Business News 27 April 2026 - 4 May 2026

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

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
Halma plc Nears 52-Week High After Deal Moves — Why June 11 Now Matters
···

Halma plc Nears 52-Week High After Deal Moves — Why June 11 Now Matters

Halma plc shares closed at £45.27 on Friday, up 2.72%, just 1.15% below their 52-week high, as the FTSE 100 slipped 0.14%. The London Stock Exchange is closed Monday for the Early May Bank Holiday, leaving Friday’s close as the last price before Halma’s June 11 results. Halma recently sold Cardios in Brazil and bought California-based Surgistar. The share price now sits above the average analyst target.
May 4, 2026
Imperial Brands Buyback Keeps £1.45 Billion Cash Return in Focus Before Key Results
···

Imperial Brands Buyback Keeps £1.45 Billion Cash Return in Focus Before Key Results

Imperial Brands bought back 220,000 shares for cancellation on May 1, spending about £6.2 million at an average price of 2,802.05 pence each. The London market is closed for the Early May bank holiday, with the next trading session set for Tuesday ahead of Imperial’s May 12 half-year results. Investors are watching for updates on cash returns and market-share pressures. Imperial shares last closed at 2,816.50 pence.
May 4, 2026
NatWest Profit Jump Runs Into a £140 Million Warning Before Tuesday Reopen
···

NatWest Profit Jump Runs Into a £140 Million Warning Before Tuesday Reopen

NatWest reported a first-quarter pre-tax profit of £2.03 billion, up 12.2%, and raised its 2026 income outlook, but booked a £283 million loan impairment charge after cutting UK growth forecasts. Trading in NatWest is paused for the Early May Bank Holiday, leaving Friday’s stock drop as the last market signal. Investors are weighing stronger lending income against higher credit risk.
May 4, 2026
Zip Co Shares Face Monday Test After State Street Cuts Voting Power Below 10%
···

Zip Co Shares Face Monday Test After State Street Cuts Voting Power Below 10%

State Street Corp reduced its disclosed voting power in Zip Co Ltd to 9.73% from 10.74%, according to a filing released ahead of Monday trading in Sydney. Zip shares last traded at A$2.41 after a sharp rebound in April. The company recently lifted its FY26 earnings guidance and reported a 41.5% jump in third-quarter cash EBTDA to A$65.1 million. Net bad debts rose to 1.93% of transaction volume in the third quarter.
May 3, 2026
Scentre Group’s $1.3 Billion Debt Buyback Hits 89% as Westfield Owner Heads for Redemption
···

Scentre Group’s $1.3 Billion Debt Buyback Hits 89% as Westfield Owner Heads for Redemption

Scentre Group received tenders for about 89% of its US$1.31 billion non-call 2030 subordinated notes, clearing the way for full redemption after a May 4 New York deadline. The company expects about A$3.2 billion in liquidity after settlement. Scentre shares last closed at A$3.77 ahead of the ASX open. First-quarter partner sales rose 5% to A$7.0 billion, with portfolio occupancy at 99.8%.
May 3, 2026
Santos Limited’s Pikka Expansion Plan Puts ASX:STO Back on Oil Investors’ Radar
···

Santos Limited’s Pikka Expansion Plan Puts ASX:STO Back on Oil Investors’ Radar

Oil Search Alaska, a Santos subsidiary, has applied to expand the permitted C pad at the Pikka oil project on Alaska’s North Slope, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers notice. The plan would add 46,500 cubic yards of gravel fill and impact 3.44 acres of wetlands. Public comments on the proposal close May 25. Santos shares closed at A$8.02, up 0.25% on the ASX.
May 3, 2026
Imperial Brands PLC Buyback Deepens Before May 12 Results Test
···

Imperial Brands PLC Buyback Deepens Before May 12 Results Test

Imperial Brands bought 220,000 shares for cancellation on May 1, spending about £6.2 million as part of its £1.45 billion buyback. The move comes ahead of first-half results due May 12, with the stock closing Friday at 2,816.5 pence, up 0.55%. Shares remain below their April 13 level after warnings of market share losses. UBS downgraded the stock to “neutral” following the update.
May 2, 2026
Why Woolworths Group Shares Slid After A$18.1 Billion Sales Beat
···

Why Woolworths Group Shares Slid After A$18.1 Billion Sales Beat

Woolworths shares dropped as much as 9.8% on Thursday after the company warned its Australian Food EBIT growth would no longer reach the top end of guidance, citing higher fuel costs and price support for shoppers. Group sales for the quarter rose 4.5% to A$18.1 billion, with Australian Food sales up 5.9%. The grocer has frozen prices on 300 own-brand staples for three months starting May 1.
May 1, 2026
Airtel Africa’s $2 Billion Airtel Money IPO Plan Puts London Listing in Focus
···

