Business 6 April 2026 - 23 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
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc lands Australia frigate and U.S. Coast Guard work as defence orders build
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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc lands Australia frigate and U.S. Coast Guard work as defence orders build

This week, Rolls-Royce Holdings disclosed fresh naval contracts in both Australia and the United States, extending a series of defence-related announcements from the UK engineering group. The latest updates: equipment for Australian frigates, more U.S. Coast Guard cutters, plus a standalone Coast Guard maintenance deal. Timing is key here. Rolls-Royce shares went ex-dividend on Thursday, so anyone picking them up now won't get in on the next payout. The annual meeting is set for April 30, and the 5 pence final dividend lands June 3.
April 23, 2026
Tesco PLC Starts £750 Million Buyback As UK Inflation Squeeze Tests Profit Outlook
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Tesco PLC Starts £750 Million Buyback As UK Inflation Squeeze Tests Profit Outlook

Tesco PLC kicked off a share buyback of up to £750 million on Wednesday, moving forward with investor payouts despite a cloudier outlook for prices and shopper demand this year—the UK’s largest grocer isn’t backing away from handing out cash. Tesco announced the buyback will continue through April 2027, with Citigroup Global Markets handling purchases of ordinary shares on both the London Stock Exchange and Cboe Europe. The initial tranche, capped at £250 million, is designed to reduce Tesco’s share capital, the company said.
April 22, 2026
British American Tobacco’s Buyback Bet Faces a New UK Smoking Crackdown
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British American Tobacco’s Buyback Bet Faces a New UK Smoking Crackdown

British American Tobacco p.l.c. moved forward with its next share buyback phase Wednesday, tapping Merrill Lynch International to handle ordinary share repurchases from April 23 until June 29. This comes as UK lawmakers passed tougher legislation barring anyone who is under 18 today from ever legally purchasing cigarettes. Timing is crucial here. BAT is moving ahead with cash returns just as its core cigarette business hits a tougher regulatory backdrop at home, and investors are watching to see if products like Vuse vapes and Velo nicotine pouches can shoulder a bigger part of the business.
April 22, 2026
Haleon PLC Drops Asia Symbol After Deforestation Probe: Why Sensodyne Maker Faces New ESG Test
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Haleon PLC Drops Asia Symbol After Deforestation Probe: Why Sensodyne Maker Faces New ESG Test

Haleon PLC has dropped Asia Symbol from its packaging supply chain following an investigation by AFP and The Gecko Project, which connected the paper supplier’s pulp operations to deforested parts of Indonesian rainforest, habitat for orangutans. The Sensodyne and Panadol manufacturer said its internal review turned up no proof that material tied to deforestation made it into Haleon’s supply chain, though the company said it remained “very concerned.” It’s a tough moment for Haleon. The company has been ramping up its efforts in China, the market where the disputed packaging appeared. CEO Brian McNamara, speaking to Reuters last month, called China “an incredible market” for Haleon, as it supported a £65 million investment in an oral-health facility in Shanghai.
April 22, 2026
IAG Shares Slide as Jet-Fuel Shock Hits British Airways Owner Before Q1 Results
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IAG Shares Slide as Jet-Fuel Shock Hits British Airways Owner Before Q1 Results

Shares of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA slipped Wednesday, with airline stocks taking a hit from another uptick in crude prices. The British Airways parent again found itself in the crosshairs as investors look ahead to its first-quarter update next month. IAG dipped 2.1% in London, with easyJet off 1.6% and Wizz Air down 1.3%, as Brent crude climbed past $100 a barrel following reports of gunfire hitting three container ships in the Strait of Hormuz. By late morning, the FTSE 100 barely budged.
April 22, 2026
Glencore plc’s South Africa Power Deal Could Revive Smelters, But NERSA Still Holds the Key
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Glencore plc’s South Africa Power Deal Could Revive Smelters, But NERSA Still Holds the Key

Baar, Switzerland, April 22, 2026, 15:13 CEST Glencore plc’s ferrochrome operations in South Africa are edging toward a restart as Eskom, the state utility, agreed to a lower power tariff—offering some relief after high electricity costs threatened smelters and jobs. Japie Fullard, chief executive at Glencore Ferroalloys, told Argus the company plans to resume production, having secured tariff support for the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture from Eskom.
April 22, 2026
BP PLC Chair Gains Key Investor Backing Before AGM Climate Vote Fight
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BP PLC Chair Gains Key Investor Backing Before AGM Climate Vote Fight

