Business News 4 May 2026 - 14 May 2026

Monarch Casino Shares Tick Higher With Holiday Looming, Legal Issue Still Present
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Monarch Casino Shares Tick Higher With Holiday Looming, Legal Issue Still Present

Monarch Casino & Resort shares rose 0.6% to $116.91 Friday afternoon, as investors weighed record first-quarter results against a $78.5 million construction litigation liability. Net income jumped 38.9% to $27.6 million on revenue of $136.6 million. Monarch repurchased $17.6 million in shares and declared a 30-cent dividend. The move came ahead of the Memorial Day market closure.
May 22, 2026
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 14.05.2026
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UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 14.05.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: May 14, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: May 14, 2026, 11:58 PM EDT Why Gold Giants Are Still Turning Heads in 2026 May 14, 2026, 11:58 PM EDT. In 2026, major gold producers continue to attract investor attention amid ongoing economic uncertainty. Despite market fluctuations, these companies benefit from gold's role as a safe-haven asset, appealing to those seeking stability. Key players sustain robust production levels and maintain strong balance sheets, positioning themselves well to navigate inflation pressures and geopolitical tensions. Analysts highlight that gold giants' operational efficiency and resource management contribute to their resilience. Investors are closely
May 14, 2026
Wesfarmers Limited Shares Get a Budget Lift — Why the Bunnings Owner Still Faces a Rates Test
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Wesfarmers Limited Shares Get a Budget Lift — Why the Bunnings Owner Still Faces a Rates Test

Wesfarmers shares closed up 0.35% at A$71.55 on Wednesday, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 0.47% drop as consumer discretionary stocks rebounded. The company reported half-year revenue of A$24.21 billion and net profit of A$1.60 billion, up 9.3%. Australia’s Wage Price Index rose 0.8% in the March quarter. The Reserve Bank lifted rates to 4.35% on May 5.
May 13, 2026
Why Fortescue Ltd’s A$150 Million Native Title Hit Matters for Pilbara Miners
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Why Fortescue Ltd’s A$150 Million Native Title Hit Matters for Pilbara Miners

Fortescue Ltd has been ordered to pay A$150 million to the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation for cultural loss from mining at its Solomon Hub, the largest native title compensation in Australia. The Federal Court also awarded about A$100,000 for economic loss plus interest. Justice Stephen Burley found Fortescue had destroyed 124 heritage sites and blocked access to over 135 square kilometres of land. Fortescue shares rose 2.8% on Wednesday.
May 13, 2026
BT Group Stock Watch: UC Edge Launch Raises Stakes Before May 21 Results
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BT Group Stock Watch: UC Edge Launch Raises Stakes Before May 21 Results

BT International launched UC Edge, a managed voice service for multinationals using multiple workplace platforms, now live with initial deployments in regulated industries. The launch comes eight days before BT’s full-year results on May 21, which investors are watching closely. The service lets companies run calls across Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Webex without overhauling phone systems.
May 13, 2026
SSE PLC Raises Profit Guidance Before Results—Here’s the Accounting Move Behind It
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SSE PLC Raises Profit Guidance Before Results—Here’s the Accounting Move Behind It

SSE raised its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to 149p-154p from 147p-152p after changing how it accounts for Neos Networks losses. The adjustment follows the carrying value of its Neos equity investment falling to nil, preventing further loss recognition under IAS 28. Full-year results are due May 28. SSE shares traded at 2,448p, down 1.29% near midday in London.
May 13, 2026
Munich Re Profit Jumps 57%, But Shares Slide As Reinsurer Cuts New Business
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Munich Re Profit Jumps 57%, But Shares Slide As Reinsurer Cuts New Business

Munich Re’s first-quarter net profit jumped 57% to €1.714 billion, driven by a sharp drop in large-loss claims. The reinsurer cut April renewal business by 18.5% as risk-adjusted prices fell 3.1%. Shares fell as much as 5% in Frankfurt, hitting their lowest level since November 2024, as investors focused on weaker revenue and pricing pressure. Insurance revenue dropped to €15.018 billion from €15.811 billion.
May 12, 2026
Wesfarmers Stock Just Got Hit: Why Bunnings and Kmart Prices Are Back in Focus
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Wesfarmers Stock Just Got Hit: Why Bunnings and Kmart Prices Are Back in Focus

Wesfarmers shares closed at A$72.25 on May 8, down 1.95%, as oil-driven cost pressures and freight surcharges weigh on the group. CEO Rob Scott warned some prices will rise, especially for building supplies tied to petrochemicals. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.51% Friday, its worst day since March, with Wesfarmers among the major drags. Brent crude settled at US$101.29 a barrel after fresh Gulf tensions.
May 10, 2026
Macquarie Group Profit Surge Has One Catch Investors Can’t Ignore
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Macquarie Group Profit Surge Has One Catch Investors Can’t Ignore

Macquarie Group reported a 30% rise in full-year profit to A$4.85 billion, beating forecasts on strong commodity trading and asset sales. Profit for the six months to March 31 surged 93% to a record A$3.19 billion. The Commodities and Global Markets division’s net profit contribution jumped 49% to A$4.22 billion. Macquarie shares last closed at A$239.23 on Friday, down 1.09%.
May 10, 2026
Compass Group PLC Half-Year Results: The AI and Vermaat Questions That Could Move CPG Shares
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Compass Group PLC Half-Year Results: The AI and Vermaat Questions That Could Move CPG Shares

