Business 3 May 2026 - 4 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
Poste Italiane-TIM Takeover Faces Q1 Results Test as Debt and Agcom Move Into Focus
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Poste Italiane-TIM Takeover Faces Q1 Results Test as Debt and Agcom Move Into Focus

Telecom Italia is set to report first-quarter results this week, with analysts projecting only slight revenue gains and a heavier debt burden—factors that add new scrutiny to the figures underpinning Poste Italiane’s proposed buyout. Analyst consensus—not to be confused with TIM’s own guidance—points to revenue of 3.32 billion euros, up 1.2% year-on-year on a comparable basis. EBITDA comes in at 973 million euros, according to the average estimate. Capital expenditure is pegged at 423 million euros, while adjusted net financial debt, after company tweaks, lands at 7.31 billion euros as of the end of March.
May 4, 2026
IMI Shares Slip as £500 Million Buyback Puts Q1 Update in Focus
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IMI Shares Slip as £500 Million Buyback Puts Q1 Update in Focus

IMI plc dropped 2.01% to finish at 2,736 pence on May 1, its last session before the UK market holiday. As the FTSE 100 edged down 0.14%, attention stayed on the Birmingham engineer’s £500 million buyback and the first-quarter update lined up for next week. London markets were closed Monday for the Early May Bank Holiday, so IMI’s last active price came from Friday. The London Stock Exchange had flagged May 4 as both a non-trading and non-settlement day, according to its official calendar.
May 4, 2026
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc Hit by Fresh Profit Slump as Dettol Owner’s Margin Test Deepens
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Reckitt Benckiser Group plc Hit by Fresh Profit Slump as Dettol Owner’s Margin Test Deepens

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc’s Bangladesh arm posted a 28.31% plunge in first-quarter profit, piling on more trouble for the Dettol and Durex parent after group-level numbers started 2026 on the back foot. Profit after tax for Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh came in at Tk10.99 crore, down from Tk15.33 crore, and revenue slipped to Tk132.61 crore versus Tk147.34 crore for the January-March stretch, according to a report. Timing comes into play here—emerging markets have been one of the steadier spots in Reckitt’s performance. In its April update, the UK company reported Core Reckitt like-for-like net revenue up 1.3%. Emerging markets jumped 7.6%. Europe dropped 4.2%, North America down 0.9%. Like-for-like revenue, which leaves out effects from currencies, deals, and sales, gives a
May 4, 2026
GSK Wins Paxil Trademark Fight in India, But Its Bigger Test Is Still Ahead
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GSK Wins Paxil Trademark Fight in India, But Its Bigger Test Is Still Ahead

Glaxo Group Limited, under the GSK Group umbrella, secured a Bombay High Court decision this day requiring Shreya Life Sciences Private Limited to cancel its registration of the Paxil trademark in India—a notable brand victory for GSK plc and its popular medicine. The dispute focused on Shreya’s lack of use of the mark in actual pharmaceutical products. The court's decision lands at a time when GSK faces scrutiny over whether new CEO Luke Miels can defend sales, speed up drug development, and handle looming patent cliffs. Shares dropped last week despite a first-quarter beat—traders picked over the numbers and flagged issues beneath the surface. “Quality concerns around the earnings beat,” Verso Investment Management analyst James Eugene noted, pointing to non-recurring
May 4, 2026
Shell Plc Bets Bigger On Gulf Of Mexico As Ineos Tie-Up Puts Fort Sumter Back In Play
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Shell Plc Bets Bigger On Gulf Of Mexico As Ineos Tie-Up Puts Fort Sumter Back In Play

