GE Aerospace will invest $1 billion in its U.S. factories and suppliers in 2026, aiming to boost jet-engine and parts output amid ongoing industry shortages. The company expects the spending to create about 5,000 jobs across 17 states. Shares rose 2.2% Tuesday. GE’s backlog stands at roughly $190 billion, with 2026 profit guidance above analyst estimates.
Mastercard Incorporated launches AI ‘Virtual CFO’ for small businesses in new push beyond payments
Mastercard on Tuesday launched Virtual C-Suite, an AI product for small businesses starting with a Virtual CFO, to be distributed this year through banks and software providers. The company said the tool will use data from 175 billion transactions processed in 2025 to analyze performance and recommend actions. Mastercard shares fell 0.6% in afternoon New York trading; Visa dropped 0.3%.
Natural Gas Prices Today: Europe Gas Slides From 3-Year High, but Supply Risks Linger
European natural gas prices dropped sharply Tuesday, with the Dutch TTF benchmark falling 7.98 euros to 48.47 euros/MWh after President Trump suggested the Middle East conflict could end soon. Despite the decline, Europe’s gas storage remains below 30% and LNG shipments from Qatar are blocked, keeping competition for replacement cargoes high. U.S. LNG exports to Europe surged, but supply flexibility is limited.