Aberdeen Group closes out lower ahead of FTSE 100 re-entry
Aberdeen closed Friday at 234 pence, up 0.7% for the day but down 3.4% for the
Lloyds shares finish week up 2.7% as bank targets 300 AI hires
Lloyds Banking Group shares closed at 105.10 pence Friday, down 0.9% on the day but up 2.7% for the week. The bank plans to hire 300 tech specialists by September to expand
FTSE 100 Ends Lower as Miners Slip, Political Worries Weigh
FTSE 100 fell 36.43 points to 10,363.27, capping its worst week in six as mining stocks slid and political uncertainty grew. BP gained 2.8% and Shell rose 1.1%, offsetting some losses. UK 10-year gilt yields climbed to 4.84% after government borrowing exceeded forecasts. Retail sales rose 1.2% in May, but higher borrowing costs weighed on mid-cap stocks.
Macquarie Group shares finish week up 3% after A$734m employee plan buying
Macquarie Group shares ended the week up 3.0% at A$249.82, despite a 1.17% drop Friday. The firm completed A$734 million in share buybacks for staff awards at an average price of A$238.80. Shareholders will vote July 23 on a CEO grant worth about A$13.23 million. Another pay revolt could trigger a board spill.
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.
Compass Group slips 1.3% with investors eyeing July update
Compass Group shares fell 1.3% to $32.20 in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.33% decline. Shareholders on record as of Friday will receive a 25.5-cent interim dividend, with shares trading ex-dividend since June 18. Compass posted first-half revenue of $25 billion and 12% growth in underlying operating profit. The next trading update is set for July 21.
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 its price target and trimmed earnings forecasts, citing ongoing weakness in North America. Diageo will present a new strategy on August 6. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.05%, weighed by mining stocks.
BP Stock Climbs as Oil Rises Past $80 on Fresh Iran Truce Fears
BP shares rebounded to 498.35 pence at Friday’s open in London after a 2.9% drop to a 15-week low on Thursday. Brent crude rose above $80 a barrel as U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland were canceled, though oil remains down about 8% for the week. BP is seeking to sell minority stakes in its Kaskida and Tiber Gulf of Mexico projects. CEO Meg O’Neill is starting a company overhaul this month.
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.
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 its price target and trimmed earnings forecasts, citing ongoing weakness in North America. Diageo will present a new strategy on August 6. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.05%, weighed by mining stocks.
BP Stock Climbs as Oil Rises Past $80 on Fresh Iran Truce Fears
BP shares rebounded to 498.35 pence at Friday’s open in London after a 2.9% drop to a 15-week low on Thursday. Brent crude rose above $80 a barrel as U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland were canceled, though oil remains down about 8% for the week. BP is seeking to sell minority stakes in its Kaskida and Tiber Gulf of Mexico projects. CEO Meg O’Neill is starting a company overhaul this month.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Vodafone drops 7.6% this week as debt sale, consolidation draw attention
Vodafone shares closed Friday at 107 pence, down 1.6% for the day and 7.6% for the week, marking their weakest finish since early June. The company completed a $3.5 billion unsecured bond sale this week. Vodafone’s UK unit will take full control of VodafoneThree in a £4.3 billion deal expected to close in late 2026. Next trading update is due July 27.
Bunzl gives up gains from Elliott news as investors look to June 23 update
Bunzl shares closed Friday at 2,474p, down 2.5% for the week after Elliott Investment Management disclosed a near-5% stake and called for a major buyback. The company will issue a pre-close trading statement Tuesday, with investors focused on North American performance and management’s response to Elliott’s demands. Bunzl’s market cap stands at about £7.9 billion.
Rightmove drops after FTSE 100 removal to end rough week
Rightmove shares closed at 417.9 pence Friday, down 1.35% on the day and 1.95% for the week, ahead of its move from the FTSE 100 to the FTSE 250 on Monday. The company has lost 19.6% this year and 45.8% over 12 months, now valued at about £3.1 billion. Turnover surged to 29.1 million shares Friday. UK asking prices for new listings fell 0.6% in June, the sharpest June drop in 14 years.
United Utilities Falls 1.9% With Gilt Yields Up Ahead of Dividend
United Utilities shares closed at 1,289 pence Friday, down 1.23% for the day and 1.9% for the week. The company released its 2026 annual report and AGM notice with no change to its outlook. The 35.78p final dividend goes ex-dividend June 25. FTSE 100 fell about 1% for the week amid higher gilt yields and political uncertainty.
National Grid Shares Rebound 1.8% but End Volatile Week Nearly Flat
National Grid closed at 1,212 pence on Friday, up 1.81% for the day, as the FTSE 100 posted its weakest week since May, falling 1%. Turnover in National Grid shares reached nearly 42 million, well above recent averages. Berenberg raised its price target to 1,350 pence. A regulatory filing disclosed conditional long-term share awards for CEO Zoë Yujnovich and CFO Andy Agg.
3i Group Drops 4.6% Ahead of Action AGM Vote
3i Group shares closed Friday at 2,202 pence, down 1.9% for the day and 4.6% for the week, now trading 51% below their October high. Action accounts for 75% of 3i’s portfolio, but its like-for-like sales growth slowed to 2.4%. Shareholders will vote June 25 on raising the Action investment cap to 30%. The stock fell sharply after going ex-dividend for a proposed 48p payout.
