Business News 25 March 2026 - 7 April 2026

Rolls-Royce Shares Jump 10% as Ceasefire Rally Puts Buyback Back in Focus
···

Rolls-Royce Shares Jump 10% as Ceasefire Rally Puts Buyback Back in Focus

Rolls-Royce Holdings shares surged 10% to 1,257.1 pence on Wednesday after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire lifted London markets and a filing showed ongoing share buybacks. Morgan Stanley purchased 736,316 shares for cancellation on April 7, bringing total repurchases to nearly 29 million. The FTSE 100 rose 2.9% by 1042 GMT as Brent crude fell 12.3% on hopes of resumed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
April 8, 2026
Rolls-Royce Holdings Buyback Rolls On as Fresh Filing Sharpens Focus on £2.5 Billion 2026 Return Plan
····

Rolls-Royce Holdings Buyback Rolls On as Fresh Filing Sharpens Focus on £2.5 Billion 2026 Return Plan

Rolls-Royce bought 385 shares at 1,172.5 pence each on April 2 under its £2.3 billion buyback programme, set for cancellation. Since launching the plan, the company has repurchased 28.2 million shares for about £344 million. Shares traded at 1,159 pence Tuesday, roughly 18% below the year’s high. Rolls-Royce will go ex-dividend on April 23, with a final 5.0 pence dividend due June 3.
April 7, 2026
GSK Shares Slip as U.S.-UK Drug Deal Eases Tariff Threat Before April Results
···

GSK Shares Slip as U.S.-UK Drug Deal Eases Tariff Threat Before April Results

GSK’s U.S.-listed shares slipped 0.7% to $56.29 after a U.S.-UK medicines pact guaranteed zero U.S. tariffs on UK-made drugs for three years, in exchange for higher NHS prices and changes to NICE drug assessments. The deal comes as Trump imposed 100% tariffs on patented drugs not made in the U.S. or covered by pricing agreements. GSK will report first-quarter results April 29. AstraZeneca has similar tariff protection.
April 6, 2026
3i Group Share Price: Why Action’s U.S. Push Has Investors Watching May Results
···

3i Group Share Price: Why Action’s U.S. Push Has Investors Watching May Results

Tesco recalled The Curing Barn British Bresaola 60g after the Food Standards Agency found Listeria monocytogenes in the product, advising customers not to eat it and to return packs with code WLRC J1Z2 0WD0 J85J, use-by June 10, 2026. The recall comes days before Tesco’s annual results, as grocery inflation holds at 4.3% and the chain’s market share rises to 28%.
April 6, 2026
BHP closes $4.3 billion Antamina silver deal, unlocking cash for copper push
···

BHP closes $4.3 billion Antamina silver deal, unlocking cash for copper push

BHP Group received a $4.3 billion upfront payment from Wheaton Precious Metals after finalizing a silver streaming deal tied to its share of Peru’s Antamina mine output. The agreement gives Wheaton rights to 33.75% of BHP’s silver from Antamina until 100 million ounces are delivered, then 22.5% after, with settlement via metal credits. BHP retains full exposure to copper, zinc, and lead from the mine.
April 2, 2026
GSK plc Completes ViiV Healthcare Shake-Up as Pfizer Exits, Shionogi Lifts Stake
···

GSK plc Completes ViiV Healthcare Shake-Up as Pfizer Exits, Shionogi Lifts Stake

Shionogi increased its stake in ViiV Healthcare to 21.7% as Pfizer exited, leaving GSK with a 78.3% majority. ViiV issued new shares to Shionogi for $2.125 billion and paid Pfizer $1.875 billion. GSK received a $250 million special dividend and removed an accounting liability tied to Pfizer’s exit. The transaction followed Chinese approval of GSK’s asthma drug Exdensur.
April 1, 2026
British Airways Parent IAG Set for Heathrow Cost Break, but Fuel Shock Still Looms
···

British Airways Parent IAG Set for Heathrow Cost Break, but Fuel Shock Still Looms

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority proposed raising Heathrow’s passenger charge to a midpoint of £28.80 for 2027-2031, just 1.4% above current levels. The figure is 16% below Heathrow’s forecast and 25% above what airlines sought. IAG, owner of British Airways, stands to benefit as it faces higher fuel costs and ongoing network disruptions. British Airways has extended flight cancellations to several Middle East destinations through May.
April 1, 2026
Vodafone Group PLC Accelerates Share Buyback With 5.4 Million Shares Ahead of Year-End
···

Vodafone Group PLC Accelerates Share Buyback With 5.4 Million Shares Ahead of Year-End

Vodafone bought 5.4 million shares for treasury on Tuesday, more than doubling its buyback pace as the financial year closed. The company paid an average 111.74 pence per share. Vodafone now holds over 1.2 billion treasury shares, with 23.1 billion shares outstanding. The buyback follows the cancellation of 549.6 million treasury shares and the sale of its VodafoneZiggo stake.
March 31, 2026
RELX PLC ramps up share buyback as LexisNexis owner heads into April trading update (Reuters)
···

RELX PLC ramps up share buyback as LexisNexis owner heads into April trading update (Reuters)

RELX repurchased 3.43 million shares worth about £83.5 million between March 23 and 27, the first week of a new £350 million buyback plan, a filing showed. The company has bought back 31.06 million shares since January 2 and now holds 35.16 million in treasury. RELX will update investors at its annual general meeting and trading update on April 23. J.P. Morgan Securities is executing the current buyback phase, which ends April 22.
March 31, 2026
3i Group CEO Buys £9 Million of Stock After Action Slowdown Triggers Selloff
···

