Economics 30 March 2026 - 24 April 2026

Reynolds Consumer Products Faces Key Cost Issue at Start of June
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Reynolds Consumer Products Faces Key Cost Issue at Start of June

Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. is set to open Monday at $21.67, after sliding 1.95% on Friday. That loss capped a short Memorial Day week where the stock ended down about 0.6% from the previous Friday’s close. With not much in the way of new company news, the setup is now in focus. The main thing for investors is whether they reward Reynolds for a strong Q1 or keep the pressure on the stock as June gets underway with aluminum and resin costs still up.
June 1, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA to Raise Fares as Jet Fuel Shock Hits British Airways Owner
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International Consolidated Airlines Group SA to Raise Fares as Jet Fuel Shock Hits British Airways Owner

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA plans to hike ticket prices, responding to surging jet fuel costs that are squeezing the British Airways parent. Despite the pressure, IAG noted there haven’t been any fuel supply disruptions. The fare increases add IAG to a growing list of airlines shifting the burden of a war-fueled spike in fuel costs onto customers ahead of the summer travel rush. Timing is critical here. Airlines are approaching peak season just as oil markets feel the squeeze from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global energy shipments. IAG shares traded at 376.30 pence, slipping 1.62%. That puts the group’s market cap around 16.91 billion pounds.
April 24, 2026
Southern Co-op’s 300-Branch Warning: Back Co-op Group Deal Or Face Administration
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Southern Co-op’s 300-Branch Warning: Back Co-op Group Deal Or Face Administration

Portsmouth, England, April 24, 2026, 14:57 Southern Co-op has told members the business will “most likely” go into administration if they reject a proposed merger with Co-op Group, a move that could jeopardize stores, jobs, and suppliers following three consecutive years of losses. Chair Janet Paraskeva and chief executive Ben Stimson delivered the warning in a message to members, intensifying pressure ahead of two key meetings set for May.
April 24, 2026
Why Unilever PLC’s Nigeria Profit Rise Is Landing at a Critical Moment
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Why Unilever PLC’s Nigeria Profit Rise Is Landing at a Critical Moment

Unilever PLC’s Nigerian arm posted stronger first-quarter numbers: revenue jumped to ₦59.17 billion, up from ₦46.98 billion a year ago, according to unaudited results. Profit before tax reached ₦13.42 billion, compared with ₦10.75 billion. Net profit moved higher as well, coming in at ₦7.02 billion versus ₦5.55 billion. The clock’s ticking for Unilever, with its first-quarter trading statement set for April 30. Investors want to see if the company’s emerging-market units are still pulling their weight when it comes to volume growth, especially as Unilever ramps up its focus on beauty, personal care, and home care.
April 24, 2026
BHP Group Ltd Adds China’s COREX Index in Iron Ore Deal That Ends Months-Long Standoff
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BHP Group Ltd Adds China’s COREX Index in Iron Ore Deal That Ends Months-Long Standoff

BHP Group Ltd, the world’s third-largest iron ore supplier, has agreed to price its Jimblebar fines using a Chinese iron ore benchmark, according to people with knowledge of the deal. That move ended a protracted dispute with China Mineral Resources Group, which had been holding back on some BHP cargoes. Jimblebar fines are medium-grade, sold as small particles. This shift hands Beijing’s state buyer more influence over imported ore pricing and takes a key risk off the table for BHP’s China iron ore earnings. The timing is notable: China’s buying curbs just dropped, and only days have passed since BHP posted a surprise beat for March-quarter iron ore output.
April 23, 2026
HSBC Hires JPMorgan Bullion Veteran as Gold Volatility Fuels London Hiring Race
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HSBC Hires JPMorgan Bullion Veteran as Gold Volatility Fuels London Hiring Race

