SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) Drops Ahead of August 6 Lock-Up Expiry
August 3, 2026, 5:42 AM EDT. SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) shares slid from $171 to $108 in July. On August 6, a lock-up on 911.5 million insider shares-about 15% of tradable stock-expires, raising risk of more selling. The stock had a $1.75 trillion IPO value and touched nearly $3 trillion, but has lost ground as some investors left over valuation worries. SpaceX is still strong in rockets and satellite broadband, but the lock-up expiry could pull the share price under $100. Many traders are watching how the event plays out.
An event on 6 August could send the SpaceX…
F&C Investment Trust (FCIT) ends H1 up 12.4%, just behind FTSE All-World as AI earnings jump
August 3, 2026, 5:29 AM EDT. F&C (FCIT) turned in a 12.4% total return for the first half of 2026, nearly matching the FTSE All-World index’s 12.6%. The trust lagged slightly despite holding less in semiconductors and memory stocks, as AI-linked earnings drove markets higher. Chair Beatrice Hollond pointed to heavy spending on AI infrastructure as a big driver for equities. The trust’s shares returned 12.8% with the discount narrowing. Hollond has stepped down after nine years. She’s replaced by James Will, who previously led European Smaller Companies Trust and Schroder Asia Pacific. AI-fueled earnings growth this year is running at levels usually only seen after recessions.
F&C tracks FTSE All-World higher with 12.4…
Yen Jumps to Three-Month Peak After US, Japan Step In
August 3, 2026, 5:28 AM EDT. The yen climbed to ¥155 per dollar, its best level since May, after Japan and the US joined forces in a rare move to prop up the currency. Tokyo’s finance ministry confirmed the intervention, coming after the yen brushed a 40-year low near ¥164. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US could act again if needed, as markets still worry about further yen losses. The intervention halted months of yen weakness tied to Japan’s low rates and heavy carry trades. Some analysts think the move and possible Bank of Japan rate hikes could steady the yen, but Oxford Economics expects little change in the longer run.
Yen hits three-month high after Trump help…
SpaceX Lock-Up Expiry Puts Focus on Post-IPO Share Action
August 3, 2026, 5:27 AM EDT. Pre-IPO shareholders at Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) are free to sell up to 20% of their stock from August 6, as lock-up limits start to roll off this week. That could send about 911 million shares onto the market. The new unlock triggers a 12-month stretch with no trading caps. SpaceX stock is trading under its IPO level of $135, pointing to caution in the market. Traders are comparing the setup to Meta Platforms after its IPO, when shares slid before rebounding later. Volatility is likely as the new supply hits, though some longer-term holders could see a chance in the shakeout. The changes this week may move SpaceX’s market value.
This week could be critical for SpaceX sha…
Primary Health Properties (LSE:PHP) ups payout as H1 2026 earnings surge, yield at 7.3%
August 3, 2026, 5:26 AM EDT. Primary Health Properties (LSE:PHP) now yields 7.3% after strong H1 2026 results. The FTSE 250 REIT has raised its dividend for 30 straight years, a streak not matched by any other UK REIT. After buying rival Assura, PHP hit 92% of its £9 million cost-saving target and nearly doubled its portfolio. Net rental income jumped 123% to £176 million, with adjusted earnings hitting £98 million, up 100%. Adjusted earnings per share climbed 9%. Debt is still high, but management said integration is almost done. With little room to reinvest under REIT payout rules, most returns keep coming from the dividend.
7.3% yield! Is this passive income stock b…
ASX 200 Closes Near Record as Wesfarmers, CBA Lift Blue-Chips
August 3, 2026, 4:54 AM EDT. The ASX 200 finished up, just shy of its record, with Wesfarmers and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) leading blue-chip gains. Both stocks pushed the index higher as investors stuck with major names in a steady session. Wesfarmers and CBA stood out among the top movers, helping drive the benchmark close to its all-time high.
Evening Wrap: ASX 200 closes in on record …
FTSE 100 swings as energy names slide on weaker oil, AstraZeneca falls
August 3, 2026, 4:42 AM EDT. The FTSE 100 traded choppy after oil prices slid, sending energy shares lower. Pressure from the drop in oil hit stocks across the sector. AstraZeneca shares dropped, adding to the downbeat move. Investors stayed wary through the session as commodity moves and company news hit sentiment.
FTSE 100 today: Stocks volatile as oil slu…
Derwent London (LON:DLN) Hits Year High as Analysts Stay Cautious
August 3, 2026, 4:41 AM EDT. Derwent London Plc (LON:DLN) stock touched a 12-month high at GBX 2,154 on Monday before trading at GBX 2,136 on volume of 10,855 shares. Analyst calls are split. Deutsche Bank sticks to ‘hold’ and a GBP 1,850 target, UBS says ‘sell’ with a GBP 1,650 target, while Jefferies goes ‘underperform’ at GBP 1,492. Consensus is ‘Hold’ with a GBX 1,956.50 target. The REIT, with £4.9 billion in central London offices, greenlighted a buyback and called the shares undervalued. Market value is £2.36 billion, P/E is 14.78, beta 1.19.
