Business 30 March 2026 - 6 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
OpenAI IPO Plans Hit Internal Rift as CFO Sarah Friar Questions Sam Altman’s 2026 Timeline
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OpenAI IPO Plans Hit Internal Rift as CFO Sarah Friar Questions Sam Altman’s 2026 Timeline

According to The Information on April 5, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar has told colleagues she doesn’t think the company will be ready to go public as early as the fourth quarter of 2026—running counter to CEO Sam Altman’s push for a quicker IPO. The report also notes that Friar flagged the magnitude and risk tied to the spending OpenAI would need to pull off a listing. Timing is front and center after OpenAI just wrapped up a $122 billion funding round, pushing its valuation up to $852 billion. Investors are circling again, prepping for another surge in high-profile tech IPOs. Reuters flagged on April 1 that both OpenAI and competitor Anthropic are weighing going public later this year—potentially tapping markets
April 6, 2026
Shell Plc Q1 Profit Outlook Climbs as Oil Holds Above $107 Before April 8 Update
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Shell Plc Q1 Profit Outlook Climbs as Oil Holds Above $107 Before April 8 Update

Shell heads into a quarterly update on Wednesday with oil still above $107 a barrel after another sharp swing in the market, putting the focus back on how much cash the company can generate in the first quarter. Brent fell $1.92 on Monday to $107.11 as traders weighed a U.S.-Iran peace proposal, but the Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed and supply disruptions persisted. Mukesh Sahdev, founder and CEO of XAnalysts, said the standoff over Hormuz was increasingly about “political victory.” The timing matters because Shell is due on April 8 to outline the expected financial effects of the conflict before full results on May 7. Reuters reported last month that three analysts covering Shell had raised their first-quarter net
April 6, 2026
National Australia Bank contacts 200,000 firms as fuel shock squeezes Australia’s supply chains
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National Australia Bank contacts 200,000 firms as fuel shock squeezes Australia’s supply chains

National Australia Bank Ltd has reached out to almost 200,000 business clients since early March, as wild swings in fuel prices hit agriculture, transport, manufacturing, construction, and regional supply networks. The bank noted that most of these customers haven’t come forward for financial hardship support, but business care executive Olivia Brosca flagged that “real pressure is on smaller businesses” with less cushion against surging diesel costs. This comes into sharp relief now. On Thursday, Canberra rolled out as much as A$1 billion in interest-free loans targeting critical businesses, following energy supply disruptions from the Middle East conflict that have driven up costs across Australia, a country reliant on imports for over 80% of its fuel. For NAB—Australia’s biggest business lender—the
April 2, 2026
Tesco PLC keeps UK grocery lead as inflation holds ahead of April results
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Tesco PLC keeps UK grocery lead as inflation holds ahead of April results

Tesco PLC once again topped the UK grocery charts, growing sales by 5.0% in the 12 weeks through March 22. The retailer’s market share nudged up to 28.0%, 0.3 percentage points higher than the same stretch last year. Grocery inflation stuck at 4.3%, underlining the ongoing squeeze on family food bills. That’s coming into sharp focus with Tesco set to announce preliminary results on April 16. The latest March market figures give investors an up-to-date snapshot of trading, following the retailer’s January statement flagging full-year profit likely landing at the top end of its £2.9 billion to £3.1 billion forecast range.
April 2, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Exits TAP Sale, Leaving Lufthansa and Air France-KLM to Compete for Portugal’s Flag Carrier
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International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Exits TAP Sale, Leaving Lufthansa and Air France-KLM to Compete for Portugal’s Flag Carrier

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA is stepping back from the TAP Air Portugal process, dropping its pursuit of a minority holding. That leaves just Lufthansa and Air France-KLM as publicly confirmed contenders for Portugal’s lagging airline sale. The British Airways parent said it’s shifting focus to expanding within its current portfolio. This is significant right now because TAP sits right in the crosshairs of Europe’s ongoing airline consolidation push. Cirium data shared at an industry event in January put 36 airlines behind 80% of European seat capacity. In the U.S., just six carriers hold that share. IAG had long been viewed as a top contender for TAP.
April 2, 2026
GSK plc simplifies ViiV Healthcare ownership as Pfizer exits and Shionogi raises stake
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GSK plc simplifies ViiV Healthcare ownership as Pfizer exits and Shionogi raises stake

GSK plc wrapped up changes to ViiV Healthcare’s ownership structure on April 1. After Pfizer’s exit from the HIV-focused joint venture, Japan’s Shionogi bumped its stake up to 21.7%. GSK remains the majority owner with 78.3%, the company said. Timing is crucial here: ViiV is a core growth driver as GSK shifts focus toward specialty medicines. For 2025, GSK reported an 11% increase in HIV sales to 7.7 billion pounds, fueling a 17% jump in specialty medicines revenue.
April 2, 2026
BP PLC’s New CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Clear Direction as Oil Swings Test Debt Reset
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BP PLC’s New CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Clear Direction as Oil Swings Test Debt Reset

