Marcin Frąckiewicz

Rolls-Royce Starts First Large UK Battery Project in Scotland as Power Push Builds
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Rolls-Royce Starts First Large UK Battery Project in Scotland as Power Push Builds

Rolls-Royce Holdings has started construction on a 43-megawatt battery storage facility in Falkirk, Scotland, its first large-scale UK battery project, with grid connection expected in 2026 and operations in 2027. The company will build and maintain the site for Voltaria Helios Energy Storage for 15 years. Rolls-Royce also bought back 1.2 million shares on March 30 under its ongoing £2.3 billion repurchase program.
March 31, 2026
Aviva plc makes £100 million UK rental homes bet with National Housing Bank
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Aviva plc makes £100 million UK rental homes bet with National Housing Bank

Aviva and the National Housing Bank will invest £100 million to build family rental homes in Liverpool and Manchester, with plans to expand to 3,300 homes nationwide. The partnership is among the first backed by the new government housing bank, which launches Wednesday with up to £16 billion in funding. About 300 homes will be built initially, including 135 in Liverpool and 150 in Manchester. Aviva Investors will manage the assets.
March 31, 2026
Compass Group Shares Rise Ahead of April 1 USD Switch on London Stock Exchange
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Compass Group Shares Rise Ahead of April 1 USD Switch on London Stock Exchange

Compass Group will switch the trading currency of its London-listed shares to U.S. dollars on April 1, aiming to cut foreign-exchange volatility. Shares rose 0.8% to 2,097 pence by midday Tuesday. The change follows Compass’s 2024 shift to dollar reporting and comes as North America remains its largest market. The move will not affect Compass’s FTSE 100 index status or London Stock Exchange listing.
March 31, 2026
Iran War Jet Fuel Crisis Hits Summer Travel as Europe-Asia Airfares Surge
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Iran War Jet Fuel Crisis Hits Summer Travel as Europe-Asia Airfares Surge

Airlines in Europe and Asia raised fares and cut capacity as jet fuel prices surged following the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure. The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index hit $4.62 a gallon, with Brent crude at $115.50. Korean Air will enter emergency mode in April, and Cathay Pacific imposed an $800 fuel surcharge on Sydney-London returns. Brussels urged governments to delay refinery maintenance to ease supply pressure.
March 31, 2026
Shell Plc warns Australia windfall LNG tax could hit investment as energy shock deepens
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Shell Plc warns Australia windfall LNG tax could hit investment as energy shock deepens

Shell warned Australia that a proposed windfall tax on LNG exporters would deter investment and threaten energy security, as surging prices boost industry profits. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked Treasury to model the tax and possible changes to the PRRT. Shell and Chevron executives criticized the plan at a Sydney conference. Asia spot LNG prices have doubled since February, and Australia exported A$65 billion of LNG last year.
March 31, 2026
Glencore Horne Smelter Rescue Takes Shape as Quebec Moves on Emissions Delay, Ottawa Weighs Aid
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Glencore Horne Smelter Rescue Takes Shape as Quebec Moves on Emissions Delay, Ottawa Weighs Aid

Quebec plans to extend Glencore’s deadline to meet stricter arsenic limits at its Horne copper smelter from 2027 to 2029, Canadian Mining Journal reported. Ottawa is considering about C$150 million in support for new pollution controls. Public health officials warn the delay prolongs toxic exposure for nearby residents. Glencore froze nearly C$1 billion in planned investments after talks with Quebec stalled.
March 31, 2026
Barclays PLC Faces Fresh Test After UK Car Finance Bill Lands at £9.1 Billion
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Barclays PLC Faces Fresh Test After UK Car Finance Bill Lands at £9.1 Billion

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority set the final cost of a car-finance compensation scheme at £9.1 billion, below last year’s estimate. Barclays faces questions over whether its £325 million provision will cover its share. The scheme covers 12.1 million agreements from 2007 to 2024, with average payouts of £830. Payouts are expected to begin this year after a short implementation period.
March 31, 2026
Unilever PLC says McCormick food deal could be signed today in $60 billion shake-up (Reuters)

Unilever PLC says McCormick food deal could be signed today in $60 billion shake-up (Reuters)

Unilever is in advanced talks with McCormick to combine most of its Foods business in a deal valued at over $60 billion, with an agreement possible Tuesday. The proposed structure would give Unilever and its shareholders 65% of the new company and about $15.7 billion in cash. Unilever’s India food operations would not be included. The company said there is no certainty a transaction will be reached.
March 31, 2026
BP PLC Loses EV Charging Chief Ahead of Meg O’Neill Takeover as Oil Pivot Deepens
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BP PLC Loses EV Charging Chief Ahead of Meg O’Neill Takeover as Oil Pivot Deepens

Martin Thomsen, head of BP’s global EV charging business, has left to join Rolls-Royce as chief procurement and supply chain officer. His departure comes days before Meg O’Neill becomes BP’s new CEO, as the company shifts investment from renewables and EV charging toward oil and gas. BP had about 40,000 charging points and recently cut EV spending below $500 million annually. Brent crude neared $115 a barrel Tuesday.
March 31, 2026
Santos Limited Fast-Tracks Crude to Refineries as Australia Fuel Crunch Deepens

Santos Limited Fast-Tracks Crude to Refineries as Australia Fuel Crunch Deepens

Santos advanced part of a 575,000-barrel Cooper Basin crude cargo to Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery and sold 150,000 barrels of Varanus Island crude to Ampol. Australia, which imports about 90% of its fuel, had 30 days of diesel and jet fuel and 39 days of petrol on hand last week. The government has halved fuel excise for three months and will underwrite prompt cargoes as supply strains persist.
March 31, 2026
National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less
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National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less

National Australia Bank’s Consumer Stress Index rose to 59.1 in the March quarter, its highest in over a decade, as cost-of-living pressures hit 71.8, the worst since 2014. The survey, conducted before a recent fuel price spike, found 57% of Australians switched at least one provider due to rising costs. Major banks raised variable mortgage rates after the Reserve Bank’s March rate hike. Job-security stress eased to its lowest since 2021.
March 31, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation

Westpac now expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise its cash rate three more times this year, peaking at 4.85%, the highest since 2008, citing war-driven fuel costs. The bank forecasts headline inflation at 5.4% in the June quarter despite a temporary fuel excise cut. Westpac shares fell 4.05% Monday as markets reacted. The bank also delayed any rate cut expectations to 2028.
March 30, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says EV Loan Demand Soars 161% as Fuel Crunch Drives Buyers Electric
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says EV Loan Demand Soars 161% as Fuel Crunch Drives Buyers Electric

Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported a 161.5% surge in battery electric vehicle loan demand in March, driven by record fuel prices and supply concerns. Inquiries on its car-buying portal rose 136%, and business applications for Tesla vehicles jumped 268% from a year earlier. Canberra halved fuel excise for three months as diesel topped A$3 a litre. National Australia Bank also saw EV loan demand double since early March.
March 30, 2026
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