Business 14 May 2026 - 15 May 2026

LegalZoom Drops Ahead of Shareholder Meeting as AI Fight Hangs Over Stock
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LegalZoom Drops Ahead of Shareholder Meeting as AI Fight Hangs Over Stock

LegalZoom.com traded lower in premarket Wednesday, with the stock near $6.53 as investors prepared for the company’s annual meeting. Shares have had trouble translating stronger sales into better numbers on the bottom line. The latest price was off 14.5 cents from Tuesday’s close, giving LegalZoom a market cap near $1.16 billion. The timing sets the scene. U.S. markets are open as usual, and Nasdaq’s 2026 holiday list shows the next full day off is Juneteenth, June 19. LegalZoom’s shareholder meeting is scheduled for later in the day, not on a weekend or holiday.
June 3, 2026
BAT’s Velo Bet Faces a Fresh WHO Warning After Shares Hit a 52-Week High
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BAT’s Velo Bet Faces a Fresh WHO Warning After Shares Hit a 52-Week High

Friday brought new pressure from the World Health Organization, which called on governments to strengthen regulation of nicotine pouches—a move that lands just as British American Tobacco p.l.c. hit a 52-week high and accelerated its Velo rollout. The warning adds a fresh twist for the Lucky Strike maker. Now, BAT is counting on its smokeless lineup—Velo pouches, Vuse vapes—to make up for shrinking cigarette demand. But just as BAT leans harder on these products, investors sent tobacco shares higher this week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration relaxed its enforcement for certain vapes and nicotine pouches still under review.
May 15, 2026
Unilever’s McCormick Deal Gets Awkward After Terry Smith Walks Away
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Unilever’s McCormick Deal Gets Awkward After Terry Smith Walks Away

Unilever PLC finds itself under sharper scrutiny after Fundsmith’s Terry Smith exited his position, criticizing the shift from fixing operations to splitting up the business and tying its foods unit to McCormick. Smith’s departure—flagged by The Times—lands one of the group’s most prominent shareholders in open opposition to CEO Fernando Fernández’s most significant move to date. Timing is key here. Unilever’s board won shareholder support at Wednesday’s annual meeting, but the McCormick deal skips a Unilever shareholder vote under UK listing rules, the company said in its announcement. Closing is targeted by mid-2027. The deal still needs McCormick shareholder approval, regulatory sign-off, and other standard conditions.
May 15, 2026
Reckitt Benckiser’s AI Push Faces a Bigger Test After Dettol Maker’s Growth Miss
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Reckitt Benckiser’s AI Push Faces a Bigger Test After Dettol Maker’s Growth Miss

This week, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc spotlighted digital science and generative AI as key players in its growth strategy during an investor session. The company said these technologies now run through its Powerbrand lineup—Dettol, Lysol, Durex, Finish, Nurofen all included. Reckitt’s pitch: faster product development, and a better chance new products actually land with consumers. This wasn’t a random move. Reckitt came up short on quarterly like-for-like net revenue forecasts last month — that measure excludes things like currency swings and portfolio shifts — and flagged that first-half margins could land roughly 200 basis points, or two percentage points, below where they stood a year ago. High oil prices and a mild cold and flu season took their toll.
May 15, 2026
CAR Group Shareholder Shake-Up: Why the Carsales Owner Is Back in Focus
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CAR Group Shareholder Shake-Up: Why the Carsales Owner Is Back in Focus

May 15, 2026, 09:13 in Sydney The shareholder roster at CAR Group Ltd shifted yet again late Thursday. A hefty, 62-page notice—“Ceasing to be a substantial holder from MUFG”—hit the carsales owner’s site, while another filing tied to First Sentier showed the fund manager had climbed back over Australia’s 5% threshold. Shares finished at A$26.17, falling 2.75% on May 14.
May 15, 2026
Woolworths Group Ltd Faces Discount-Price Reckoning After Coles Court Loss
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Woolworths Group Ltd Faces Discount-Price Reckoning After Coles Court Loss

