Business 31 March 2026 - 6 April 2026

BHP Group Ltd Shares Drop as Oil Shock, China Iron Ore Fight Put April Review in Focus
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BHP Group Ltd Shares Drop as Oil Shock, China Iron Ore Fight Put April Review in Focus

BHP shares fell 2.53% to A$51.23 in Sydney Monday as mining stocks dropped, with turnover at 8.7 million shares, below average. The company received US$4.3 billion from Wheaton Precious Metals in a silver streaming deal for future Antamina output. BHP reported a 22% rise in half-year profit, with copper surpassing iron ore in earnings. Iron ore sales face pressure from lower Chinese prices and shifting trade patterns.
April 6, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Heads Into Tougher Summer as Fuel Squeeze Deepens
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International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Heads Into Tougher Summer as Fuel Squeeze Deepens

IAG, owner of British Airways, faces rising fuel costs as U.S. crude for Europe hit a record $15 premium over Brent, driven by disrupted Middle East supplies. Jet fuel prices have outpaced crude, eroding IAG’s hedging protection ahead of the busy summer season. British Airways has extended flight suspensions to several Middle East destinations through May. IAG’s 2026 fuel bill has already climbed to €7.4 billion.
April 6, 2026
Anglo American Narrows UK Gender Pay Gap Ahead of AGM, but Bonus Gap Remains Wide
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Anglo American Narrows UK Gender Pay Gap Ahead of AGM, but Bonus Gap Remains Wide

Anglo American’s UK head-office unit reported women earned 79p for every £1 paid to men on a median basis, with a 24.2% mean pay gap. The median bonus gap widened to 46.7%. Women made up 54% of staff but only 41% of the top pay quartile and 38.5% of senior management. The update comes as Anglo pursues a merger with Teck and prepares for its annual meeting on April 29.
April 6, 2026
Why Rio Tinto plc Is in Focus as Oil Spike Tests Pilbara Recovery Ahead of Dividend Date
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Why Rio Tinto plc Is in Focus as Oil Spike Tests Pilbara Recovery Ahead of Dividend Date

Rio Tinto’s U.S.-listed shares fell 0.5% to $94.01 on Monday as investors weighed cyclone-hit Pilbara iron ore output against rising energy costs, with London and Australia markets closed for Easter. The miner expects to ship 8 million tonnes less iron ore after two cyclones but aims to recover half. Brent crude rose to $109.13 a barrel. Rio’s final dividend payment is set for April 16.
April 6, 2026
Why Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Still Has Investors on Edge
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Why Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Still Has Investors on Edge

Unilever shares traded at $55.45 in U.S. premarket Monday, down about 60 cents after last week's deal to merge its food business with McCormick. The $45 billion transaction gives Unilever and its shareholders 65% of the combined company and $15.7 billion in cash. The deal uses a Reverse Morris Trust structure and is expected to close by mid-2027. Some investors remain cautious due to regulatory risks and integration challenges.
April 6, 2026
OpenAI IPO Plans Hit Internal Rift as CFO Sarah Friar Questions Sam Altman’s 2026 Timeline
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OpenAI IPO Plans Hit Internal Rift as CFO Sarah Friar Questions Sam Altman’s 2026 Timeline

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar has warned internally that the company may not be ready for an IPO as soon as late 2026, citing unfinished compliance work and high spending, The Information reported. CEO Sam Altman wants to move faster. Friar has raised concerns OpenAI could burn more than $200 billion before turning cash-flow positive. OpenAI recently closed a $122 billion funding round at an $852 billion valuation.
April 6, 2026
Shell Plc Q1 Profit Outlook Climbs as Oil Holds Above $107 Before April 8 Update
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Shell Plc Q1 Profit Outlook Climbs as Oil Holds Above $107 Before April 8 Update

Shell will update investors Wednesday as Brent crude trades above $107 a barrel and supply disruptions persist near the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts have raised Shell’s first-quarter profit estimates by 15% after oil prices surged in March. The company reported $3.3 billion net profit last quarter and kept its $3.5 billion buyback. Part of Shell’s Pearl plant in Qatar was damaged in recent attacks.
April 6, 2026
National Australia Bank contacts 200,000 firms as fuel shock squeezes Australia’s supply chains
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National Australia Bank contacts 200,000 firms as fuel shock squeezes Australia’s supply chains

National Australia Bank has contacted nearly 200,000 business customers as volatile fuel prices hit agriculture, transport, and manufacturing. Diesel prices in Australia are up 88% since the Middle East conflict began, with fertiliser costs also surging. Canberra announced up to A$1 billion in interest-free loans for critical businesses. NAB reported a 100% jump in EV loans in March as firms seek to cut fuel exposure.
April 2, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Exits TAP Sale, Leaving Lufthansa and Air France-KLM to Compete for Portugal’s Flag Carrier
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International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Exits TAP Sale, Leaving Lufthansa and Air France-KLM to Compete for Portugal’s Flag Carrier

International Consolidated Airlines Group has withdrawn from bidding for a minority stake in TAP Air Portugal, leaving Lufthansa and Air France-KLM as the only known contenders. Portugal is selling 44.9% of TAP, with non-binding offers due Thursday. IAG cited a lack of a path to majority control and will focus on internal growth. TAP’s Lisbon slots and South Atlantic routes remain the main attractions for bidders.
April 2, 2026
GSK plc simplifies ViiV Healthcare ownership as Pfizer exits and Shionogi raises stake
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GSK plc simplifies ViiV Healthcare ownership as Pfizer exits and Shionogi raises stake