At least three major BP PLC shareholders are backing Chair Albert Manifold going into Thursday’s annual meeting, giving the board a lift ahead of a closely watched vote on investor confidence. Timing is front and center here. This marks Manifold’s first AGM as chair, alongside Chief Executive Meg O’Neill’s debut in the role. Against the backdrop: BP grappling with patchy performance, leadership shakeups, and Elliott Management’s activist heat. BP has set the meeting for 11 a.m. BST on April 23 at its International Centre for Business and Technology.
April 22, 2026
Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Faces a New Job-Protection Fight
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Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Faces a New Job-Protection Fight

Unilever PLC’s European employees are demanding guarantees on job security as the company pushes ahead with its plan to merge its foods division with McCormick. The labor concerns now throw an extra challenge at Chief Executive Fernando Fernandez, who is orchestrating what’s shaping up to be his most ambitious overhaul so far. The Unilever European Works Council, which represents roughly 20,000 staff across Europe and the UK, met with Fernandez last week and is pushing for protections on par with those offered in the Magnum ice cream carve-out, according to a memo seen by Reuters. That push could end up driving costs higher, stretch out consultations, and make it tougher to complete the deal that would narrow Unilever’s focus to
April 22, 2026
Reckitt Shares Tumble as Weak Cold Season Tests 2026 Growth Plan
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Reckitt Shares Tumble as Weak Cold Season Tests 2026 Growth Plan

Shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc slid Wednesday as the maker of Dettol and Durex reported first-quarter sales below forecasts. The company also flagged that first-half margins are set to drop by about 200 basis points, or 2 percentage points, from last year. Reckitt saw its stock tumble up to 7%, hitting a low not seen since late 2024. Why does this update count? Reckitt is working to restore investor trust in its main health and hygiene lines, offloading underperforming or non-core parts along the way. The slow first quarter ups the pressure for the remainder of the year, though the company is sticking with its 2026 target for Core Reckitt—4% to 5% like-for-like sales growth. That metric excludes currency
April 22, 2026
Rolls-Royce Just Won Two Navy Deals. Its Shares Are Still Falling
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Rolls-Royce Just Won Two Navy Deals. Its Shares Are Still Falling

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has picked up two new naval propulsion contracts. The company’s MT30 turbine is set for installation on Australia’s next round of upgraded Mogami-class frigates, while mtu engines will go into another 10 U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutters. These orders should help lift momentum for the London-listed aerospace and defence group’s marine power segment, though shares are still struggling. It’s clear enough why the stakes are higher now: every fresh contract gets weighed against tougher expectations. Back in February, Rolls-Royce projected underlying operating profit of £4.0 billion to £4.2 billion for 2026, set out a hefty £7 billion to £9 billion buyback through 2028, and put the final dividend at 5 pence per share. That profit figure—Rolls-Royce’s
April 22, 2026
AI News Today: Anthropic Faces Bank Scrutiny As Google Targets Nvidia’s Chip Turf
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AI News Today: Anthropic Faces Bank Scrutiny As Google Targets Nvidia’s Chip Turf

On Monday, Anthropic’s Mythos model drew fresh scrutiny from regulators in Australia and South Korea, highlighting the AI system’s growing profile in a day packed with news across banks, chips, data centers and robotics. Australia’s securities regulator said it is “closely monitoring” Mythos alongside its international counterparts. South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service, for its part, called in financial companies to discuss risks tied to the Mythos AI. The latest wave of AI tools isn’t stopping at spitting out text or code. They’re edging closer to “agentic AI” — tech that starts planning and acting on its own, with minimal nudging from people. That shift is forcing banks and regulators to wrestle with a tougher dilemma: could the same AI that
April 20, 2026
Microsoft May Lower Xbox Game Pass Price After CEO Says Service Is Too Expensive
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Microsoft May Lower Xbox Game Pass Price After CEO Says Service Is Too Expensive

Redmond, Washington, April 14, 2026, 05:08 Microsoft is weighing adjustments to Xbox Game Pass pricing, following a leaked memo where gaming chief Asha Sharma told employees the subscription’s price was getting out of reach for users. The Verge reported Monday that possible changes could include near-term tweaks and a more substantial overhaul of the service’s sales model.
April 14, 2026
Salesforce Stock Back in Focus as Choreo LLC, Sumitomo Mitsui Cuts Resurface
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Salesforce Stock Back in Focus as Choreo LLC, Sumitomo Mitsui Cuts Resurface

