Business 25 April 2026 - 27 April 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
Tesco PLC Shares Drop as £750m Buyback Runs Into a UK Retail Squeeze
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Tesco PLC Shares Drop as £750m Buyback Runs Into a UK Retail Squeeze

Tesco PLC lost ground on Monday, with shares dropping 2.17% to £4.80 after the company posted its latest buyback update. Investor attention stayed fixed on shaky UK consumer demand and the ongoing threat of inflation linked to conflict. The FTSE 100 also ended lower, off 0.56% in a wider downturn. Timing is key here. Tesco’s handing cash back to shareholders just as households are dealing with pricier fuel and groceries, leaving investors to weigh if buybacks will make up for a more challenging trading climate. When companies buy back their own stock, the number of shares typically shrinks, pushing up earnings per share—that’s profit divided among fewer shares.
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 PLC shares fell in London on Monday, with investors eyeing the upcoming first-quarter update. The focus: whether the consumer goods giant can keep sales growing as the sector faces pressure from rising oil and input costs. Unilever is set to release results April 30. Analysts surveyed by the company are looking for first-quarter underlying sales growth at 3.6%. This metric tracks comparable revenue, excluding effects from currency swings and portfolio shifts.
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 has inked a seven-year deal with Rolls-Royce Holdings plc to build and deliver aerospace systems—locking in a cross-border supply chain that stretches from India to the UK for the British engine giant. Sigma pegged the contract’s value at close to £300 million, or about ₹3,800 crore, according to its exchange filing. Timing’s a factor here. Rolls-Royce says parts availability has started to improve, though bottlenecks are still in play. The company warned investors that supply-chain strain could drag down 2026 free cash flow by somewhere between £150 million and £200 million. As for large engine flying hours—a core metric for its maintenance business—Rolls-Royce is projecting those will hit 115% to 120% of what they were in 2019
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

Shares in Intertek Group plc slipped Monday after the UK-based testing firm turned down EQT’s sweetened £54-a-share bid, keeping the market in bid limbo without a concrete offer on the table. By 11:47 BST, the stock had dropped 1.75% to 4,726p, according to Sharecast. Intertek’s board late Friday shot down the unsolicited, indicative, and conditional proposal, calling it “fundamentally undervalued.” Directors said the rejection was both “unanimous and unequivocal.” EQT now faces a deadline: by 5 p.m. on May 14, it must declare whether it intends to move forward with a formal bid or walk away.
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

On Monday, Chinese regulators told Meta Platforms to reverse its $2 billion-plus acquisition of AI startup Manus—a rare reversal of a deal that had already closed. The decision sends a strong message: Beijing is looking to clamp down on the outflow of AI talent and intellectual property. Timing is key here. This order hits just as the U.S. and China push their AI rivalry into new territory—beyond just hardware or flashy models—zeroing in on who controls the startups that could shape the future. Last week, Bloomberg said Chinese regulators told certain private tech players, including AI startups, not to take U.S. money unless Beijing signs off first.
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 Limited uploaded its Q1 investor call recording to the ASX on Friday, offering investors a replay of new Chief Executive Angus Bean’s presentation, following the counter-drone company’s report of a 121% surge in quarterly revenue. According to the ASX filing, the call discussed the 1Q26 quarterly update and took place April 23 at 9 a.m. Sydney time. The focus shifts to Monday’s Sydney trade, where investors will get a new read on whether revenue and cash flow are strong enough to offset governance worries. DroneShield shares finished at A$3.72 on April 24, according to Intelligent Investor data—a 3.05% gain over the prior week.
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

April 27, 2026, 04:02 AWST—Perth, Australia. Liontown Limited has scheduled an April 30 webcast for investors, analysts and media, where the team will go over March-quarter results. The event, flagged in an ASX statement, comes after the Western Australian lithium producer delivered a notably stronger previous quarter. Chief Executive Tony Ottaviano is set to lead the call, which starts at 10:00 a.m. AWST.
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