GSK completed a reshaping of ViiV Healthcare’s ownership on April 1, with Shionogi raising its stake to 21.7% after Pfizer exited the HIV-focused venture. ViiV issued new shares to Shionogi for $2.125 billion and cancelled Pfizer’s holding. GSK retained a 78.3% majority and took a $250 million special dividend. The deal extinguished a put option liability tied to the old structure.
April 2, 2026
Centrica plc AGM 2026: British Gas owner seeks fresh buyback authority as 3.67p dividend vote looms
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Centrica plc AGM 2026: British Gas owner seeks fresh buyback authority as 3.67p dividend vote looms

Centrica will seek shareholder approval on May 7 to renew authority to buy back up to 460.5 million shares and approve a 3.67-pence final dividend. The company paused buybacks in February after reporting a 39% drop in annual core profit. The proposed repurchase covers about a tenth of Centrica’s voting shares. If approved, the final dividend will be paid May 14 to investors on the register as of April 10.
April 2, 2026
BP PLC’s New CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Clear Direction as Oil Swings Test Debt Reset
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BP PLC’s New CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Clear Direction as Oil Swings Test Debt Reset

Meg O’Neill became BP’s first external and first female CEO on Wednesday, pledging “clear direction” as the company shifts focus back to oil and gas. BP has suspended share buybacks, is selling assets to meet a $20 billion divestment goal by 2027, and cut renewables spending. The company took $4 billion in impairments in February. Brent crude prices jumped over 7% Thursday after settling at $101.16 a barrel Wednesday.
April 2, 2026
BAE Systems plc Confirmed for £95 Million UK Radar Contract as Britain Moves to Unlock Offshore Wind
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BAE Systems plc Confirmed for £95 Million UK Radar Contract as Britain Moves to Unlock Offshore Wind

Britain has awarded BAE Systems a £95 million contract to supply and integrate new air-defence radar systems under the RAF’s NJORD programme, aiming to protect airspace as offshore wind farms expand. The contract was signed on Feb. 26 after a restricted competition and publicly named on March 31. Installation is expected to begin in early 2029. The government has not disclosed the radar type, citing security concerns.
April 1, 2026
Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Draws Union Warning, Splits Investors
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Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Draws Union Warning, Splits Investors

Unilever said it will merge its food business with McCormick in a $65 billion deal, shifting brands like Knorr and Hellmann’s into a new company and narrowing its focus to household and personal care. Unilever shares fell 7% after the news, while McCormick dropped 5%. The deal, using a Reverse Morris Trust, is expected to close by mid-2027. Unilever’s European Works Council warned of possible strikes over job uncertainty.
April 1, 2026
Glencore Extends South Africa Smelter Job-Cut Deadline to April 7 in Eskom Power Talks
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Glencore Extends South Africa Smelter Job-Cut Deadline to April 7 in Eskom Power Talks

Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture extended its retrenchment consultation deadline to April 7 as Eskom requested more time to finalize a discounted power deal at 62 South African cents per kWh. The venture warned job cuts affecting up to 1,500 workers remain likely if tariff terms are not improved. Samancor Chrome, also offered the lower rate, resumed layoff plans that could impact 2,400 employees. Merafe reported a 63% drop in 2025 ferrochrome output.
April 1, 2026
BP PLC CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Consistency as Debt Reset Faces First Test (Reuters)
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BP PLC CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Consistency as Debt Reset Faces First Test (Reuters)

Meg O’Neill, BP’s first external and first female CEO, pledged “clear direction and consistency” as she took over, promising continuity in oil and gas. BP halted share buybacks in February to cut debt and fund projects, with net debt at $22 billion and next results due April 28. O’Neill inherits a weaker balance sheet than rivals. Asset sales have reached $11 billion toward a $20 billion target by 2027.
April 1, 2026
Oracle Starts Thousands of Layoffs as $50 Billion AI Push Lifts Shares
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Oracle Starts Thousands of Layoffs as $50 Billion AI Push Lifts Shares

Oracle began laying off thousands of employees Tuesday, with internal emails telling some staff their last day was immediate, according to CNBC and Business Insider. The cuts come as Oracle maintains a $50 billion data center spending plan and reported negative free cash flow of $24.7 billion at February’s end. Shares rose 4.7% to $145.28 in midday trading. Oracle declined to comment.
March 31, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group taps Dell for private cloud as investors seek proof on AI strategy
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London Stock Exchange Group taps Dell for private cloud as investors seek proof on AI strategy

London Stock Exchange Group has signed a multi-year deal with Dell Technologies to build a private cloud platform for parts of its data and markets operations. The move follows investor pressure for clearer technology benefits after LSEG’s Microsoft partnership and record buyback. LSEG reported 7.1% income growth for 2025 and announced a further £3 billion buyback in February.
March 31, 2026
British American Tobacco Deepens Charlotte’s Web Bet in $75 Million CBD Deal
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British American Tobacco Deepens Charlotte’s Web Bet in $75 Million CBD Deal

British American Tobacco plans to raise its stake in Charlotte’s Web to about 40% by converting a C$75.3 million debenture and adding $10 million in cash, according to U.S. filings. The deal would erase $65 million of Charlotte’s Web debt and give BAT two board seats if approved by shareholders and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Charlotte’s Web posted a $29.8 million net loss before tax in 2025.
March 31, 2026
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