HSBC Holdings Plc is bringing in James Willis, an executive director from JPMorgan, to head up global precious metals sales, according to four sources familiar with the situation. The hire marks the bank’s second major metals appointment this month and comes as London’s bullion market sees broader personnel changes. This stands out: HSBC continues to streamline operations and slash expenses, even as further job cuts loom. Yet metals hiring signals the bank isn’t shying away from selective investment.
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
NatWest Group Plc Q1 Earnings Preview: Profit Seen Steady as Bad-Loan Costs Rise
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NatWest Group Plc Q1 Earnings Preview: Profit Seen Steady as Bad-Loan Costs Rise

NatWest Group Plc is heading into its first-quarter results with analysts expecting operating profit before tax of £1.94 billion, almost unchanged from the previous quarter, while bad-loan charges are seen more than doubling. The bank’s investor relations team published the pre-Q1 consensus on Wednesday ahead of results due at 7 a.m. BST on May 1, and said the figures are average analyst estimates rather than management forecasts. The timing matters because the rate backdrop that lifted UK bank earnings last year is now less clear. A Reuters poll published Tuesday showed all 62 economists expected the Bank of England to hold Bank Rate, its benchmark interest rate, at 3.75% on April 30, while about 53% saw it unchanged for the
April 22, 2026
U.S. Natural Gas Prices Rebound on Cold Snap but Stay Near 7-Month Low
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U.S. Natural Gas Prices Rebound on Cold Snap but Stay Near 7-Month Low

U.S. natural gas futures ticked up on Monday, breaking a four-day losing streak as colder air pushed across the Ohio Valley and into the East—boosting demand for heating and electricity. May contracts climbed to roughly $2.84 per million British thermal units, the market benchmark. “A near-term cold wave is hitting the Ohio valley and moving eastward,” said Dennis Kissler at BOK Financial Securities. The rebound hasn't shifted the broader trend. Front-month contracts remain stuck near lows not seen since August 2025, squeezed by mild spring temperatures that continue to suppress demand and allow storage levels to climb. U.S. export facilities are already operating near capacity.
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
Australia Stock Market Returns After Easter Break as Oil Stays Above $100 and Rate Risks Build
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Australia Stock Market Returns After Easter Break as Oil Stays Above $100 and Rate Risks Build

The ASX reopens Tuesday after the four-day Easter pause, oil holding above $100 a barrel and the Strait of Hormuz—handling about 20% of world energy shipments—front and center for investors. Local markets missed both Good Friday and Easter Monday sessions, during which Wall Street managed a mild uptick. Sydney traders now have to catch up on multiple offshore shifts all at once. This comes after the S&P/ASX 200 closed down 1.06% at 8,579.50 on Thursday, just before the holiday pause froze local trades. With Australia bringing in roughly 90% of its refined fuel, any lasting spike in crude tends to ripple through to higher transport costs—and that can feed straight into inflation and shape rate forecasts.
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
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns RBA Could Hike Three More Times, Cash Rate Seen at 4.85%
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns RBA Could Hike Three More Times, Cash Rate Seen at 4.85%

Westpac Banking Corp has shifted its outlook, now anticipating the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise the cash rate three more times—May, June, and August—pushing it up to 4.85%. The bank is flagging fallout from Middle East fuel disruptions as a driver behind the higher price forecasts. “We now expect the RBA to hike in June and August as well as May,” chief economist Luci Ellis said. Westpac is penciling in headline inflation at 5.4% for the June quarter, with its preferred trimmed mean measure landing near 4% later this year. Unemployment, Westpac projects, could edge up to around 5%, with no cuts to rates seen before 2028. As for the government’s temporary fuel excise cut, Ellis noted it would
April 1, 2026
UK Mortgage Rates Jump, Homebuyers Retreat as Iran War Threatens House Price Rebound
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UK Mortgage Rates Jump, Homebuyers Retreat as Iran War Threatens House Price Rebound