Kuantan, Malaysia, April 27, 2026, 03:11 MYT The Pentagon is now looking to Lynas Rare Earths Limited’s facility in Malaysia for its supply of heavy rare earths, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The Australian company has started processing materials like samarium, terbium, and dysprosium there—elements vital for high-temperature magnets in defense and industrial equipment. Traditionally, refining these minerals has been concentrated in China.
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 Limited edged up 0.3% on Friday, closing at A$81.51 and holding above the A$80 mark ahead of its upcoming results update. The accounting-software firm’s market cap was roughly A$13.9 billion at the latest close. This isn’t about the uptick. Xero shares remain off 28.65% for 2026, and eyes are on May 14, when the company drops its FY26 full-year numbers. That’s the point where investors will see if its push into U.S. payments and the outlay on AI are enough to stabilize the stock.
April 26, 2026
Qantas Airways Bets on Samoa Route as Fuel Shock Tests Its Network
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Qantas Airways Bets on Samoa Route as Fuel Shock Tests Its Network

Qantas Airways Limited will launch a new year-round route from Auckland to Apia on June 16, marking its first international flight from New Zealand heading to the Pacific Islands, a company spokesperson told the Samoa Observer. Timing counts. Qantas is slotting in a modest Pacific connection even as Middle East unrest keeps airlines scrambling—rerouting, guarding their fuel, and weighing which markets get planes. The Samoa route? It’s targeted growth for Qantas, not some sweeping expansion.
April 26, 2026
Brambles Limited Buyback: ASX Pallet Giant Retires Shares as Class Action Risk Lingers
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Brambles Limited Buyback: ASX Pallet Giant Retires Shares as Class Action Risk Lingers

Brambles Limited continued its on-market share buyback, disclosing the purchase of 236,576 shares on April 23 for a total of A$5.26 million. The Australian logistics company is moving ahead with its previously announced FY26 capital return plan, targeting up to US$400 million. Under an on-market buyback, Brambles acquires shares via the exchange, not through a fixed-price offer to shareholders. This update lands at a time when Brambles is handing cash back to holders, with shares still under their recent peaks. Investors are juggling two things: reliable cash from the CHEP pallet business, and the unresolved hit from a Federal Court class-action ruling earlier this month. On April 24, the stock settled at A$22.02, having moved between A$21.70 and A$22.39 that
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

Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery cleared the shareholder hurdle, with investors backing the deal but rejecting the associated executive pay package—sending a clear signal to CEO David Zaslav and his team. According to a filing, 1.74 billion votes supported the merger, just 16.3 million opposed, but when it came to the pay proposal, 1.44 billion shareholders voted no. This vote pushes the $110 billion-plus merger past shareholders, giving regulators the next move. Back in late March, the U.S. Justice Department issued subpoenas targeting studio output, content rights, streaming competition, and theaters. London and European officials are also set to review the deal.
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 Group Ltd faces a key week on pricing, with investors eyeing its third-quarter sales update due May 1. The focus: can the grocer maintain sales volumes as suppliers push to pass on higher costs in fuel, packaging, and agriculture? Woolworths, Coles’ main competitor, is set to report its Q3 F26 numbers just a day earlier, April 30, giving investors an early look at how both are navigating cost pressures. It’s a tough moment. Australians are tightening their belts as petrol prices spike, fueled by the Middle East war. For businesses, pushing through higher freight and fuel costs isn’t flying—household budgets have already been squeezed dry.
April 26, 2026
ANZ’s First AI Chief Hire Puts Its Turnaround on a Bigger Clock
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ANZ’s First AI Chief Hire Puts Its Turnaround on a Bigger Clock

ANZ Group Holdings Limited is bringing in Kai Yang from HSBC to serve as its inaugural chief data and artificial intelligence officer, a new senior post intended to accelerate data, automation, and AI initiatives across the bank. He’ll step into the Sydney-based role in July, reporting directly to group Chief Information Officer Donald Patra, as Chief Executive Nuno Matos looks to expand the bank’s technology strategy. The clock’s ticking: ANZ drops half-year numbers May 1, 10:00 a.m. AEST. Investors will get their first real shot at judging if Matos’ push on costs and streamlining is gaining traction past the initial savings.
April 26, 2026
Fortescue Ltd’s $680 Million Pilbara Power Bet Draws an Early Test From Miners and Data Centres
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Fortescue Ltd’s $680 Million Pilbara Power Bet Draws an Early Test From Miners and Data Centres