Aberdeen Group closes out lower ahead of FTSE 100 re-entry
Aberdeen closed Friday at 234 pence, up 0.7% for the day but down 3.4% for the week, with trading volume surging to 61 million shares. The company will join the FTSE 100 on Monday after index reshuffling at Friday’s close. Aberdeen reported £2.9 billion in net outflows for the quarter, while Interactive Investor saw record net inflows of £3 billion. Total assets under management fell to £547.7 billion at March’s end.
Haleon shares slip into the weekend after Redburn downgrade tests recovery hopes
Haleon closed Friday at 334p, up 0.06%, after a broker downgrade from Redburn to Neutral with a 365p target. Shares are down nearly 11% in 2026 and lagged the FTSE 100, which fell 1% this week. First-quarter organic revenue rose 2.2%, but U.S. growth remains weak. Haleon’s next major update is its half-year results on July 30.
J Sainsbury share price falls 4.3% as June trading update nears
J Sainsbury shares closed at 300.2 pence Friday, down 4.3% for the week, underperforming the FTSE 100. The decline came ahead of the company’s first-quarter trading update due June 30, with no new trading warning issued. Sainsbury’s bought back 5.6 million shares during the week, while BlackRock trimmed its stake. UK retail sales and inflation data offered some relief, but competition and margin pressure remain high.
SpaceX Adds Roelof Botha to Board for Audit Oversight
SpaceX appointed former PayPal CFO Roelof Botha as an independent director and audit committee member days after its $85.7 billion IPO. Botha, named to the board June 16, brings public-company experience but Elon Musk retains near-total voting control. The board now counts nine members. SpaceX received investment-grade credit ratings this week from Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P.
Diageo up 1% in London as Lewis pushes cost cuts
Diageo closed Friday at 1,530 pence, up 1% for the week and outperforming the FTSE 100 by nearly two points. Shares jumped after CEO Dave Lewis ordered job and cost cuts, with details expected next week. Third-quarter organic sales rose 0.3%, but North America dropped sharply. Diageo ended December with $21.7 billion in net debt.
Tesco shares slide 6.8% this week after UK sales disappoint
Tesco shares fell 2.6% Friday to 440.8 pence, down 6.8% for the week, after UK like-for-like sales rose just 1.8% in the first quarter, missing analyst expectations. The retailer kept its full-year profit outlook at £3.0–£3.3 billion and will pay a 9.7-pence final dividend on June 26. Group sales excluding fuel and VAT reached £16.83 billion.
SSE drops 3% on week, weighed by policy and rates risks
SSE shares closed at 2,325p Friday, up 0.6% for the day but down 3.1% over the week. The FTSE 100 lost 1% this week amid political and bond market concerns. SSE’s next update is set for July 16. The company maintained its £33 billion investment plan and raised its annual dividend by 7% to 68.7p.
TG Jones flags risk of collapse under more supplier pressure before court date
TG Jones risks collapse by the end of June unless a court approves its restructuring plan, CEO Alex Willson said. Up to 150 of its 450 stores could close, threatening about 5,000 jobs. The company reported an £18.6 million loss in six months and owes millions to suppliers and in taxes. The High Court will review the rescue plan on June 29.
Compass Group falls 5.8% this week as dividend adjustment, risk-off hit stock
Compass Group shares fell 1.38% Friday to $32.20, capping a 5.8% drop for the week—its worst since early May. The decline outpaced the FTSE 100, which lost 1% over the same period. Compass traded ex-dividend Thursday, but the payout accounts for only a small part of the fall. Most pressure came from broader market weakness and uncertainty in global politics.
Prudential Up as Buybacks Remain Key for Investors
Prudential shares ended the week up 2.6% at 1,006.5p, outperforming the FTSE 100’s 1.0% drop. The company bought back 2.09 million shares last week, bringing total buybacks to nearly £432 million since January. Chair Douglas Flint purchased 12,500 shares on June 11. Hong Kong’s market reopening and China’s lending rate review are in focus for Monday.
Intertek Closes the Week at 5,805p, Still 3.3% Off EQT Offer
Intertek closed Friday at 5,805 pence, 195 pence below EQT’s £60 per share cash offer. The deal values Intertek near £10.9 billion including debt and includes a 107.7-pence final dividend for holders as of May 29, payable June 24. The acquisition still needs shareholder, court, and regulatory approval, with closing expected late 2026 or early 2027. FTSE 100 fell 1% this week.
RELX wraps week down 4.6%, Friday bounce in AI stocks offers little relief
RELX closed Friday at 2,377 pence, up 1.24% on the day but down 4.6% for the week, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 1% weekly drop. Shares remain about 41% below last July’s 4,030 pence high, as investors reassess data firms amid AI shifts. RELX is running a £200 million buyback through June 26. Half-year results are due July 23.
ASX 200 edges higher this week as BHP falls and Hormuz risk lingers
BHP shares fell 5.6% to A$61.40 Friday after raising Jansen potash project costs, dragging the ASX 200 down 0.92% and the materials sector 4.03% lower. The index still ended the week up 0.3%. Financials rose 1.4% for the week; energy dropped over 7%. Australia’s May inflation data is due June 24, with labour figures out June 25.
FTSE 100 Ends Week Down 1% as Geopolitics, Politics Weigh
FTSE 100 fell 0.35% Friday to 10,363.27, ending its worst week in six with a 1% drop. Bank of England held rates at 3.75% in a 7-2 vote, as two members called for a hike. UK government borrowing in May reached £23.3 billion, beating forecasts. Retail sales rose 1.2% in May, outpacing estimates.