Business 26 April 2026 - 27 April 2026

Northern Star Buyback: Why the KCGM Turnaround Is Back in Focus
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Northern Star Buyback: Why the KCGM Turnaround Is Back in Focus

Northern Star Resources repurchased 923,598 shares for about A$20.6 million in the first two days of its A$500 million buy-back, filings showed. Shares closed at A$22.14 Monday, up 1.28% on the day but down 6.82% over the week. The company reported March-quarter free cash flow of A$301 million and reaffirmed 2026 gold sales and cost guidance. KCGM mill expansion costs have increased.
April 27, 2026
Fortescue Ltd China Iron Ore Deal Nears as CMRG Tests ASX:FMG Pricing Power
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Fortescue Ltd China Iron Ore Deal Nears as CMRG Tests ASX:FMG Pricing Power

Fortescue Ltd is nearing a supply deal with China’s state-backed iron ore buyer, Bloomberg reported, as Beijing seeks greater control over pricing. Fortescue shipped 48.4 million tonnes in the March quarter, up 5% year-on-year, but cut Iron Bridge guidance after cyclone disruptions. Shares closed at A$19.77 on Monday. The board approved a US$680 million green energy project in the Pilbara, targeting completion by 2028.
April 27, 2026
BHP Group Ltd’s Electric Train Push Hits Union Roadblock as Pilbara Race Tightens
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BHP Group Ltd’s Electric Train Push Hits Union Roadblock as Pilbara Race Tightens

BHP’s plan to begin testing two battery-electric locomotives in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has been delayed by rail safety and union consultation rules, The Australian reported Monday. The locomotives, built by Wabtec, arrived in Port Hedland in November and were set for real-world trials on BHP’s iron ore rail network. Fortescue has started similar trials, while Rio Tinto has paused its own battery locomotive plans.
April 27, 2026
Woodside Energy Stock Slips Before Q1 Report as CEO Pay Revolt Tests New Boss
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Woodside Energy Stock Slips Before Q1 Report as CEO Pay Revolt Tests New Boss

Woodside Energy shares closed down 1.47% at A$32.13 on Monday, ahead of its first-quarter report due April 29. Nearly 35% of shareholders opposed the CEO’s FY26 long-term incentive award at last week’s AGM, reflecting governance concerns. Investors are focused on production guidance and progress at the Scarborough and Louisiana LNG projects. All AGM resolutions passed despite the protest vote.
April 27, 2026
Diageo Shares Slip Before May 6 Update: Dave Lewis’ Turnaround Has Little Room for Error
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Diageo Shares Slip Before May 6 Update: Dave Lewis’ Turnaround Has Little Room for Error

Diageo shares fell 0.57% to 1,462.6 pence in London ahead of a May 6 trading update. The company expects fiscal 2026 organic net sales to drop 2–3% and operating profit to be flat or slightly higher. First-half net sales fell 4% to $10.46 billion, with net debt at $21.7 billion and a cut to the interim dividend. A Kenyan court cleared Diageo’s $2.3 billion sale of East African Breweries to Asahi.
April 27, 2026
Haleon stock in focus as Google exec hire and £500 million buyback put Sensodyne maker before Q1 test
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Haleon stock in focus as Google exec hire and £500 million buyback put Sensodyne maker before Q1 test

Haleon named ex-Google executive Richard Manso as U.S. chief marketing officer ahead of its April 29 trading statement. The Sensodyne maker is conducting a £500 million share buyback, purchasing 8.44 million shares last week. Haleon shares closed down 1.38% at 350 pence Monday, lagging the FTSE 100. Manso will report to U.S. CEO Nathalie Gerschtein.
April 27, 2026
Unilever Stock Slips Before Q1 Results as Oil Shock Puts Turnaround to the Test
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Unilever Stock Slips Before Q1 Results as Oil Shock Puts Turnaround to the Test

Unilever shares fell 0.74% in London on Monday ahead of its first-quarter trading update due April 30. Investors are watching whether CEO Fernando Fernandez’s restructuring, including the planned $44.8 billion combination of Unilever Foods with McCormick, can deliver expected 3.6% underlying sales growth. Rising energy and commodity costs have pressured the sector, with peers like P&G and Nestlé also reporting headwinds.
April 27, 2026
Rolls-Royce Stock Rises as £300 Million Sigma Aerospace Deal Tests Supply-Chain Push
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Rolls-Royce Stock Rises as £300 Million Sigma Aerospace Deal Tests Supply-Chain Push

Sigma Advanced Systems signed a seven-year contract worth nearly £300 million to supply aerospace systems to Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce warned ongoing supply-chain constraints could cut 2026 free cash flow by £150 million to £200 million. Shares rose 1.5% midday in London but remained down over 9% for the week. Sigma will manufacture parts in India and the UK.
April 27, 2026
Intertek Group plc Rejects EQT’s £8.3bn Bid — Why Investors Are Watching May 14
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Intertek Group plc Rejects EQT’s £8.3bn Bid — Why Investors Are Watching May 14