BP PLC’s new boss, Meg O’Neill, wasted no time laying out her message to staff: “clear direction and consistency.” She steps in as the company redoubles its focus on oil and gas, trying to move past a stretch of expensive U-turns. O’Neill, who officially took over Wednesday, is BP’s first outside hire for CEO in more than 100 years—and the first woman to run any of the five biggest oil players. Timing’s a factor here. BP has hit pause on its share buybacks to conserve cash for cutting debt, and it’s pushing through asset sales to hit a $20 billion divestment goal by 2027. Leadership is also getting a shake-up as the company works to repair returns and win back
April 2, 2026
BAE Systems plc Confirmed for £95 Million UK Radar Contract as Britain Moves to Unlock Offshore Wind
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BAE Systems plc Confirmed for £95 Million UK Radar Contract as Britain Moves to Unlock Offshore Wind

BAE Systems has officially landed a contract to provide and install next-generation air-defense radar systems, according to the UK government—a move officials say should pave the way for expanded offshore wind. The deal was confirmed in a parliamentary written answer dated March 31, following ministerial comments on the radar upgrade earlier in March. Timing is key here: London wants more wind power, but it can't afford to mess with the RAF's surveillance of UK airspace—especially while shipping more air-defense equipment and personnel out to the Middle East. Ministers claim the broader radar overhaul could open the door for as much as 10 gigawatts in offshore wind, with installation possibly starting in early 2029.
April 1, 2026
Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Draws Union Warning, Splits Investors
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Unilever PLC’s $65 Billion McCormick Deal Draws Union Warning, Splits Investors

Unilever PLC announced Tuesday plans to merge its food division with McCormick in a $65 billion deal—marking the largest shake-up under CEO Fernando Fernandez. Knorr, Hellmann’s, and other brands would shift to the new joint food entity, narrowing Unilever’s scope to household and personal care goods. This shift pulls out a segment responsible for 12.9 billion euros in sales last year—over a quarter of group revenue—but one that managed just 2.5% growth, falling behind other parts of Unilever. For years, investors have urged Unilever to streamline, with calls to double down on the higher-growth beauty and personal care space.
April 1, 2026
Glencore Extends South Africa Smelter Job-Cut Deadline to April 7 in Eskom Power Talks
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Glencore Extends South Africa Smelter Job-Cut Deadline to April 7 in Eskom Power Talks

Glencore’s South African chrome joint venture extended the deadline for its retrenchment talks to April 7, giving Eskom more time—another week—to wrap up internal sign-off on a discounted electricity rate. The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture confirmed that a 62 South African cents per kilowatt-hour rate has in-principle approval, though the final commercial terms are still being hammered out. The additional week is pivotal: the outcome of the tariff could determine if the planned job cuts are still avoidable and whether the venture can sustain its ferrochrome operations commercially. On Tuesday, Merafe told shareholders it had already lodged a counterproposal back on March 12, and the partners agreed to push the Section 189 consultation—a process under South Africa’s Labour Relations Act regarding
April 1, 2026
BP PLC CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Consistency as Debt Reset Faces First Test (Reuters)
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BP PLC CEO Meg O’Neill Promises Consistency as Debt Reset Faces First Test (Reuters)

London, April 1, 2026, 12:14 BP Plc’s freshly appointed chief executive, Meg O’Neill, assured employees Wednesday she plans to deliver “clear direction and consistency,” kicking off her leadership with a pledge to maintain the company’s current course as it doubles down on oil and gas. O’Neill stands out as BP’s first external chief executive in over 100 years, and she’s also the first woman at the helm of any of the top five global oil majors, according to a staff memo reviewed by Reuters and previous company disclosures.
April 1, 2026
Oracle Starts Thousands of Layoffs as $50 Billion AI Push Lifts Shares
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Oracle Starts Thousands of Layoffs as $50 Billion AI Push Lifts Shares

AUSTIN, Texas, March 31, 2026, 13:09 CDT Oracle started slashing jobs on Tuesday, telling certain staff via internal emails that their time at the company had ended as it looked to slash expenses and ramp up AI infrastructure spending. CNBC, quoting two sources familiar with the situation, reported thousands would be impacted. Oracle would not respond to requests for comment.
March 31, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group taps Dell for private cloud as investors seek proof on AI strategy
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London Stock Exchange Group taps Dell for private cloud as investors seek proof on AI strategy

London Stock Exchange Group on Tuesday announced a multi-year deal with Dell Technologies aimed at rolling out a new private cloud platform for segments of its data and markets businesses, expanding its broader tech overhaul. LSEG said the platform is meant for business units not currently served by its public cloud setups. The reason this matters isn’t hard to spot. Just last month, Reuters said Elliott Management was pushing LSEG to clarify exactly what it’s getting out of its Microsoft tie-up—and to boost margins, too. Shareholders applauded the record buyback in February, but some made it clear: they want more than just cash returns.
March 31, 2026
British American Tobacco Deepens Charlotte’s Web Bet in $75 Million CBD Deal
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British American Tobacco Deepens Charlotte’s Web Bet in $75 Million CBD Deal