UK house prices jumped 0.9% in March, outpacing forecasts, with Nationwide reporting a 2.2% climb year-on-year to £277,186—the biggest monthly increase since December 2024. But the momentum is already under threat: a surge in mortgage rates is dampening buyer appetite and casting doubt on the spring rebound in Britain’s housing market. The rebound could be fleeting. Nationwide pointed out that in March, markets flipped from expecting two Bank of England rate cuts to betting on three hikes in the coming year. The shift followed the Iran conflict, which sent energy prices up and pushed swap rates higher—those are the market benchmarks lenders use when setting fixed mortgage deals.
April 1, 2026
Iran War Jet Fuel Crisis Hits Summer Travel as Europe-Asia Airfares Surge
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Iran War Jet Fuel Crisis Hits Summer Travel as Europe-Asia Airfares Surge

Airlines in Europe and Asia moved quickly on Tuesday, raising fares and scaling back flights after Brussels flagged jet fuel as the most vulnerable part of the fuel market due to the Iran war. Korean Air said it would switch to emergency mode starting in April. The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index hit $4.62 a gallon for March 30, with Brent crude hovering near $115.50, adding to the squeeze on carriers scrambling to rework summer routes. Timing is tight. Europe’s last shipments of jet-grade kerosene that cleared the Strait of Hormuz before the waterway closed are expected to land by April 10—right as the northern summer travel rush begins. Airlines and refiners are now hustling to line up alternative supplies.
March 31, 2026
Shell Plc warns Australia windfall LNG tax could hit investment as energy shock deepens
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Shell Plc warns Australia windfall LNG tax could hit investment as energy shock deepens

Sydney — March 31, 2026, 23:16 AEDT. Shell Plc fired a warning shot at Australia on Tuesday, saying a planned windfall tax targeting liquefied natural gas exporters could spook investors and undermine the country’s energy security—ratcheting up tensions with Canberra as prices run higher. After Iranian strikes knocked out Qatar’s production, Australia climbed to the world’s number two LNG spot, making the fate of any industry windfall even more pivotal.
March 31, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation

Westpac Banking Corp has lifted its outlook for Australia’s key interest rate, now predicting the Reserve Bank will deliver three more hikes this year, kicking off in May, as surging fuel prices tied to the war ripple through the broader economy. The revised peak forecast stands at 4.85%, a level not seen since late 2008. Only two weeks after the RBA bumped the cash rate to 4.10% on a narrow 5-4 vote, the change is hitting. Canberra, meanwhile, is trimming fuel excise for three months to help shield households from surging petrol and diesel costs.
March 30, 2026
Wall Street Rebounds, but Dow and Nasdaq Stay in Correction as Oil Shock Deepens
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Wall Street Rebounds, but Dow and Nasdaq Stay in Correction as Oil Shock Deepens

Stocks bounced Monday, with the Dow adding 324 points by 11:31 a.m. ET and the S&P 500 up 0.31%. The Nasdaq, barely positive at 0.05% higher, and the Dow both remained in correction territory—a 10% drop from recent highs—under pressure as investors tracked oil above $100 and focused on the escalating Middle East conflict around Iran. Brent crude hovered at $112.94 a barrel. The bounce didn’t fix the underlying issue. Brent crude has surged nearly 60% in March—the sharpest monthly gain ever logged—while government bond prices worldwide are staring at the steepest monthly drop seen in years. Markets have also abandoned previous expectations for Fed rate cuts this year.
March 30, 2026
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 30.03.2026
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UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 30.03.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: March 30, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: March 30, 2026, 11:57 PM EDT Bounty Oil & Gas Proposes Multi-Step Recapitalisation Plan Including $4 Million Raise March 30, 2026, 11:57 PM EDT. Bounty Oil & Gas N.L. (ASX:BUY) announced a multi-step recapitalisation plan featuring convertible notes issuance and a $4 million placement. The plan aims to tackle working capital needs and reduce short-term liabilities by converting $200,000 of debt into equity, with a 30-for-1 consolidation of securities. Convertible notes worth AUD 39,000 and loan notes totaling AUD 260,000 form part of the restructuring. Shareholder approval is required at a
March 30, 2026
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