Intertek shares fell 1.75% to 4,726p after the company rejected EQT’s revised £54-a-share takeover approach, calling it too low. EQT must declare a firm bid or walk away by May 14. Intertek is reviewing a possible sale or demerger of its Energy & Infrastructure arm and reported 5.4% like-for-like revenue growth in Q1. The rejected offer valued Intertek at about £8.3 billion.
April 27, 2026
China Blocks Meta’s $2 Billion Manus AI Deal as U.S. Tech Money Comes Under Fire
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China Blocks Meta’s $2 Billion Manus AI Deal as U.S. Tech Money Comes Under Fire

China on Monday ordered Meta to unwind its $2 billion-plus acquisition of AI startup Manus, citing foreign investment restrictions. Manus, founded in Beijing and later moved to Singapore, had already integrated staff into Meta’s Singapore offices. The National Development and Reform Commission did not publicly name Meta or provide detailed reasons. Meta said the deal complied with all applicable laws.
April 27, 2026
DroneShield (ASX:DRO) Faces Monday Test After $155 Million Revenue Update and CEO Shift
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DroneShield (ASX:DRO) Faces Monday Test After $155 Million Revenue Update and CEO Shift

DroneShield reported first-quarter revenue of A$74.1 million, up 121% from a year earlier, and posted A$222.8 million in cash with no debt. The company’s shares last traded at A$3.72, recovering after a 20% drop earlier this month following CEO Oleg Vornik’s resignation and share sales by top executives. New CEO Angus Bean said the business is focusing on recurring software revenue and a diverse contract mix.
April 26, 2026
Liontown Limited’s April 30 Lithium Update Could Decide Whether Its Rally Has Legs
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Liontown Limited’s April 30 Lithium Update Could Decide Whether Its Rally Has Legs

Liontown Limited will hold a webcast on April 30 to discuss March-quarter results, following a sharp revenue jump and cost drop in the December quarter. CEO Tony Ottaviano will host the call as investors watch for updates from the Kathleen Valley underground mine. Liontown’s shares last traded at A$2.24. Lithium prices have risen 13% over the past month, adding pressure for strong results.
April 26, 2026
Lynas Rare Earths Becomes the Pentagon’s China Hedge as Malaysia Plant Takes Center Stage
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Lynas Rare Earths Becomes the Pentagon’s China Hedge as Malaysia Plant Takes Center Stage

Lynas Rare Earths has begun processing heavy rare earths like samarium, terbium, and dysprosium at its Malaysian plant, breaking China’s near-monopoly on these materials, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company started samarium oxide production in March, aiming for 400 tonnes annual output. Lynas signed a four-year U.S. supply deal and reported quarterly sales revenue more than doubling to A$265 million.
April 26, 2026
Xero Shares Hold A$80 Before Results as Melio and AI Bets Face Their Test
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Xero Shares Hold A$80 Before Results as Melio and AI Bets Face Their Test

Xero shares closed at A$81.51 on Friday, up 0.3%, valuing the company at about A$13.9 billion. The stock remains down 28.65% in 2026 ahead of its May 14 full-year results, which will detail progress on its $2.5 billion Melio acquisition and U.S. payments push. Xero last updated the market on April 16. Over two million subscribers use its AI features, according to the company.
April 26, 2026
Warner-Paramount Merger Clears $111 Billion Hurdle as Zaslav’s $887 Million Payday Gets Rejected
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Warner-Paramount Merger Clears $111 Billion Hurdle as Zaslav’s $887 Million Payday Gets Rejected

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion takeover, sending the deal to regulators. Investors rejected a merger-related executive pay plan that could give CEO David Zaslav up to $887 million. The deal would unite Warner Bros., HBO Max, CNN, CBS, and Paramount Pictures under one company. U.S. and European authorities are expected to scrutinize the merger.
April 26, 2026
Coles Group Price-Test Week: Fuel Costs, Supplier Demands Put Q3 Sales in Focus
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Coles Group Price-Test Week: Fuel Costs, Supplier Demands Put Q3 Sales in Focus

Coles raised home-brand milk prices last week, citing higher transport, logistics, and packaging costs, and increased payments to dairy farmers by about 5 cents a litre. The supermarket’s Q3 sales update is due May 1, as investors watch how Coles and rival Woolworths handle supplier price requests amid rising fuel and farm costs. Coles shares closed at A$23.06 on April 24, up 1%.
April 26, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • SpaceX Successfully Launches Redesigned Starship in Pre-IPO Test
    May 23, 2026, 4:12 AM EDT. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, successfully launched its redesigned Starship vehicle, showcasing the core technology behind its planned initial public offering (IPO), potentially the largest in history. The test flight demonstrated critical advancements in reusable spaceflight systems, reinforcing investor confidence ahead of the high-profile IPO. This marks a key milestone for SpaceX as it aims to expand its commercial footprint. The successful launch could influence market sentiment and valuations related to the private space industry.