Friday brings Woolworths Group Ltd’s discount-pricing case back into the spotlight, following a Federal Court ruling that found rival Coles had misled customers with its “Down Down” campaign. Timing is key here. The judge is still weighing a separate case involving Woolworths, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission declined to comment while that’s pending. In Coles’ situation, the regulator said the case covered 245 products, and the court identified misleading claims on 13 out of 14 sample “Down Down” price tickets reviewed in the liability hearing.
May 15, 2026
REA Group Buyback Faces a Hard Test After Shares Slide 5.7%
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REA Group Buyback Faces a Hard Test After Shares Slide 5.7%

REA Group Ltd disclosed it snapped up 33,457 shares for A$5.74 million on Wednesday as part of its A$200 million on-market buyback program. That brings the cumulative tally to 554,112 shares, worth around A$89.6 million so far. The buyback happens via regular exchange trading, not a special offer to investors. REA shares ended Thursday at A$161.24, sliding 5.7% and casting new doubt over a capital return that only seemed stable after last week’s quarterly numbers. Even so, the stock remains above its late-March trough. The day’s drop sharpened attention on valuation.
May 15, 2026
Northern Star Resources Stock Slips as Cyber Outage Delays Supplier Payments
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Northern Star Resources Stock Slips as Cyber Outage Delays Supplier Payments

Payments to suppliers at Northern Star Resources could be pushed back to May 21. A cyber incident at one of the company’s service providers has knocked out a chunk of the Australian gold miner’s enterprise resource planning system. This outage is striking at the back-office just as Northern Star looks to keep investor attention locked on getting things done at its KCGM mill expansion in Kalgoorlie—a project that’s key to where it wants to go next.
May 14, 2026
Telstra Buyback Nears A$1.25 Billion Cap as Mobile Price Rises Face Their First Test
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Telstra Buyback Nears A$1.25 Billion Cap as Mobile Price Rises Face Their First Test

Telstra Group Limited is now roughly A$140 million shy of hitting its A$1.25 billion on-market buyback cap, according to a daily market filing. The company snapped up another 1.14 million ordinary shares on May 14. An on-market buyback refers to Telstra purchasing its own shares in the open market. This comes into focus as the program nears its finish line. Telstra’s filing points to a proposed wrap-up on June 30, with numbers showing total consideration at about A$1.11 billion—roughly 89% of the cap.
May 14, 2026
Goodman Group’s Data Centre Bet Faces a Crucial May Test as ASX:GMG Shares Rise
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Goodman Group’s Data Centre Bet Faces a Crucial May Test as ASX:GMG Shares Rise

Goodman Group shares rose for a second straight session, closing at A$31.40 on Thursday, as investors looked past a soft Australian technology tape and turned again to the industrial property group’s data-centre pipeline. The stock gained 0.32% on Thursday after rising 1.39% on Wednesday, market data showed. The timing matters. Goodman is due to give its Q3 FY26 operational update on May 26, a near-term test of whether it is turning scarce powered land into funded, leased projects rather than just a larger development book. Its investor calendar lists the Q3 FY26 operational update for that date.
May 14, 2026
Wesfarmers Limited Just Put ASX:WES Investors on Notice: Bunnings, Kmart and Rates Are the Test
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Wesfarmers Limited Just Put ASX:WES Investors on Notice: Bunnings, Kmart and Rates Are the Test

Wesfarmers Limited has marked June 10 for its Strategy Briefing Day in Sydney, teeing up a new chance for investors to scrutinize the growth outlook for Bunnings, Kmart, and the group’s digital ambitions. The company said it would publish presentation materials to the ASX ahead of an 8:30 a.m. AEST webcast. The timing is notable—WES is hovering near its recent lows. According to LSEG-backed pricing from Wesfarmers, shares settled at A$71.73 on May 14, a 0.25% gain for the day, having hit A$70.80 on May 13 and A$70.81 the following session.
May 14, 2026
Fortescue Ltd’s A$150 Million Hit Isn’t Over: Yindjibarndi Weighs Appeal
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Fortescue Ltd’s A$150 Million Hit Isn’t Over: Yindjibarndi Weighs Appeal