Airtel Africa’s $2 Billion Airtel Money IPO Plan Puts London Listing in Focus

Airtel Africa plans to list its Airtel Money unit in London, aiming to raise $1.5–$2 billion and potentially value the business at up to $10 billion, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. The company will release full-year results on May 8. Airtel Money reported 52 million customers and $210 billion in annualised processed value for the nine months to December 2025. Airtel Africa shares closed down 0.39% in London on Friday.
May 1, 2026
BT Group News: Ofcom Probe Puts EE and Plusnet Data Under the Microscope Before Results
···

BT Group News: Ofcom Probe Puts EE and Plusnet Data Under the Microscope Before Results

Ofcom has launched an investigation into BT Group over possible failures to provide complete customer-service data from its EE and Plusnet units, citing evidence of incomplete or inaccurate responses. BT has not been found in breach and says it takes compliance seriously. The probe comes as BT prepares to report full-year results on May 21. BT shares closed at 216.20p, valuing the company at £21.11 billion.
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
Aviva Plc’s Next Test: Bank of England Takes Aim at Reinsurance Deals
···

Aviva Plc’s Next Test: Bank of England Takes Aim at Reinsurance Deals

The Bank of England proposed raising capital requirements for UK life insurers’ funded reinsurance deals from about 2–4% to 10%, affecting firms like Aviva, Legal & General, and Phoenix. The PRA estimates UK exposure at £40 billion. The consultation runs until July 31, 2026, with changes proposed from July 2027. Aviva reported buying back 1.3 million shares for cancellation on April 29.
April 30, 2026
Bellway p.l.c. Taps Balfour Beatty CFO as UK Housebuilder Cost Pressure Mounts
···

Bellway p.l.c. Taps Balfour Beatty CFO as UK Housebuilder Cost Pressure Mounts

Bellway appointed Philip Harrison, Balfour Beatty’s finance chief, as independent non-executive director and future audit committee chair, effective July 1. The move follows warnings from Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey this week about rising energy-driven build costs. Ian McHoul will retire from Bellway’s board in November. Bellway’s next trading update is set for June 9.
April 30, 2026
Why Severn Trent Plc Shares Jumped After United Utilities’ £11.5 Billion Water Bet
···

Why Severn Trent Plc Shares Jumped After United Utilities’ £11.5 Billion Water Bet

Severn Trent shares jumped 6.7% after United Utilities unveiled an £11.5 billion investment plan and an £800 million share placing, lifting UK water stocks. United Utilities’ annual pretax profit more than doubled to £779 million, with revenue up 22%. Severn Trent’s own AMP8 plan was approved for £14.9 billion in spending. James Jesic became Severn Trent CEO on January 1.
April 30, 2026
Ofgem Shake-Up: UK Energy Bosses Face Bonus Ban as Regulator Gets New Powers
···

Ofgem Shake-Up: UK Energy Bosses Face Bonus Ban as Regulator Gets New Powers

Britain will give Ofgem new powers to enforce consumer law directly and ban bonuses for energy executives who break rules. The overhaul comes as the energy price cap stands at £1,641 a year for a typical dual-fuel customer. Industry groups say questions remain about Ofgem’s culture and the legislative timeline. Ministers say the changes aim to address gaps in a more complex energy market.
April 30, 2026
Cochlear Limited Stock Shock Deepens as AustralianSuper Cuts Stake After Profit Warning
···

Cochlear Limited Stock Shock Deepens as AustralianSuper Cuts Stake After Profit Warning

AustralianSuper cut its stake in Cochlear Limited to 5.02% from 7.24%, a filing showed Monday, after Cochlear slashed its profit outlook last week. Cochlear shares closed at A$95.25, down 2.16% Monday and 40.7% lower last Wednesday after the downgrade. The company now forecasts FY26 underlying net profit of A$290–330 million, far below consensus estimates.
April 28, 2026
ANZ Group Holdings Faces New Cost Fight as Regional Banks Push $153 Million Branch Plan
···

ANZ Group Holdings Faces New Cost Fight as Regional Banks Push $153 Million Branch Plan

Australia’s Regional Banking Investment Alliance has urged the government to require major banks, including ANZ, to fund face-to-face regional branch services through a levy estimated at A$153 million. The push comes as ANZ prepares to report half-year results on May 1. Regional banks claim they are losing revenue as customers use their services for transactions while holding accounts with larger banks. The proposal would exempt smaller banks with less than 1% of industry assets.
April 27, 2026
1 2 3 4 5 6 … 15

Stock Market Today

  • ASX 200 Gains on Miners and Banks as Falling Yields Ease Market Pressure
    May 22, 2026, 8:34 PM EDT. The ASX 200 rose 0.19% on the week, buoyed by gains in miners and banks. BHP climbed 1.1%, Rio Tinto surged 1.72%, and major banks such as CBA, Westpac, NAB, and ANZ added between 0.5%-0.94%. Exceptional moves came from South32 (+5.07%) and Evolution Mining (+3.14%), driven by copper and uranium strength in resources. Conversely, IAG (-3.4%) and REA Group (-4.07%) dragged the index lower. Short term market breadth hit 50%, signaling half of the ASX 200 stocks are trading above their 20-day moving average, a bullish sign for the near-term outlook. Falling bond yields likely eased pressure on equities, supporting this upward trend.