Pilbara Minerals is signaling its willingness to collaborate with Fortescue Ltd on green energy in Western Australia’s Pilbara, giving Andrew Forrest’s company an early gauge of third-party interest. This comes just days after Fortescue signed off on a US$680 million boost to its renewable energy rollout. That investment targets the 200-megawatt Pilbara Green Energy Project, designed for industrial customers like data centres. The clock’s ticking for Fortescue. As the miner tries to spin decarbonisation into a fresh revenue stream, AI-powered data centres are cranking up electricity demand across Australia. Microsoft on Thursday announced plans to pump A$25 billion into local AI and cloud infrastructure through 2029. That’s the environment Fortescue’s walking into as it pitches “firmed” renewables—power that’s propped up
April 26, 2026
Woodside Energy CEO Pay Revolt Puts $14.8 Million Package And LNG Growth Plan In Spotlight
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Woodside Energy CEO Pay Revolt Puts $14.8 Million Package And LNG Growth Plan In Spotlight

Woodside Energy Group Ltd’s new CEO, Liz Westcott, is already in the spotlight over governance, with over a third of shareholders voting against her FY26 long-term incentive award at the annual meeting. The vote breakdown: 65.48% in favor, 34.52% opposed. Every resolution did clear, but the remuneration report also saw pushback, with 18.31% voting against. It’s a tricky moment for Woodside. Australia’s top listed oil and gas player is scheduled to release its first-quarter update on April 29, putting Westcott back in front of investors just days after the pay vote—and with scrutiny swirling around project timelines, costs, and climate risk.
April 26, 2026
BHP’s China Deal Could Reset Iron Ore Pricing — Rio and Fortescue Are Watching
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BHP’s China Deal Could Reset Iron Ore Pricing — Rio and Fortescue Are Watching

BHP Group Ltd’s agreement with China’s main iron ore buyer has shifted from contract negotiations to impacting market prices, leaving iron ore futures drifting as traders tried to balance ongoing Chinese steel demand and the likelihood of additional BHP shipments making their way to the top global consumer. This matters right now: the agreement wraps up a months-long spat that had threatened BHP’s relationship with its top customer, just as Chinese steel mills start to rebuild inventories ahead of the May Day holiday. And it’s a test—how much sway does Beijing really hold in iron ore pricing, beyond just the volume it buys?
April 26, 2026
Whitbread’s £1.5bn Premier Inn Hotel Sell-Off Could Hand Investors a New Payout
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Whitbread’s £1.5bn Premier Inn Hotel Sell-Off Could Hand Investors a New Payout

Whitbread is gearing up to offload a large chunk of its Premier Inn hotel portfolio, The Times reports, a change in strategy that could put roughly £1.5 billion in shareholders’ hands. Britain’s largest hotel operator is moving away from its traditional ownership model with this planned sale. Timing is key here. Whitbread will roll out an update to its five-year plan alongside full-year results on April 30, with investors seeking more visibility on cash returns—this comes after UK tax changes weighed on the benefits of outright hotel ownership.
April 26, 2026
Prudential plc’s India Bet Gets Bigger as Bharti AXA Life Talks Surface
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Prudential plc’s India Bet Gets Bigger as Bharti AXA Life Talks Surface

Bharti Group is negotiating the sale of as much as 85% of its life insurance arm to Prudential plc, according to the Economic Times, which cited sources familiar with the situation. The unit might fetch somewhere between ₹70 billion and ₹80 billion, though both the valuation and terms remain in flux as due diligence continues, the report noted. The discussions could hand Prudential a bigger, more hands-on presence in Indian insurance, just as the London- and Hong Kong-listed firm shifts its capital and growth focus toward Asia and Africa. If the deal goes through at the reported price, it would represent a meaningful jump from last year’s 15% stake sale to 360 One, which pegged the business at about ₹30
April 26, 2026
3i Group Shares Drop Again as Action Growth Worries Put May Results in Focus
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3i Group Shares Drop Again as Action Growth Worries Put May Results in Focus

Shares of 3i Group slipped further on Friday, wrapping up a tough week for the UK investment firm as scrutiny over its heavy stake in Dutch discount chain Action lingered. The stock finished 1.83% lower at 2,627.50 pence in London, matching its intraday low. This shift matters because the stock isn't being seen as a straightforward compounding play anymore. Shares are now trading under estimated net asset value—NAV measures assets minus debt—and with 3i set to post full-year numbers to March 31 on May 14, investors are watching closely.
April 25, 2026
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