Shell Plc and Ineos Energy are moving forward with oil and gas exploration projects close to Shell’s Appomattox platform in the Gulf of Mexico, The Times reported. That includes ongoing work at the Fort Sumter discovery and plans for a potential new exploration well, which could be drilled before the decade wraps up. The effort comes as Shell looks to sharpen its U.S. offshore strategy, landing just ahead of its first-quarter earnings release. Timing is a key issue here. Shell CEO Wael Sawan faces mounting demands to clarify how the company—the biggest in Europe by oil and gas market value—intends to replenish its shrinking reserves without compromising hefty cash returns. Back in February, Reuters flagged that Shell’s reserve life had
May 4, 2026
Unilever’s India Rally Puts Its Price-Hike Plan Under Fresh Scrutiny
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Unilever’s India Rally Puts Its Price-Hike Plan Under Fresh Scrutiny

Hindustan Unilever shares gained 2.6% on Monday, closing at ₹2,309.05—a jump that outstripped India’s broader indexes and arrived just as parent Unilever PLC faces pressure elsewhere. Investors appeared to shrug off last week’s warnings about higher costs and planned price hikes across Unilever’s global brands like Dove and Persil. Timing is key here. Unilever reported that first-quarter gains came from selling more products, not just upping prices — underlying sales climbed 3.8%, based on its like-for-like benchmark. The company pointed to 5.7% growth in emerging markets, with India up 7%. CEO Fernando Fernandez described it as a “good start to the year,” highlighting both the volume-driven improvement and India’s strong showing.
May 4, 2026
ideaForge Stock Hits 20% Upper Circuit After Profit Swing: Why the Drone Maker Is Back Above IPO Price
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ideaForge Stock Hits 20% Upper Circuit After Profit Swing: Why the Drone Maker Is Back Above IPO Price

Shares of ideaForge Technology surged to their 20% upper circuit on Monday, hitting India’s exchange-imposed daily limit after the drone maker posted a profit for the March quarter. The stock ended at ₹731.10 on the BSE at 16:01; on the NSE, it settled at ₹731.00, a gain of 19.99%. Market capitalization stood around ₹3,165 crore, or ₹31.65 billion. This rally has fresh significance, with Monday marking the first full day investors could digest numbers posted after hours on April 30. Markets were closed for Maharashtra Day on May 1. The surge also saw the stock rise back above its ₹672 IPO price—a level under the microscope since the firm’s 2023 debut.
May 4, 2026
WiseTech Global Faces Fresh Fair Work Fight as AI Job Cuts Roll On
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WiseTech Global Faces Fresh Fair Work Fight as AI Job Cuts Roll On

WiseTech Global is facing a Fair Work Commission claim from Melina Green, the logistics software company’s former head of tax, the Australian Financial Review reported on Sunday. Green, identified by the newspaper as a recently dismissed senior executive, has lodged a case with Australia’s employment tribunal following her termination. It’s a tricky moment for WiseTech. The company’s pushing ahead with one of Australia’s most high-profile AI-driven restructures, just months after announcing plans in February to cut around 2,000 jobs—roughly 29% of its workforce—over the next two years. Speaking to Reuters at the time, Chief Executive Zubin Appoo declared that “the era of manually writing code” for core engineering is finished. Marc Jocum, who’s senior product and investment strategist at Global
May 3, 2026
Qantas and Jetstar Cuts Stretch to September as Fuel Shock Hits Australian Travellers
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Qantas and Jetstar Cuts Stretch to September as Fuel Shock Hits Australian Travellers

Qantas and Jetstar aren’t restoring domestic capacity any time soon—cuts will stick around through the end of September, keeping seat numbers down on main capital-city routes in Australia. The group is also nudging back some international services for the July-September window, redirecting extra planes to Europe instead, where demand continues to prove resilient. Australia’s aviation fuel crunch isn’t just a blip anymore; it’s beginning to shape winter flight schedules. On Friday, the federal government announced it had locked in two extra shipments—100 million litres of jet fuel, plus another 50 million litres of diesel. Those are in addition to eight cargoes previously secured with BP Australia, Ampol and Viva Energy.
May 3, 2026
IAG’s $1.35 Billion RAC Insurance Deal Hits Its ACCC Deadline Today
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IAG’s $1.35 Billion RAC Insurance Deal Hits Its ACCC Deadline Today