British American Tobacco p.l.c. plans to boost its stake in Charlotte’s Web, a U.S. hemp-derived CBD company, to around 40%. According to U.S. filings, BAT aims to convert a C$75.3 million convertible debenture—plus accrued interest—into equity, and kick in an extra $10 million in cash. If the deal goes through, that’s about 110 million Charlotte’s Web shares for BAT. The move deepens the group’s shift away from tobacco and nicotine, coming as BAT signals 2026 results will likely hit the low end of its medium-term range. Back in 2022, BAT called its investment in Charlotte’s Web just another piece of that pivot.
March 31, 2026
BAE Systems plc Extends Buyback as Defence Orders Rise and Output Pressure Builds
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BAE Systems plc Extends Buyback as Defence Orders Rise and Output Pressure Builds

On Monday, BAE Systems reported it had bought back 505,128 more ordinary shares for cancellation, following purchases carried out from March 23 to March 27. That move brings the second tranche of its buyback programme up to 19,996,019 shares in total. Shares in BAE climbed roughly 2.7% in London Tuesday afternoon, outpacing the FTSE 100’s 0.85% gain. This filing draws attention as BAE continues returning cash to shareholders, even with defense orders gaining speed and governments ramping up pressure on suppliers to boost output. The latest buyback phase kicked off July 1, 2025, falling under a three-year program targeting up to 1.5 billion pounds, with 500 million pounds allocated for repurchases through June 2026. Buybacks shrink the share count, which
March 31, 2026
BP PLC Loses EV Charging Chief Ahead of Meg O’Neill Takeover as Oil Pivot Deepens
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BP PLC Loses EV Charging Chief Ahead of Meg O’Neill Takeover as Oil Pivot Deepens

BP’s global EV charging head is out, according to the Financial Times, with Rolls-Royce listing Martin Thomsen as a new arrival in March. The timing is notable: Meg O’Neill steps in as BP chief executive this week. BP’s exit is notable, coming as the company dials back its low-carbon bets—scaling down renewables and EV charging to funnel more capital toward oil and gas, eyeing higher and quicker returns. The move is playing out as Brent crude hovered just below $115 a barrel on Tuesday, set for a record monthly surge after supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict.
March 31, 2026
Northern Star Resources CEO Converts A$7 Million in Rights Into Shares Ahead of April Quarterly
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Northern Star Resources CEO Converts A$7 Million in Rights Into Shares Ahead of April Quarterly

Northern Star Resources Ltd disclosed late Monday that CEO Stuart Tonkin exercised 380,837 vested performance rights, turning them into ordinary shares. The move, as outlined in regulatory notices, was valued at roughly A$7 million. The timing is crucial here: Australian gold miner Northern Star is still in damage control mode after its March 13 warning about the challenges of reaching even the lower end of its fiscal 2026 production target. The company has promised more specifics in its March-quarter update, set for April 22.
March 30, 2026
Haleon shares rise after 8.9 million-share buyback ahead of April update
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Haleon shares rise after 8.9 million-share buyback ahead of April update

Haleon reported Monday it’s snapped up 8.94 million shares for cancellation, marking progress on the £500 million buyback drive the consumer health group kicked off earlier this month. Shares gained 2.53%, trading at 376.2 pence in London’s delayed session. Haleon is turning to buybacks as it works to rebound from a weaker-than-expected start to 2026. Back in February, the Sensodyne maker projected organic revenue growth of 3% to 5% for 2026—shy of its medium-term target range of 4% to 6%. “We feel confident the U.S. will grow this year,” CEO Brian McNamara told Reuters at the time. Investors will get their next update on April 29, when Haleon releases its trading statement.
March 30, 2026
Vodafone Shares Rise After Latest Buyback Filing as Germany Recovery Stays in Focus
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Vodafone Shares Rise After Latest Buyback Filing as Germany Recovery Stays in Focus

Vodafone Group Plc picked up 2.7 million of its own shares on March 27, paying an average price of 110.93 pence apiece. The stock finished the day up 2.1% in London. Monday’s disclosure is part of Vodafone’s ongoing 500 million euro buyback. The purchased shares head to treasury — meaning the company keeps them off the market. The filing itself is minor. Still, it comes as Chief Executive Margherita Della Valle pushes capital returns—Vodafone is targeting a 2.5% increase in the FY26 dividend—while she tries to convince investors the turnaround is sticking in Germany and the UK. Guidance remains at the upper end for full-year profit and cash flow. FY26 results are out May 12.
March 30, 2026
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