Business News 18 March 2026 - 25 March 2026

Korro Bio Stock Climbs Before Holiday; Bigger Test Still to Come
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Korro Bio Stock Climbs Before Holiday; Bigger Test Still to Come

Korro Bio shares closed at $11.61 Friday, up 3.66% and about 14% above the May 15 close, before U.S. markets shut for Memorial Day. The company named KRRO-111 as its new AATD drug candidate after an earlier setback, reporting over 90% RNA editing in mouse models. Korro ended Q1 with $157.1 million in cash and a narrower net loss. H.C. Wainwright cut its price target to $15 from $20.
May 23, 2026
Unilever PLC Stock Price Lags FTSE 100 After Barclays Upgrade as Food Deal Doubts Persist
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Unilever PLC Stock Price Lags FTSE 100 After Barclays Upgrade as Food Deal Doubts Persist

Unilever shares fell 0.25% to 4,515 pence at 13:28 GMT Wednesday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 1.26% rise, as investors questioned its food business overhaul. Barclays issued a new “buy” rating with a 6,000-pence target, but the stock lagged after last week’s 6% drop tied to talks with McCormick. CEO Fernando Fernandez expects 2026 sales growth at the low end of 4%-6%.
March 25, 2026
Diageo Stock Price Jumps After $1.8 Billion RCB Sale Offers Debt Relief
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Diageo Stock Price Jumps After $1.8 Billion RCB Sale Offers Debt Relief

Diageo shares gained up to 2.4% after its Indian unit United Spirits agreed to sell the Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket franchise for $1.8 billion. The deal, which still needs regulatory approval, could provide Diageo with over $1 billion if proceeds are distributed as a dividend. Diageo has faced weak U.S. and China demand and recently cut its sales outlook and dividend.
March 25, 2026
Rio Tinto Stock Price Climbs on A$2 Billion Boyne Smelter Lifeline
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Rio Tinto Stock Price Climbs on A$2 Billion Boyne Smelter Lifeline

Rio Tinto shares rose 1.6% in London after Australia’s federal and Queensland governments agreed to a A$2 billion support package for the Boyne aluminium smelter, securing its operation through at least 2040. The stock traded at 6,590 pence, up from 6,481 pence Tuesday. The FTSE 100 gained 1.1% amid wider market optimism. Rio’s shares remain 14% below their February peak.
March 25, 2026
Vodafone Share Price Jumps 2% After 549 Million Share Cancellation as FY26 Results Loom
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Vodafone Share Price Jumps 2% After 549 Million Share Cancellation as FY26 Results Loom

Vodafone shares rose 2.18% to 110.10 pence in London Tuesday, outperforming the FTSE 100. The company cancelled 549.6 million treasury shares and reported Goldman Sachs bought 2 million shares at 107.92 pence. Vodafone’s 500 million euro buyback ends May 11, ahead of full-year results on May 12. Service revenue in Germany grew 0.7% in Q3, below analyst expectations.
March 24, 2026
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc Stock Price Today: Shares Rise After Buyback, but Margin Worries Linger
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Reckitt Benckiser Group plc Stock Price Today: Shares Rise After Buyback, but Margin Worries Linger

Reckitt closed up 0.59% at 5,110 pence Tuesday after disclosing a 157,000-share buyback under its ongoing repurchase plan. The stock remains well below its 52-week high as investors weigh margin warnings and weak European demand flagged in March. The FTSE 100 rose 0.7%, leaving Reckitt trailing the index. Management continues to focus on emerging markets after a 17.2% revenue jump there last quarter.
March 24, 2026
Haleon Stock Price Falls After Buyback Update and CEO Share Filing
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Haleon Stock Price Falls After Buyback Update and CEO Share Filing

Haleon shares dropped 1.8% in London Tuesday, closing at 359 pence after a director dealing notice and recent buybacks failed to lift sentiment. The company bought 7.83 million shares last week at prices above Tuesday’s close. CEO Brian McNamara received shares under performance and bonus plans, with some sold to cover taxes. Investors remain cautious after Haleon’s February forecast of slower 2026 organic revenue growth.
March 24, 2026
British American Tobacco Stock Price Climbs as BAT Buyback Lifts Shares, but 2026 Risks Linger
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British American Tobacco Stock Price Climbs as BAT Buyback Lifts Shares, but 2026 Risks Linger

British American Tobacco shares rose 1.2% Tuesday after the company bought back 101,204 shares, trimming a recent five-day slide. The stock traded at 4,335.5 pence and is up nearly 39% over the past year. BAT plans a £1.3 billion buyback for 2026 as revenue growth slows and smoke-free products gain importance. The company will cancel the repurchased shares, leaving 2.17 billion in issue.
March 24, 2026
IKEA Dundee Store Opens After Delay as Small-Format UK Expansion Picks Up
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IKEA Dundee Store Opens After Delay as Small-Format UK Expansion Picks Up

IKEA opened its first Dundee store on Monday after a paperwork delay, launching a small-format Plan and Order Point at Kingsway West Retail Park. The outlet offers 250 home items for immediate purchase, with most larger goods ordered in. The opening is part of Ingka’s shift to city sites and follows recent job cuts and investment plans after a sales decline. Dundee joins Edinburgh and Glasgow in IKEA’s Scotland network.
March 23, 2026
Anglo American Share Price Slides as London Rout Deepens, Teck Deal Timing Back in Focus
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Anglo American Share Price Slides as London Rout Deepens, Teck Deal Timing Back in Focus