3i Group CEO Buys £9 Million of Stock After Action Slowdown Triggers Selloff

Simon Borrows and family trusts bought 350,147 3i shares at £25.55 each on March 26, totaling about £8.95 million, after 3i stock fell 17.66% last week. Action, 3i’s largest holding, maintained 2026 targets for 4%-5% like-for-like sales growth and at least 400 net store openings. Action reported €3.7 billion in net sales for the first 12 weeks of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year.
March 30, 2026
Rolls-Royce Holdings buys back 2.25 million shares as oil shock clouds airline outlook
···

Rolls-Royce Holdings buys back 2.25 million shares as oil shock clouds airline outlook

Rolls-Royce Holdings bought back 2.25 million shares for cancellation on March 27 as part of its £2.3 billion 2026 programme, bringing total repurchases to 26.1 million shares. The latest shares were acquired at average prices just over 1,118 pence. Shares closed Friday nearly 22% below their February peak amid rising oil prices and airline sector concerns. Rolls-Royce maintains its 2026 flying hour and profit forecasts.
March 30, 2026
Coles Group Dividend 2026: 41c Payout Due as Woolworths Price Fight Tests Growth
···

Coles Group Dividend 2026: 41c Payout Due as Woolworths Price Fight Tests Growth

Coles will pay a fully franked interim dividend of 41 Australian cents a share on March 30. First-half group sales rose 2.5% to A$23.6 billion, but reported profit dropped 11.3% to A$511 million after A$235 million in significant items tied to a Federal Court judgment. Supermarket EBIT climbed 14.6%, while liquor earnings fell sharply. Woolworths reported stronger profit and raised its dividend to 45 cents.
March 29, 2026
4DMedical Ltd Wins EU CE Mark, Raises A$83 Million as Mayo Clinic Deal Boosts CT:VQ Push
···

4DMedical Ltd Wins EU CE Mark, Raises A$83 Million as Mayo Clinic Deal Boosts CT:VQ Push

4DMedical said Friday its CT:VQ lung imaging software won CE mark clearance in the EU and secured A$83 million in a private placement at A$5.90 a share. The company expects to have A$289 million in cash at year-end 2025. Mayo Clinic began using CT:VQ on March 25, joining five other U.S. academic centers since FDA clearance in September. Shares closed at A$6.28 after touching A$7.55 intraday.
March 29, 2026
Meituan Stock Faces New Test After 2025 Loss as China Delivery Price War Hits Margins
···

Meituan Stock Faces New Test After 2025 Loss as China Delivery Price War Hits Margins

Meituan reported a 23.35 billion yuan net loss for 2025, reversing a 35.81 billion yuan profit in 2024, as costs and promotions surged. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 4.1% to 92.1 billion yuan, but core local commerce swung to a 10.05 billion yuan operating loss. Hong Kong shares closed at HK$85.90 Friday, down 0.9%, after Beijing signaled it wants to cool the food-delivery price war.
March 29, 2026
Tencent Stock News: Fresh Buyback Filing Lands as AI Push Tests 0700.HK
···

Tencent Stock News: Fresh Buyback Filing Lands as AI Push Tests 0700.HK

Tencent repurchased 610,000 shares for HK$300.7 million on March 27, following a 590,000-share buyback the previous day, filings showed. The company said 2026 buybacks will be lower than last year’s HK$80 billion as it increases AI spending and raises dividends. Tencent reported Q4 revenue of 194.4 billion yuan and net profit of 58.26 billion yuan. Shares closed Friday at HK$493.40, down 0.44%.
March 29, 2026
Haleon PLC Stock Price Today: Q1 Memo Keeps 2026 Growth Questions Alive
···

Haleon PLC Stock Price Today: Q1 Memo Keeps 2026 Growth Questions Alive

Haleon shares held near 366 pence Friday after the company reaffirmed 2026 organic revenue growth guidance of 3% to 5% in a pre-results memo. The note flagged a weak Q1 cold and flu season and a 0.4% North America sales decline in 2025. Oral Health grew 7.9% last year, while Asia Pacific rose 5.2%. Haleon also began a £500 million share buyback programme this month.
March 27, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) Share Price Slips Even After 115 Million Share Cancellation
···

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) Share Price Slips Even After 115 Million Share Cancellation

International Consolidated Airlines Group shares fell about 2% to 359 pence Thursday after canceling 115.5 million treasury shares, leaving the stock 23% below its Feb. 27 high. The drop tracked a broader market selloff, with the FTSE 100 down 1.3%. IAG said it still holds 89.5 million treasury shares, with 4.52 billion shares outstanding.
March 26, 2026
Legal & General Share Price Rises After Manulife Partnership as Investors Reassess Growth Plan
···

Legal & General Share Price Rises After Manulife Partnership as Investors Reassess Growth Plan

Legal & General shares rose 1.8% to 243.5p Wednesday after announcing a partnership with Manulife Wealth & Asset Management. The deal covers distribution, investment management, and product development across public and private markets. L&G is seeking to recover from a recent profit miss and weaker solvency position. The FTSE 100 gained 1.1% amid hopes for a Middle East ceasefire.
March 25, 2026
1 2 3 … 11