Derwent London (LON:DLN) Sets New 12-Month…
Flutter wraps up LSE exit, shifts to NYSE as only primary listing
August 3, 2026, 4:40 AM EDT. Flutter Entertainment has finished delisting its ordinary shares from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and will now trade mainly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company pointed to low trading volumes and the regulatory and cost burdens of the LSE listing as main reasons for the move. Flutter shares ended their last LSE session at £75.88, down 6.8% from the start of last week. The group began its push for a NYSE primary listing in January 2024, targeting more North American investors and to back its US growth led by FanDuel. Flutter says its UK and Ireland operations still matter after leaving the LSE. Q2 results are due 5 August.
Flutter completes delisting from London St…
Shell Tops Estimates, Ups Guidance, Names New Audit Chair
August 3, 2026, 4:39 AM EDT. Shell LSE:SHEL posted Q2 2026 earnings ahead of forecasts and lifted its production outlook. The company also announced an interim dividend and said it has named a new Audit and Risk Committee chair. Shares are up 17.79% in the past month and have delivered a 29.81% total shareholder return over 12 months. Analysts put Shell’s value at £35.51, about 4.7% higher than the current £33.84. Shell continues to lead in LNG trading with a portfolio of more than 60 million tons, shipping cargoes to premium markets. Potential delays in LNG projects and shifts in energy demand from areas including data centers are among the risks. Investors should consider these factors with Shell’s longer-term story and payout in mind.
Shell (LSE:SHEL) Beats On Earnings And Div…
Resolution Minerals (ASX:RML) ramps up US critical minerals work in June quarter
August 3, 2026, 4:38 AM EDT. Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) pushed ahead with its US-focused critical minerals strategy in the June 2026 quarter. The company worked on advancing projects seen as important for battery and renewable energy supply chains. Resolution said it wants to meet US demand, with policy support and concerns over global supplies driving its move. The company aims to become a bigger part of the critical minerals market as the US shifts to low-carbon energy.
Resolution Minerals accelerates US critica…
Aussie shares bounce after Trump stops Iran strike
August 3, 2026, 4:25 AM EDT. Australia’s sharemarket clawed back early losses Friday after US President Donald Trump said he called off a major strike on Iran. The announcement eased worries about a spike in oil prices and inflation. Investors took the move as a signal that Middle East tensions may not hit markets as hard as feared.
Aussie sharemarket lurches over Trump move
Rolls-Royce, Melrose Move Up on Trump-Iran Talks; ASX Dips Early
August 3, 2026, 4:22 AM EDT.Rolls-Royce Holdings and Melrose Industries rose August 3, 2026, as traders reacted to reports of new U.S.-Iran talks led by former President Trump, which lifted sentiment around a possible easing of regional tensions. The Australian share market ASX started the day under pressure, hurt by continued Iran worries, though futures volatility cooled. The ASX Small Ordinaries index added 1.4% after miners rallied ahead of the Diggers & Dealers mining event, with buyers coming back to small-cap mining names. Treasurer Jim Chalmers called for calm on property prices, saying the decline came from higher rates and fuel, not tax policy, and pointed out the cycle has repeated over the last 20 years.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 03.08.202…
Rolls-Royce, Melrose Stocks Up on Hopes for Trump-Iran Talks
August 3, 2026, 4:08 AM EDT. Rolls-Royce Holdings and Melrose Industries traded higher Monday after investors warmed to the idea of fresh diplomatic talks with Iran, spurred by pledges from then U.S. President Donald Trump. Hopes that tensions could cool lifted shares as traders bet conditions might improve for companies exposed to the region. The two London-listed names saw gains early in the session, helped by the better outlook.
Rolls-Royce climbs after Trump promises Ir…
Australian Labor Treasurer Chalmers Urges Calm as Housing Prices Fall on Rates, Fuel
August 3, 2026, 4:07 AM EDT. Australian Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the drop in housing prices needs a sense of perspective, pointing to rising interest rates and fuel costs instead of just new tax rules. Chalmers said it’s not the first market pullback. He pointed to at least seven similar drops in the last 20 years, including other rate hike periods. He also said most people view housing as a long-term commitment and prices don’t move every day or month. His comments come after new figures showed a downturn in house prices as pressures grow elsewhere in the economy.
‘Still early days’ in housing market downt…
ASX set to slip as Iran tensions weigh on sentiment
August 3, 2026, 4:06 AM EDT. The Australian sharemarket looked set for a weaker open as worries about Iran rattled investors. Some of the earlier drop in futures trimmed back after recent comments from US President Donald Trump, but the mood stayed cautious. The ASX opened under pressure with the focus on international risks. Traders kept an eye on new headlines out of the region for any sign of more volatility. Geopolitical tensions drove the cautious tone into early trade.
The Morning Catch-Up: ASX set to open lowe…
ASX Small Caps Jump on Mining Moves Before Diggers & Dealers
August 3, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT.ASX Small Ordinaries Index gained 1.4% to 3,314.60 Friday, boosted by a pickup in demand for junior miners. Buyers came in ahead of the Diggers & Dealers mining conference, putting focus on the sector. The move follows some upbeat news from small mining names. The conference is watched by miners and investors, often shaping sector sentiment. Some traders saw the action as a sign small caps are drawing interest again with commodity prices swinging.
