Marcin Frąckiewicz

UK Stock Market Today: Why FTSE 100 Slipped as AstraZeneca, NatWest and BP Dragged London Shares

UK Stock Market Today: Why FTSE 100 Slipped as AstraZeneca, NatWest and BP Dragged London Shares

London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.1% to 10,363.93 on Friday, weighed down by AstraZeneca, NatWest, BP, and Shell. AstraZeneca dropped 3.1% after a U.S. FDA panel voted against its breast cancer drug. NatWest fell despite a 12% profit rise, citing economic uncertainty and higher impairment charges. BP lost over 2% amid reports it may sell North Sea assets.
May 1, 2026
ASX Today: Australia Stock Market Finally Bounces — But the RBA May Decide How Long It Lasts

ASX Today: Australia Stock Market Finally Bounces — But the RBA May Decide How Long It Lasts

Australian shares ended an eight-day losing streak Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.74% to 8,729.80, led by gains in miners and supermarkets. Coles reported a 3.1% rise in third-quarter sales revenue, while rival Woolworths’ shares slipped 0.7% despite higher sales. ANZ fell 2.8% after posting a statutory profit of A$3.65 billion. Oil prices dropped as Iran proposed talks but continued to block the Strait of Hormuz.
May 1, 2026
Spirax Group Shares Slip Before May 13 Update That Could Shape 2026 Growth View

Spirax Group Shares Slip Before May 13 Update That Could Shape 2026 Growth View

Spirax Group shares fell 0.98% to 7,096p in London on Friday, while the FTSE 100 dropped 0.14%. The company is set to release a trading update and hold its annual meeting on May 13. No new regulatory filings were posted in the past day. In March, Spirax reported 2025 revenue of £1.70 billion, up 5% organically, and completed a restructuring program with £40 million in annualized savings.
May 1, 2026
Anglo American’s Teck Merger Enters Crucial China Stretch After AGM Sweep

Anglo American’s Teck Merger Enters Crucial China Stretch After AGM Sweep

Anglo American shareholders approved all 21 AGM resolutions this week, including the final dividend and board re-elections, as the company advances its planned merger with Teck Resources. China’s antitrust approval remains the last major regulatory hurdle for the deal, expected to close between September 2026 and March 2027. Anglo’s shares closed at 3,590 pence in London on Friday, up 0.10%.
May 1, 2026
IAG’s British Airways Pay Setback Puts Summer Travel and May 8 Results in Focus

IAG’s British Airways Pay Setback Puts Summer Travel and May 8 Results in Focus

British Airways pilots narrowly voted against a proposed pay overhaul, with just under 51% opposing changes that included a 4% raise but cuts to pension and flying pay, according to Sky News. The vote comes as IAG, BA’s parent, prepares to report first-quarter results on May 8 and faces rising fuel costs amid sector-wide price hikes. BALPA plans further talks with the airline, which said it would review feedback. IAG shares fell 0.13% to 371.90 pence.
May 1, 2026
Haleon PLC Stock Rebounds: Sensodyne Maker Keeps Its 2026 Bet Despite Cost Warning

Haleon PLC Stock Rebounds: Sensodyne Maker Keeps Its 2026 Bet Despite Cost Warning

Haleon shares rose 1.2% in London after first-quarter revenue reached £2.86 billion, with 2.2% organic growth. Oral health sales climbed 8.3% while respiratory health fell 3.4% due to weak cold-and-flu demand. Management reaffirmed 2026 guidance but warned of higher freight costs and weaker Middle East consumer spending. Haleon has completed 36% of its planned £500 million share buyback for 2026.
May 1, 2026
Bunzl plc Shares Edge Higher as Voting Rights Update Keeps 2026 Margin Test in Focus

Bunzl plc Shares Edge Higher as Voting Rights Update Keeps 2026 Margin Test in Focus

Bunzl plc reported 324,211,429 ordinary shares in issue as of April 30, with no shares held in treasury. First-quarter revenue rose 1.5% at constant exchange rates, but fell 0.4% at actual rates. Bunzl shares closed 0.29% higher in London, valuing the group at about £7.8 billion. The company reiterated its 2026 guidance, expecting moderate revenue growth and a slightly lower operating margin.
May 1, 2026
Santander’s £2.9bn TSB Takeover Is Done — What It Means for 28m UK Customers

Santander’s £2.9bn TSB Takeover Is Done — What It Means for 28m UK Customers

Santander UK has completed its £2.65 billion takeover of TSB, adding about 5 million TSB customer accounts and £71.5 billion in assets. The combined group becomes the UK’s third-largest bank by current account balances. TSB will continue to operate separately for now, with no immediate changes for customers. Santander plans to fully integrate TSB by mid-2027, pending court and regulatory approval.
May 1, 2026
BAE Systems Faces £120 Million Aid-Aircraft Lawsuit as Defence Boom Draws Scrutiny

BAE Systems Faces £120 Million Aid-Aircraft Lawsuit as Defence Boom Draws Scrutiny

Kenya-based EnComm Aviation has filed a £120 million lawsuit against BAE Systems, alleging the company’s withdrawal of support for Advanced Turbo-Prop aircraft grounded aid flights across Africa. EnComm claims the move forced cancellation of humanitarian contracts, including a UN programme in Somalia. BAE reported 2025 sales of £30.7 billion and a record order backlog of £83.6 billion. BAE declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
May 1, 2026
Rio Tinto-Backed MRN Clears $1.8 Billion Brazil Bauxite Hurdle

