Marcin Frąckiewicz

Marcin Frąckiewicz is the CEO of TS2 Space and a longtime technology entrepreneur focused on telecommunications, satellite communications and digital innovation. A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), he writes about space technology, artificial intelligence and publicly traded technology companies. His analysis covers major market trends, emerging technologies and the businesses shaping the future of the global economy.

KPMG UK Layoffs: Up to 440 Audit Jobs at Risk as Low Attrition and Weak Demand Bite
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KPMG UK Layoffs: Up to 440 Audit Jobs at Risk as Low Attrition and Weak Demand Bite

KPMG’s UK audit division is bracing for potential layoffs, with a redundancy consultation that could put as many as 440 jobs on the line. Bloomberg noted that close to 600 audit staff received notice their positions might be cut. The proposal would trim about 6% from a business that currently employs around 7,100 people. This shift is notable, hitting even the typically stable audit divisions of the Big Four. With a cooler hiring climate, voluntary departures have slowed, and softer consulting demand is pushing firms to scrutinize expenses. KPMG’s January numbers underline the story: audit sales up 5% in 2025, but advisory revenue slipped 3%.
March 30, 2026
Aristocrat Leisure Buyback Hits A$1.25 Billion as 2027 Plan Enters Final Stretch
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Aristocrat Leisure Buyback Hits A$1.25 Billion as 2027 Plan Enters Final Stretch

March 30, 2026—Sydney, 07:12 AEDT Aristocrat Leisure scooped up another 108,649 shares in its latest buy-back, dropping A$5.04 million on March 26, according to its most recent filing. So far, that pushes spending on the expanded on-market buy-back to roughly A$1.25 billion. The gaming supplier’s tally now stands at 22.07 million shares repurchased, using just over 83% of the A$1.5 billion buy-back program.
March 29, 2026
Mineral Resources Limited Faces Fresh Onslow Iron Risk as Ashburton Port Stays Shut After Cyclone
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Mineral Resources Limited Faces Fresh Onslow Iron Risk as Ashburton Port Stays Shut After Cyclone

Mineral Resources Limited is dealing with another export snag at its Onslow Iron operation, as the Port of Ashburton—the Western Australia hub for its iron ore—remained shut through the weekend in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle. As of now, Pilbara Ports’ alert page continues to show Ashburton closed, despite Dampier, its neighbor, reopening on March 28. Timing is key here. Onslow Iron is now MinRes’ main moneymaker, with the company reporting back in February that the project hit its nameplate 35 million-tonne yearly pace in August. That translated into A$519 million in half-year underlying earnings, or EBITDA.
March 29, 2026
Lynas Rare Earths Limited’s Vietnam Deal Sharpens Race for Non-China Rare Earth Supply
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Lynas Rare Earths Limited’s Vietnam Deal Sharpens Race for Non-China Rare Earth Supply

PERTH, March 30, 2026, 04:09 AWST. Lynas Rare Earths announced late last week it’s teaming up with South Korea’s LS Eco Energy for a processing project in Vietnam. The plan: turn Lynas rare-earth oxides into metals used for permanent magnets. This move would bring the Australian miner further along a supply chain that’s still largely controlled by China. LS Eco is eyeing a fourth-quarter launch for the Vietnam plant, with magnet output expected in the U.S.
March 29, 2026
Transurban-Backed Run for the Kids Raises A$1.32 Million as Toll-Road Group Faces Reform Test

Transurban-Backed Run for the Kids Raises A$1.32 Million as Toll-Road Group Faces Reform Test

Sunday saw more than 30,000 runners, walkers, and families take part in Melbourne’s Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids, marking the 20th year of the event and pulling in A$1.32 million for the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal. Participants laced up for a rare chance to move through CityLink highlights—Bolte Bridge and, for those tackling the longer stretch, the Domain Tunnel. Transurban’s timing couldn’t be better. Fresh off December’s West Gate Tunnel launch, the company is busy ramping up operations there. In Sydney, new lanes on the M7 are set to start coming online from March. As for the NSW toll reform, Transurban sees that wrapping up in the first half of 2026.
March 29, 2026
Why Qube Holdings Shares Still Trail Macquarie’s A$11.7 Billion Buyout Offer
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Why Qube Holdings Shares Still Trail Macquarie’s A$11.7 Billion Buyout Offer

Qube Holdings finished Friday around 5% shy of the dividend-adjusted price in Macquarie Asset Management’s A$11.7 billion bid, with investors still eyeing clearance of remaining deal conditions. Qube last changed hands at A$4.89, compared to the adjusted cash offer of roughly A$5.1465, which factors in the A$5.20 per-share proposal less Qube’s 5.35 Australian-cent interim payout. The gap is significant: Qube’s board has already thrown its support behind the scheme of arrangement, the court-backed takeover model that’s standard fare in Australia. Shareholders are looking at a meeting likely set for June. Still on the to-do list—clearance from an independent expert confirming the deal serves shareholders’ best interests, plus green lights from the courts and regulators.
March 29, 2026
Xero Limited Bets on Anthropic to Put Claude AI Inside Small-Business Finance
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Xero Limited Bets on Anthropic to Put Claude AI Inside Small-Business Finance