Recent reports over the last two days brought renewed attention to old Q4 filings on Salesforce, with both Choreo LLC and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group shown trimming their stakes in the cloud software giant. The original 13F documents hit the SEC’s system on Jan. 23. By Monday morning, Salesforce shares had climbed $5.54 to $170.50. Big software names are back in the spotlight, and it’s not exactly comfortable timing. The S&P 500 Software and Services Index has slid 25.5% in 2026, Reuters said last week, as investors fret that rapid-fire developments in AI could erode the appeal of established subscription-software players.
April 13, 2026
Google Expands Intel AI Chip Deal, Backs Xeon 6 for Data Centers as Intel Shares Rise
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Google Expands Intel AI Chip Deal, Backs Xeon 6 for Data Centers as Intel Shares Rise

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 9, 2026, 09:13 PDT Google on Thursday expanded its AI infrastructure collaboration with Intel, committing to continued use of Intel Xeon chips—including the latest Xeon 6—in segments of its cloud network. The companies also plan to broaden their efforts on custom infrastructure chips. Intel shares climbed 2.3% to $60.33 in morning trading.
April 9, 2026
BHP Group Ltd Shares Drop as Oil Shock, China Iron Ore Fight Put April Review in Focus
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BHP Group Ltd Shares Drop as Oil Shock, China Iron Ore Fight Put April Review in Focus

BHP Group Ltd slipped 2.53% to close at A$51.23 in Sydney on Monday, managing a smaller drop than both Rio Tinto and Fortescue as miners faced broad pressure and the materials index tumbled 2.77%. Volume came in at just 8.7 million shares, noticeably under the 30-day average. Just two weeks ahead of BHP’s April 22 operational review, the company’s made its move. Brandon Craig is set to step in as chief executive on July 1, while energy markets remain unsettled—Brent surged 60% in March after the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
April 6, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Heads Into Tougher Summer as Fuel Squeeze Deepens
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International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Heads Into Tougher Summer as Fuel Squeeze Deepens

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, which owns British Airways, faces a tougher summer on the fuel front. U.S. crude bound for Europe soared to record premiums Monday, piling more pressure on the refineries that supply jet fuel. WTI Midland cargoes for Europe fetched nearly $15 a barrel over dated Brent, with buyers from both Asia and Europe scrambling to secure alternatives after Middle East flows were disrupted. This comes at a tough moment. Back on March 10, IAG said it wouldn’t be hiking ticket prices right away—contracts had locked in a good chunk of its fuel needs for now. But according to Reuters, jet fuel prices in March jumped much more sharply than crude, trimming the advantage of those hedges
April 6, 2026
Anglo American Narrows UK Gender Pay Gap Ahead of AGM, but Bonus Gap Remains Wide
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Anglo American Narrows UK Gender Pay Gap Ahead of AGM, but Bonus Gap Remains Wide

Anglo American’s primary UK head-office arm showed a slimmer gender pay gap in its most recent filing. On a median basis, women earned 79p for every £1 men received — that’s the midpoint when pay is ranked. On average, women were paid 24.2% less. The figures apply to Anglo American Services Ltd. The filing dropped right after the April 4 cutoff for big UK employers to release pay-gap stats, hitting as London markets were closed for Easter Monday and with Anglo’s annual meeting set for April 29. Investors now have the figures as the miner keeps pushing its merger with Teck Resources.
April 6, 2026
Why Rio Tinto plc Is in Focus as Oil Spike Tests Pilbara Recovery Ahead of Dividend Date
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Why Rio Tinto plc Is in Focus as Oil Spike Tests Pilbara Recovery Ahead of Dividend Date

Rio Tinto plc edged lower in U.S. trading on Monday, with its New York-listed ADRs — U.S.-traded receipts that track its London shares — down about 0.5% at $94.01, as investors weighed higher energy prices against the miner’s cyclone-hit iron ore system. The move came while Rio’s home markets in London and Australia were closed for Easter Monday. The move matters because Pilbara iron ore in Western Australia still does most of the heavy lifting for Rio’s profits. Rio said on March 30 that two recent cyclones had cut expected shipments by about 8 million tonnes, although it kept 2026 Pilbara guidance at 323 million to 338 million tonnes and said it had identified a path to recover around half
April 6, 2026
Why Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Still Has Investors on Edge
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Why Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Still Has Investors on Edge

Unilever's U.S. shares traded at $55.45 before the bell on Monday, down around 60 cents from the prior close as of 11:08 UTC. Investors continued to weigh last week's move to merge its food business with McCormick. If completed, the British company would sharpen its focus on beauty, personal care, and home care. This isn’t just about McCormick. The company’s almost $45 billion offer for Unilever’s food business stood out as one of the largest consumer deals of the first quarter, highlighting the push for size as sales growth softens and shoppers switch things up. For Unilever, it effectively closes a chapter on nearly 100 years in food under its own banner.
April 6, 2026
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