Anglo American shares dropped 3% to 2,867 pence on Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 1.4% decline as miners were sold off. The company posted a $3.7 billion loss in February and cut its dividend, while its merger with Teck Resources awaits final approval. Copper output guidance for 2026 was lowered after a 10% drop in 2025 production. J.P. Morgan now expects two Bank of England rate hikes by July.
March 21, 2026
Unilever-McCormick Food Business Talks Could Split Off Hellmann’s, Knorr and Marmite
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Unilever-McCormick Food Business Talks Could Split Off Hellmann’s, Knorr and Marmite

Unilever confirmed it is in talks with McCormick & Co. over a possible sale of its Foods business, which includes Hellmann’s, Knorr, and Marmite. Analysts value the unit at €28–31 billion, making it larger than McCormick’s current market value. Both companies said no terms have been agreed and there is no certainty a deal will be reached. Earlier talks with Kraft Heinz ended without agreement.
March 20, 2026
Prudential Boosts Buybacks After 12% New Business Profit Rise, Eyes More Cash Returns
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Prudential Boosts Buybacks After 12% New Business Profit Rise, Eyes More Cash Returns

Prudential PLC launched a $1.2 billion share buyback for 2026 after 2025 new business profit rose 12% to $2.78 billion, driven by sales growth in Hong Kong, China, and Indonesia. The insurer expects total shareholder returns to top $7 billion from 2024 to 2027. Operating free surplus generation climbed 15% to $3.06 billion. Prudential shares fell 2% after results.
March 19, 2026
Prudential plc Share Price Falls Despite 12% Profit Rise and $7 Billion Return Plan
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Prudential plc Share Price Falls Despite 12% Profit Rise and $7 Billion Return Plan

Prudential shares fell 2.24% in London after 2025 results showed a 12% rise in new-business profit to $2.782 billion and a $7 billion capital return plan through 2027. Investors focused on the insurer’s free surplus ratio, which slipped to 221%, below some expectations. Hong Kong and mainland China drove growth. The stock lagged the FTSE 100 as peers like AIA reported stronger gains.
March 19, 2026
BP Stock Price Rises on German Refinery Sale, Bigger Cost-Cut Goal and Oil Spike
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BP Stock Price Rises on German Refinery Sale, Bigger Cost-Cut Goal and Oil Spike

BP shares rose 2.4% after it agreed to sell its Gelsenkirchen refinery in Germany to Klesch Group and raised its 2027 cost-cut target to up to $7.5 billion. The deal, with no disclosed value, is expected to remove about $1 billion in annual costs and transfer 1,800 staff. Brent crude topped $119 a barrel before easing. BP has now announced or completed over $11 billion of its $20 billion asset-sale plan.
March 19, 2026
Qantas Airways Limited Share Price Falls as Oil Spike and China Fuel Ban Raise Cost Fears
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Qantas Airways Limited Share Price Falls as Oil Spike and China Fuel Ban Raise Cost Fears

Qantas Airways shares dropped 1.9% to A$8.56 in early Sydney trading after oil prices surged and China halted fuel exports. Brent crude climbed 5.6% to $107.38 a barrel following Iranian missile strikes, raising jet fuel costs. Qantas, over 80% hedged for crude, has already increased international fares. Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific also reported pressure from rising fuel prices and limited hedging protection.
March 19, 2026
3i Group plc share price falls 4.8% before March 26 Action seminar. (3i)
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3i Group plc share price falls 4.8% before March 26 Action seminar. (3i)

3i Group shares dropped 4.8% to 2,875 pence in London on Wednesday, nearing a 52-week low and underperforming the FTSE 100. The stock closed about 5.2% below estimated net asset value, a reversal from its usual premium. Action, which makes up most of 3i’s value, reports next on March 26. Broker targets remain split, with RBC at 3,000 pence and Deutsche Bank at 4,300.
March 18, 2026
Primark Raises Pay to £13 for Great Britain Staff, Expands Repair Service as Retail Wage Race Intensifies
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Primark Raises Pay to £13 for Great Britain Staff, Expands Repair Service as Retail Wage Race Intensifies

Primark will raise pay for over 27,000 retail workers in Great Britain to at least £13 an hour from April 1, with London staff earning at least £13.71. The company also expanded its clothing-repair service to three stores after a successful Manchester pilot. The pay hike comes as British retailers face higher labour costs and weak sales, with Primark’s like-for-like sales down 2.7% in the 16 weeks to Jan. 3.
March 18, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • 3 ASX Shares That Doubled in 12 Months and Could Continue Rising
    May 23, 2026, 9:20 PM EDT. Three ASX-listed companies have doubled in value in the past year, driven by strong sector momentum and strategic growth moves. Electro Optic Systems Holdings (ASX: EOS), a defence tech firm, surged over 450% thanks to record contracts worth $424 million and a $726 million order book. Cobram Estate Olives Ltd (ASX: CBO) also doubled, benefiting from record harvests, surging olive oil prices, and a key acquisition in the U.S. expanding its market presence. Both companies show promising growth potential backed by robust earnings and strategic expansions. Investors are weighing whether these stocks can sustain their trajectory amid favorable market conditions and evolving global demand.