Xero on Thursday announced a multi-year deal with Anthropic, planning to weave Claude into its accounting platform and allow users to tap Xero data directly within Claude.ai. The move is set to deepen the company's AI offerings for small business clients. Fresh tools from the partnership are expected to roll out in the coming months. Timing has played a big role here. Earlier this year, Anthropic’s latest product launches sent software stocks tumbling, investors concerned that AI would eat into legacy software firms’ business. Sentiment calmed somewhat after Anthropic lined up partnerships with established players.
March 29, 2026
Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston Takes Medical Leave, CFO Jeremy Robson Named Acting Chief
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Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston Takes Medical Leave, CFO Jeremy Robson Named Acting Chief

Suncorp Group announced that Chief Executive Steve Johnston is taking a temporary medical leave, putting Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Robson in the acting CEO seat for now. Neil Wesley, who heads up strategy, corporate development, and investor relations, steps into Robson’s role as acting CFO. The handover arrives days ahead of Suncorp’s interim dividend payout scheduled for March 31. The Brisbane insurer is still coming off a tough first half, having spent recent weeks calming investors rattled by hefty weather-related claims that weighed on profits but, according to management, left the broader business intact. Suncorp hasn’t specified when Johnston will be back, describing the leave simply as a "short period."
March 29, 2026
Neogen (NEOG) Workers Demand First Contract in Lansing, Putting Labor Risk Back in Focus
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Neogen (NEOG) Workers Demand First Contract in Lansing, Putting Labor Risk Back in Focus

Lansing, Michigan, March 29, 2026, 2:51 PM EDT. On Friday, union warehouse employees at Neogen turned out at the company’s Lansing site, pushing harder for a first contract and escalating tensions at the food safety firm. Teamsters Local 243 announced plans for the 10 a.m. demonstration just the day before. According to WLNS, workers gathered close to downtown Lansing, urging management to agree to what they called a fair contract.
March 29, 2026
Woolworths AI Job Interviews Draw Fresh Complaints as Fairness Questions Grow

Woolworths AI Job Interviews Draw Fresh Complaints as Fairness Questions Grow

Woolworths Group Ltd, listed in Australia, is under renewed pressure over its use of AI in hiring after additional applicants in New Zealand complained that the tech wrongly judged their personalities, blocking them before any human got involved. The retailer insists its process is “fair and accessible,” saying there’s a manual review step following the initial automated screen. Why does this latest controversy hit home? Woolworths, a major employer in both Australia and New Zealand, has relied on the Sapia AI platform since 2020, the company confirms. A Sapia case study puts Woolworths’ recruitment challenges in sharp relief: around 1 million job applications pour in each year for 40,000 positions. That volume explains the retailer’s move toward automation for faster
March 29, 2026
Telstra Group Limited Faces 1 Million-Sq-Km Coverage Map Threat as Optus, TPG Back Tougher Rules
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Telstra Group Limited Faces 1 Million-Sq-Km Coverage Map Threat as Optus, TPG Back Tougher Rules

Telstra Group Limited’s long-standing claims about mobile coverage may take a hit, with Optus and TPG both backing stricter mapping standards before an Australian regulator’s decision expected by March 31. The move could see Telstra cut roughly 1 million square kilometres from the coverage footprint it currently advertises. Timing is key here. The Australian Communications and Media Authority faces a March 31 deadline to lock in its Mobile Network Coverage Maps Standard. Carriers will need to comply with the new system for modelling and labelling 4G and 5G outdoor handheld coverage starting June 30, once the rules kick in.
March 29, 2026
4DMedical Ltd Wins EU CE Mark, Raises A$83 Million as Mayo Clinic Deal Boosts CT:VQ Push
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4DMedical Ltd Wins EU CE Mark, Raises A$83 Million as Mayo Clinic Deal Boosts CT:VQ Push

4DMedical disclosed in a Friday filing that its CT:VQ technology secured European Union CE mark certification. The Australian medtech also said it had raised A$83 million from institutional investors, a boost to fund its European ambitions. Shares ended the day at A$6.28, having hit A$7.55 earlier in the session. The timing comes into play as 4DMedical looks to build on recent U.S. hospital contracts and push for wider commercial uptake. According to the company, CT:VQ assesses how air and blood flow throughout the lungs using regular non-contrast CT scans—skipping the radiotracers needed for classic nuclear V/Q imaging.
March 29, 2026
DroneShield Limited shares in focus after JPMorgan lifts stake, new shares hit market
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DroneShield Limited shares in focus after JPMorgan lifts stake, new shares hit market