Fortescue Ltd could soon be pulled back into court, with Yindjibarndi traditional owners weighing a possible appeal against the unprecedented A$150 million cultural-loss ruling linked to the company’s Solomon Hub iron ore site in Western Australia. The case is significant right now, with the Federal Court handing down one of the largest ever native title compensation payouts in Australia. It could also offer a rough benchmark for similar claims miners may face when operating on Indigenous land. Under Australian law, native title recognizes Indigenous rights and interests in land or waters. Reuters put the payout at A$150 million—about $108 million—plus an additional A$100,000 for economic loss.
May 14, 2026
BHP’s Incoming CEO Opens Door to Copper Deals as Shares Hit Record
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BHP’s Incoming CEO Opens Door to Copper Deals as Shares Hit Record

Brandon Craig, the next CEO of BHP Group Ltd, is signaling a return to dealmaking for the world’s largest listed miner. Craig said BHP is open to exploration, striking partnerships, and pursuing smaller acquisitions as it seeks to lock in growth opportunities past 2035. Timing is key here. BHP’s leadership is in transition just as copper pulls more weight in its earnings mix, the stock notching fresh highs, and China’s iron ore market still feeling the aftershocks of a drawn-out procurement spat.
May 14, 2026
BT Group plc’s BAE Systems Deal Lands at a Crucial Moment for Its Turnaround
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BT Group plc’s BAE Systems Deal Lands at a Crucial Moment for Its Turnaround

BT Group plc landed a five-year deal to supply secure connectivity to BAE Systems’ operations in the UK and worldwide, handing the British telecoms player another defence-sector contract just ahead of its full-year earnings. According to BT, the agreement spans BAE’s network in 40 countries and includes an option to extend for three more years. Timing is key here. BT wants investors to believe that secure business services growth can happen right alongside its larger, more sluggish fibre and mobile units—right as the market looks ahead to its May 21 FY26 earnings update.
May 14, 2026
Diageo PLC Gets an India Profit Boost as Premium Drinks Outrun U.S. Weakness
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Diageo PLC Gets an India Profit Boost as Premium Drinks Outrun U.S. Weakness

United Spirits, the Indian unit of Diageo plc, posted a 28% jump in consolidated profit for the fourth quarter on Thursday. That’s some relief for the Johnnie Walker and Guinness maker as softness lingers in its North American spirits segment. The company credited premium drinks for cushioning the impact of policy headwinds at home. The clock’s ticking for Diageo. Dave Lewis, the new chief executive, is working to stabilize the group ahead of a full strategy update set for August. The latest sales numbers got a lift—thanks mostly to strong Guinness demand and distributors stocking up ahead of the FIFA World Cup, not from any real turnaround in the U.S. market.
May 14, 2026
IAG Just Cleaned Up €822 Million of Debt — But Fuel Costs Are Still the Real Story
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IAG Just Cleaned Up €822 Million of Debt — But Fuel Costs Are Still the Real Story

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA agreed to buy back €821.7 million in 2028 convertible bonds, effectively retiring 99.6% of the issue. The British Airways parent is looking to streamline its balance sheet as fuel prices pressure the industry. Bondholders will be paid €145,685.11 per €100,000 principal, with settlement slated for about May 19. Timing is critical here. Just days ago, IAG flagged that its 2026 profit, capacity, and free cash flow—money left after covering operations and investment—will land below previous targets. The culprit: jet-fuel prices and supply snags tied to the Iran war have cut deeper than IAG anticipated.
May 14, 2026
Tesco PLC’s Equal Pay Fight Just Got Harder After Court Ruling
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Tesco PLC’s Equal Pay Fight Just Got Harder After Court Ruling