Rio Tinto-Backed MRN Clears $1.8 Billion Brazil Bauxite Hurdle

MRN received an IBAMA installation licence for the Novas Minas bauxite project in Pará, clearing the way for construction and operations through 2041. The project, backed by Rio Tinto, Glencore, and South32, is expected to preserve over 7,500 jobs and generate 380 million reais annually in taxes. MRN plans to invest 9 billion reais and maintain annual output near 12.5 million metric tons.
May 1, 2026
Legal & General Wins FCA Approval in Pension Cash Push as L&G Shares Climb

Legal & General Wins FCA Approval in Pension Cash Push as L&G Shares Climb

Legal & General has received FCA approval to offer targeted support to workplace pension savers, starting with members holding all savings in cash. The move follows the UK’s new targeted-support regime, which allows firms to make tailored suggestions to groups of consumers. L&G’s tests showed high engagement with its new communications. Shares rose 1.87% to 256.40 pence, outperforming a weaker FTSE 100.
May 1, 2026
Rightmove plc Shares Slip Before May 8 Update as Buybacks and £1.5 Billion Lawsuit Stay in Focus

Rightmove plc Shares Slip Before May 8 Update as Buybacks and £1.5 Billion Lawsuit Stay in Focus

Rightmove shares fell 1.4% to 427.30 pence in London on Friday ahead of its May 8 trading update, the first since a £1.5 billion lawsuit from estate agents in April. The company reported 753.5 million voting shares after a recent buyback and cancellation. Investors await new guidance as UK house prices and mortgage approvals show signs of recovery. Rightmove’s AGM and a final dividend vote are set for May 8.
May 1, 2026
GSK Stock Gets Fresh Catalyst as UK Clears Lynavoy and Pipeline Pressure Builds

GSK Stock Gets Fresh Catalyst as UK Clears Lynavoy and Pipeline Pressure Builds

Britain’s MHRA approved GSK’s Lynavoy for adults with primary biliary cholangitis, shortly after GSK licensed global rights to Alfasigma. The approval triggers a $20 million payment to GSK under the deal. Lynavoy, an oral drug for severe itch in PBC, met key goals in a phase 3 trial of 238 patients. GSK reported first-quarter sales of £7.63 billion and core operating profit of £2.65 billion.
May 1, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group Share Count Drops Again as LSEG’s £3 Billion Buyback Comes Into Focus

London Stock Exchange Group Share Count Drops Again as LSEG’s £3 Billion Buyback Comes Into Focus

London Stock Exchange Group reported total voting rights of 493,222,493 as of April 30, down from the April 21 AGM figure, amid its ongoing share buyback. LSEG posted a 9.8% rise in first-quarter total income excluding recoveries and an 11.5% increase in gross profit. The company expects 2026 income growth at the upper end of its 6.5%-7.5% guidance. Cboe Global Markets announced a 20% workforce cut Friday.
May 1, 2026
National Grid plc’s £50 Million Grid Fix: New Sensors Target Britain’s Power Bottlenecks

National Grid plc’s £50 Million Grid Fix: New Sensors Target Britain’s Power Bottlenecks

National Grid plc will deploy dynamic line rating technology on 585 km of transmission lines in England and Wales, aiming to boost capacity and save up to £50 million over five years. The rollout, covering the North East, Humber, and East Anglia, comes as grid balancing costs threaten to quadruple by 2030. Most installations are due by 2028, with some sensors to be mounted by drone on live lines.
May 1, 2026
British American Tobacco Faces New UK Test as Smoke-Free Law Tightens Vape Rules

British American Tobacco Faces New UK Test as Smoke-Free Law Tightens Vape Rules

Britain’s new Tobacco and Vapes Act bans tobacco sales to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, and expands ministerial powers over vape packaging and advertising. British American Tobacco criticized the law for restricting promotion of smokeless alternatives and warned enforcement will be key. Most provisions take effect within six months of Royal Assent. Health officials called the law a public-health measure.
May 1, 2026
Diageo Stock Gets a Trump Tariff Break Days Before a Critical Trading Update

Diageo Stock Gets a Trump Tariff Break Days Before a Critical Trading Update

Diageo shares rose up to 3% after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift tariffs on British whisky. The move comes days before Diageo’s third-quarter trading update, as the company faces weak U.S. sales and a lowered 2026 sales outlook. U.S. officials confirmed preferential duty access for U.K.-made whisky under a new economic deal. Industry groups called the tariff removal a significant boost for distillers.
May 1, 2026
Tesco PLC Buyback Rolls On as Aldi Price Fight Moves Into Express Stores

Tesco PLC Buyback Rolls On as Aldi Price Fight Moves Into Express Stores

Tesco repurchased 415,107 shares for £2 million on April 30 as part of a £750 million buyback, reducing its share count to about 6.38 billion. The company extended its Aldi Price Match scheme to over 2,000 Express stores. NielsenIQ data showed Tesco’s UK market share at 28.5% and 3.1% sales growth over 12 weeks, while Lidl’s sales rose 8.7%. Tesco widened its 2026/27 profit guidance, citing economic uncertainty.
May 1, 2026
Standard Chartered PLC Profit Beat Comes With a $190 Million Iran War Catch

Standard Chartered PLC Profit Beat Comes With a $190 Million Iran War Catch

Standard Chartered posted a 17% rise in first-quarter pretax profit to $2.45 billion, beating analyst forecasts, driven by record wealth and global banking income. The bank booked a $190 million charge linked to Middle East conflict and saw credit impairment increase to $296 million. Shares jumped 4.07% on the results. Wealth Solutions income climbed 32%, with $18 billion in net new money.
May 1, 2026
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