Insurance Australia Group Ltd faces a key regulatory cutoff this Monday on its A$1.35 billion bid for RAC Insurance. The competition watchdog is wrapping up a detailed review, with final submissions due that day—outcome pending, but it could shape IAG’s push to solidify its position in Western Australia. If cleared, IAG would take over the underwriting arm of RAC Insurance, handling both policy risk and claims backing. This isn’t just a standard merger review anymore; timing is key here. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has pushed the deal to its Phase 2 stage—a more in-depth look. The ACCC’s deadline for a decision is set for Aug. 26.
May 3, 2026
BlueScope Steel Limited’s $30 Question Deepens as Australia Opens New Dumping Probe
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BlueScope Steel Limited’s $30 Question Deepens as Australia Opens New Dumping Probe

The Anti-Dumping Commission in Australia has launched a probe into possible dumping of galvanised steel imports from South Korea and Vietnam, acting on a complaint from BlueScope Steel Limited. The investigation targets zinc-coated steel, used widely to prevent rust in building and manufacturing. The move places renewed scrutiny on the nation’s leading steel producer. The timing is key here, as the case has shifted from just a complaint to an official investigation. Anti-dumping duties—tariffs that may be slapped on if imports are undercutting local prices and harming domestic producers—are now on the table. The commission noted that a first, preliminary ruling won’t land until at least day 60, and its final recommendation is expected by Oct. 2.
May 3, 2026
Lynas Rare Earths CEO Flags Texas Risk as U.S. Supply Push Enters New Phase
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Lynas Rare Earths CEO Flags Texas Risk as U.S. Supply Push Enters New Phase

Lynas Rare Earths CEO Amanda Lacaze downplayed the company’s U.S. rare-earth supply agreement, describing it as “important” but saying it doesn't rank among their top five contracts. Speaking with TIME on Sunday, Lacaze framed the deal as a standard customer contract, not a government partnership. She also flagged “significant uncertainty” around the fate and structure of the proposed Texas processing plant. The stakes are higher these days as rare earths shift out of mining obscurity and land squarely in the spotlight of industrial security. These metals—indispensable in tiny doses—turn up in electric cars, personal tech, and military hardware. The magnets built from them wind up everywhere: household appliances, F-35 fighter jets, you name it.
May 3, 2026
Coles Group Ltd Shares Rise After Q3 Sales Beat — But Grocery Price Pressure Is Back
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Coles Group Ltd Shares Rise After Q3 Sales Beat — But Grocery Price Pressure Is Back

Coles Group Ltd reported third-quarter sales revenue up 3.1% to A$10.70 billion, boosted by robust supermarket performance and a notable surge in online orders. The company also flagged that supplier and operating costs are beginning to bite harder. It’s a key issue right now: grocery costs are tangled up in Australia’s inflation fight once again. The consumer price index climbed 4.6% for the year through March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Food and non-alcoholic drink prices moved up 3.1%, while automotive fuel prices jumped a sharp 32.8% just in March.
May 3, 2026
Goodman Group’s AI Data Centre Bet Runs Into a Sydney Deadline
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Goodman Group’s AI Data Centre Bet Runs Into a Sydney Deadline

Goodman Group’s ambitious data centre project for Sydney’s Lane Cove is facing resistance just as the deadline for public feedback approaches. Over the weekend, Guardian Australia highlighted resident Daniel Bolger’s worries about what he calls the “cluster issue” — a reference to the heavy concentration of facilities. On the industry side, Data Centres Australia CEO Belinda Dennett described it as a “significant opportunity.” The article also flagged similar public unease surrounding NextDC’s M3 development in Melbourne. Timing’s critical, since approval windows are tight. Project Mars is flagged as a State Significant Development on the NSW planning portal, so state planners have the file. Public comment opened March 27 and closes May 5.
May 3, 2026
Mineral Resources’ $765 Million POSCO Lithium Deal Hits the Real Test: Approvals and Debt
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Mineral Resources’ $765 Million POSCO Lithium Deal Hits the Real Test: Approvals and Debt