Tesco Stores Ltd, the Tesco PLC subsidiary, lost nearly all arguments in its Court of Appeal push to shape the assessment of evidence in its lengthy equal pay dispute—a blow to Britain’s largest supermarket as it fights on in a separate tribunal. Judges threw out every ground except one, leaving the litigation to proceed. The final decision is still pending. This case has fresh urgency, with Tesco revealing around 62,000 claims so far from both current and ex-hourly store workers—a figure that’s likely to climb as the legal fight drags on. Those bringing the claims argue that jobs in stores and distribution centers should count as equal work when it comes to pay. Tesco, for its part, maintains that it’s
May 14, 2026
Tate & Lyle Takeover Bid: Ingredion’s $3.7 Billion Approach Sends Shares Soaring
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Tate & Lyle Takeover Bid: Ingredion’s $3.7 Billion Approach Sends Shares Soaring

Tate & Lyle PLC on Thursday said it's talking with Ingredion, its U.S. competitor, about a possible all-cash buyout that would peg Tate & Lyle's value around £2.74 billion. The current offer on the table: up to 615 pence for each share, with 595 pence in cash and the rest—20 pence—potentially coming by way of dividends. Tate & Lyle has landed in the takeover spotlight barely a week before its full-year results. For investors battered by the squeeze on demand and margins, the move could offer an exit route. The bid ratchets up pressure on would-be buyers to spell out just how much extra they’re willing to pay for London-listed specialty ingredients names—especially as these firms shift away from less
May 14, 2026
Shell Plc Reveals $23.8 Billion Government Payments Before AGM Climate Vote
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Shell Plc Reveals $23.8 Billion Government Payments Before AGM Climate Vote

Shell Plc reported $23.84 billion in payments to governments for 2025, a new tally of tax, royalty, and production remittances tied to its vast oil and gas operations, just ahead of a high-profile shareholder meeting. Timing comes into play here. Shell’s annual general meeting is set for May 19 in London, where a Follow This climate resolution will go to a vote. Investors are being asked how Shell’s plan stacks up if oil and gas demand drops. The company, though, is telling shareholders to vote it down.
May 14, 2026
BP Stock News: Uzbekistan Oil Deal Deepens Pivot as Whiting Labor Talks Loom
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BP Stock News: Uzbekistan Oil Deal Deepens Pivot as Whiting Labor Talks Loom

BP grabbed a 40% stake in a production sharing deal for six oil and gas exploration blocks in Uzbekistan’s North Ustyurt region, underscoring the London-listed major’s renewed push into conventional energy. Under a production sharing agreement, output, costs, and profits are divvied up between the government and project partners. Timing’s a factor here. BP has barely started a leadership shakeup, with CEO Meg O’Neill stepping in April 1. She’s already signaled to employees that a reorg—splitting BP into upstream and downstream divisions—kicks off in June. It’s a return to something more like the traditional oil-major playbook, moving away from the renewables-heavy structure set up under Bernard Looney.
May 14, 2026
Aviva Q1 Update: Premiums Jump 19% as Direct Line Deal Starts to Feed Through
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Aviva Q1 Update: Premiums Jump 19% as Direct Line Deal Starts to Feed Through

Aviva plc reported a 19% jump in first-quarter general insurance premiums, reaching 3.4 billion pounds as Direct Line joined the portfolio and personal lines improved. Wealth net flows surged 49% to 3.3 billion pounds. The FTSE 100 insurer is sticking with its 2026 targets. Investors are watching closely to see if Chief Executive Amanda Blanc’s 3.7 billion pound Direct Line acquisition actually delivers growth without eroding margins or capital. The deal closed last year, and Aviva’s Q1 numbers now roll in Direct Line’s results under UK and Ireland personal lines.
May 14, 2026
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