JPMorgan Chase & Co. and related entities bumped up their voting power in DroneShield Ltd, taking it to 58.0 million shares, or 6.29%, according to a Friday filing. That’s up from 48.8 million shares, or 5.29%. In another filing that day, DroneShield announced plans to quote 160,000 fresh ordinary shares after staff exercised performance options. Why does this matter? Investors are weighing whether DroneShield’s 2025 momentum will hold through 2026. The annual report laid out the numbers: record 2025 revenue came in at A$216.5 million, profit after tax reached A$3.5 million, and cash plus term deposits totaled A$209.5 million. Management added that fiscal 2026 kicked off with A$103.5 million already locked in as committed revenue.
March 29, 2026
Evolution Mining Limited Back in Focus After UBS Upgrade, Northparkes Growth Push
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Evolution Mining Limited Back in Focus After UBS Upgrade, Northparkes Growth Push

UBS bumped Evolution Mining Ltd up to neutral from sell on Friday, pointing to better growth prospects tied to copper at Northparkes and the dip in the share price. The firm put its target at A$12.50—just about level with Evolution’s latest close of A$12.46 on the ASX. This call drops right as the miner juggles several key events. There’s a 20-cent interim dividend lined up for April 2, and investors will be watching for March-quarter results on April 15. Back in February, Evolution Mining posted a record half-year profit and gave the green light to more projects.
March 29, 2026
Wesfarmers Limited CSBP Scrambles for Fertiliser as Iran War Hits Urea Supply
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Wesfarmers Limited CSBP Scrambles for Fertiliser as Iran War Hits Urea Supply

CSBP, Wesfarmers Ltd’s fertiliser division, is hustling to boost local output and secure replacement shipments after conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupted urea and phosphate supplies bound for Australia, CSBP sales strategy and reliability manager Ben Sudlow said late last week. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the Wesfarmers arm had notified some customers of potential delays to ammonium phosphate compound and urea cargoes. This is a tough moment for Western Australian growers, just as seeding season kicks off. Urea, the nitrogen fertiliser that’s essential for boosting crop yields, is a top priority right now. About a third of the world’s fertiliser trade moves through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters. The United Nations, citing the risks of deeper
March 29, 2026
Northern Star Resources DRP Share Issue Lands 42% Above Friday Close After FY26 Warning
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Northern Star Resources DRP Share Issue Lands 42% Above Friday Close After FY26 Warning

Northern Star Resources on Thursday announced it will quote 388,238 new ordinary shares through its dividend reinvestment plan, letting shareholders opt for stock rather than a cash payout. The DRP price landed at A$26.36 per share, putting the total value of these reinvested dividends near A$10.2 million. The timing of the filing comes into play because the price was pegged to the volume-weighted average traded from March 6 to March 12, yet DRP elections had already wrapped up on March 6. Then, just seven days later, Northern Star flagged challenges in reaching the lower end of its FY26 production guidance, which left the DRP price sitting roughly 42% higher than the A$18.55 where the stock finished on March 27.
March 29, 2026
Australia Stock Market Week Ahead: Oil Spike, RBA Minutes, China PMI Put ASX on Alert
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Australia Stock Market Week Ahead: Oil Spike, RBA Minutes, China PMI Put ASX on Alert

Australian stocks kick off a truncated week with crude surging past $112 a barrel, while Wall Street faces another bout of turbulence. That puts the local market in a spot, trying to gauge if energy’s momentum is enough to counter mounting pressure on banks, retailers, and miners. The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.11% to finish at 8,516.30 on Friday, but still managed a 1.0% advance for the week, according to ASX data. The ASX feels the impact in both directions. Oil and gas stocks might get a bump from higher crude, but pricier fuel, climbing bond yields, and a fresh dose of inflation anxiety spell trouble for firms reliant on low-cost loans or heavy transport and energy spending.
March 29, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Week Ahead Faces Oil Shock, GDP Test and Good Friday Closure
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Week Ahead Faces Oil Shock, GDP Test and Good Friday Closure

London shares are looking at a shortened week, oil prices still steering sentiment. On Friday, the FTSE 100 edged down 0.05%, while the FTSE 250 dropped 1.5%. Both indexes are staring at hefty monthly declines as concerns linger over a protracted Middle East crisis. The stakes for Britain are clear. With energy prices still elevated, the country sits in a riskier spot than others: the OECD now projects just 0.7% growth for the UK in 2026, and bumps up its inflation outlook to 4.0%. Markets, which once expected Bank of England rate cuts, have shifted to pricing in several hikes this year.
March 29, 2026
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