Compass Group PLC will release half-year results at 7 a.m. BST Monday, with management presenting at 9 a.m. Shares closed Friday at $29.51/$29.52, up 0.73% after switching to a U.S. dollar quote in April. The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance for about 10% underlying operating profit growth, with consensus pointing to $3.72 billion profit on $50.5 billion revenue.
May 10, 2026
Disney Stock Rises as Josh D’Amaro’s First Earnings Report Beats Wall Street
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Disney Stock Rises as Josh D’Amaro’s First Earnings Report Beats Wall Street

Disney shares rose 1.7% after reporting fiscal Q2 revenue of $25.17 billion, up 7% and above estimates. Streaming posted $582 million in operating income, up 88% year-over-year, and delivered its first double-digit margin. Parks revenue hit a record $9.49 billion despite a 1% drop in domestic attendance. New CEO Josh D’Amaro outlined a growth plan centered on streaming, ESPN, and theme parks.
May 7, 2026
Warren Buffett’s Japan Bet Just Crossed a Line as Berkshire Tops 10% in Sumitomo and Marubeni
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Warren Buffett’s Japan Bet Just Crossed a Line as Berkshire Tops 10% in Sumitomo and Marubeni

Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity raised its voting stakes in Sumitomo and Marubeni above 10%, according to company notices. Sumitomo shares jumped 8.2% in Tokyo after the disclosure. Berkshire’s Class B shares also rose early in New York trading. The filings follow CEO Greg Abel’s remarks on maintaining patience with Berkshire’s large cash reserves.
May 7, 2026
Aldi And Lidl Store Expansion Loophole Faces UK Crackdown As Rivals Push CMA
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Aldi And Lidl Store Expansion Loophole Faces UK Crackdown As Rivals Push CMA

Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Iceland are urging the UK’s competition regulator to bring Aldi and Lidl under land rules that restrict large supermarkets from blocking rivals’ store openings, according to the Financial Times. The Competition and Markets Authority is reviewing whether Aldi and Lidl should be designated as “Large Grocery Retailers,” with provisional decisions expected in July.
May 6, 2026
Amazon Opens Its Logistics Machine To Everyone, And UPS And FedEx Feel The Hit
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Amazon Opens Its Logistics Machine To Everyone, And UPS And FedEx Feel The Hit

Amazon opened its logistics network to outside businesses, launching Amazon Supply Chain Services for freight, storage, fulfillment, and parcel shipping. UPS and FedEx shares fell sharply, with UPS closing down 10.47% Monday, as investors saw Amazon as a new competitor. By Tuesday morning, both stocks had rebounded about 1%. Early clients include Procter & Gamble, 3M, Lands’ End, and American Eagle Outfitters.
May 5, 2026
Rheinmetall Stock Jumps After Q1 Revenue Miss as €73 Billion Backlog Backs 2026 Outlook
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Rheinmetall Stock Jumps After Q1 Revenue Miss as €73 Billion Backlog Backs 2026 Outlook

Rheinmetall shares rose as much as 3.8% on Tuesday despite first-quarter revenue missing forecasts at €1.94 billion, below the €2.3 billion expected. Operating profit climbed 17% to €224 million. The company maintained its 2026 targets and said delayed sales should shift to a stronger second quarter. Order backlog increased 31% year-on-year to €73 billion.
May 5, 2026
British American Tobacco Share Count Update: Small Filing Puts BAT Buyback Back in Focus
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British American Tobacco Share Count Update: Small Filing Puts BAT Buyback Back in Focus

British American Tobacco issued 19,950 ordinary shares under its Sharesave scheme in April, a minor increase representing about 0.0009% of its voting share base. The company’s London-listed shares last closed at 4,329p before the Early May Bank Holiday. BAT continues to reduce its equity base through buybacks amid tougher competition from Philip Morris and Altria. As of April 30, BAT reported 2,169,936,467 ordinary shares with voting rights.
May 4, 2026
RENK Stock Faces a €585 Million Test as Orders Boom and Cash Flow Becomes the Real Story
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RENK Stock Faces a €585 Million Test as Orders Boom and Cash Flow Becomes the Real Story

RENK Group is expected to report first-quarter order intake above €585 million on May 6, amid record German defence spending. The company ended 2025 with €1.37 billion in revenue and €1.57 billion in orders but reported free cash flow of just €67 million. RENK plans $150 million investment in Michigan through 2030. Wellington Management holds over 5% of shares; short interest stands at 3.67%.
May 4, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • AI-Driven Job Cuts Hit ASX Tech Firms Amid Rising Unemployment in Australia
    May 22, 2026, 7:41 PM EDT. Australia's unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in April, marking its sharpest monthly increase since early 2020. Experts attribute the rise to slower consumer spending, cautious hiring, and higher interest rates, alongside structural shifts driven by AI adoption. WiseTech Global announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs, nearly 30% of its workforce, citing AI altering work processes. Internal communications shifted language from 'AI transformation' to 'global transformation' amid regulatory challenges in China. Across the Pacific, Meta slashed 8,000 jobs despite record revenues, signaling a strategic pivot rather than cost-cutting. ASX tech firms are reorganizing operations around AI advancements, highlighting tensions between automation and workforce stability.