Mineral Resources Ltd has finalized investment and shareholders agreements with POSCO Holdings, confirming the sale of a 30% stake in their new lithium joint venture and shifting the US$765 million deal into the approvals stage. The JV, named LithCo, is set to house MinRes’ current 50% stakes in both the Wodgina and Mt Marion lithium mines. Managing Director Chris Ellison described the move as a “critical step.” POSCO Holdings President Ju-Tae Lee pointed to the partnership’s potential for the “stabilisation” of battery-materials supply. This deal has immediate implications for MinRes, linking straight into its debt repair—not just future lithium ambitions. According to the company, it plans to redeem the outstanding US$750 million in 2028 senior unsecured notes, those bonds not
May 3, 2026
Woolworths Group Ltd’s 300-Item Price Freeze Is Here — Investors Now Face Profit and Court Risk
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Woolworths Group Ltd’s 300-Item Price Freeze Is Here — Investors Now Face Profit and Court Risk

This week, Woolworths Group Ltd isn’t drawing attention for its sales numbers—investors are zeroing in on how much profit the supermarket giant might sacrifice to keep shoppers coming through the door. Australia’s top grocer cut its domestic food earnings outlook and is freezing prices on 300 household staples, moves that sent shares tumbling as much as 9.8% after last week’s announcement, according to Reuters. It’s a tough moment for Woolworths. Shoppers are laser-focused on price tags, freight expenses keep climbing thanks to fuel, and there’s still no word from the Federal Court on the regulator’s challenge to those “Prices Dropped” ads. Sales numbers are there, yes—but tougher questions on margins and trust aren’t going away.
May 3, 2026
Woodside Energy’s $17.5 Billion LNG Bet Faces Its First Big Buyer Test
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Woodside Energy’s $17.5 Billion LNG Bet Faces Its First Big Buyer Test

Woodside Energy Group’s planned Louisiana LNG plant is hitting some resistance on pricing. Reuters reports that would-be buyers are objecting to the liquefaction fees the Australian company wants to charge for U.S. export volumes. Those fees cover the cost of chilling natural gas into liquid for shipment by tanker. This is getting attention now, with Louisiana LNG ranking as a top growth project for Woodside and a key test for new CEO Liz Westcott’s commitment to capital discipline. Woodside reported last week that the project’s foundation phase has reached 24% completion, is still tracking within budget, and aims to deliver first LNG in 2029.
May 3, 2026
ANZ Profit Jump Masks a Tougher Test as Shares Slide After Half-Year Results
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ANZ Profit Jump Masks a Tougher Test as Shares Slide After Half-Year Results

ANZ Group Holdings posted a profit increase, but that didn’t keep investors from dumping the stock. Lower costs and an unchanged dividend weren’t enough—concerns over credit risk, geopolitical turmoil, and CEO Nuno Matos’ ambitious overhaul took center stage instead. Statutory profit at the Melbourne-based lender landed at A$3.65 billion for the six months ending March 31, with cash profit coming in slightly higher at A$3.78 billion. The cash figure, which leaves out non-core items, climbed 14% from the previous half—ANZ’s calculation excludes significant items for that comparison.
May 3, 2026
BHP Group Ltd’s China Iron Ore Deal Puts Rio Tinto and Fortescue on the Clock
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BHP Group Ltd’s China Iron Ore Deal Puts Rio Tinto and Fortescue on the Clock

BHP Group Ltd’s iron ore pricing deal with Beijing is now reaching beyond a single contract, the Australian Financial Review said Sunday, and the impact could ripple across Australia’s top export sector. The focus isn’t only on BHP’s ability to ship cargoes into China anymore—now, questions are swirling over whether China’s chosen pricing methods will start to dictate terms for the broader market. The timing here is key—BHP has just wrapped up a protracted standoff with China Mineral Resources Group, or CMRG, the state-backed entity that organizes iron ore buying for China’s steel industry. Last month, Reuters said BHP finished negotiations with CMRG after some types of ore faced buying restrictions. eToro’s Josh Gilbert described the resolution as a step
May 3, 2026
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