Finance 3 May 2026

Ouster Stock Just Ripped 24% in a Short Week. The $75 Wall Street Call Is Only Part of the Story
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Ouster Stock Just Ripped 24% in a Short Week. The $75 Wall Street Call Is Only Part of the Story

Ouster shares surged 8.79% Friday to $46.05, up 24.36% for the week, after Roth Capital initiated coverage with a $75 target and Buy rating. The company also announced a deal to supply digital lidar to Germany’s ARGUS Interception for counter-drone systems. Ouster reported Q1 revenue of $49 million, a 49% increase, but posted a $17 million net loss. U.S. markets were closed Monday for Memorial Day.
May 30, 2026
Whitehaven Coal’s Buyback Is Back in Focus Before Monday Trade — Here’s What Investors Are Watching
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Whitehaven Coal’s Buyback Is Back in Focus Before Monday Trade — Here’s What Investors Are Watching

Whitehaven Coal bought back 16,356 shares on April 30, spending A$136,304, as part of its on-market repurchase program. The stock closed May 1 at A$8.63, its highest since mid-April, valuing the company at about A$7.12 billion. Whitehaven reported March-quarter run-of-mine coal output fell 14% from the previous quarter to 9.5 million tonnes. Net debt stood at A$0.6 billion at March 31.
May 3, 2026
QBE Insurance Group Heads Into AGM Week as Climate Vote, Q1 Update Test Shares
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QBE Insurance Group Heads Into AGM Week as Climate Vote, Q1 Update Test Shares

QBE Insurance Group will hold its annual meeting on May 8, with shareholders set to vote on climate-risk disclosure resolutions opposed by the board. The insurer posted a 2025 net profit after tax of $2.16 billion and completed a A$450 million share buyback in April. QBE shares last closed at A$22.47, up 14% in 2026. Investors await a first-quarter update and guidance on premium growth and operating ratio.
May 3, 2026
JB Hi-Fi Shares Are Back in the Firing Line as Rate Fears Hit Australian Retail
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JB Hi-Fi Shares Are Back in the Firing Line as Rate Fears Hit Australian Retail

JB Hi-Fi shares were hit with a new sell call from Fairmont Equities as analyst Michael Gable cited rate and fuel risks and weaker household budgets. The stock closed at A$78.05, down nearly 25% over the past year. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise rates to 4.35% on May 5. JB Hi-Fi faces a class action over extended warranties, with more than 8 million potential group members.
May 3, 2026
Transurban Shares Are Back in Focus as Toll-Road Traffic Tests Fuel-Price Fears
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Transurban Shares Are Back in Focus as Toll-Road Traffic Tests Fuel-Price Fears

Transurban shares closed Friday at A$14.06, up 0.43%, as investors await new company updates after the April 21 WestConnex debt filing. March-quarter average daily traffic rose 3.0% to 2.536 million trips, led by North America at 7.9%. The company priced A$1.21 billion in WestConnex notes, with settlement expected April 30. No new announcements are expected before Monday’s ASX open.
May 3, 2026
4DMedical Stock Faces Its Next Big Test After GSK Deal, ASX 200 Entry
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4DMedical Stock Faces Its Next Big Test After GSK Deal, ASX 200 Entry

4DMedical shares last traded at A$4.02, valuing the lung-imaging software firm at about A$2.37 billion after a year of sharp price swings. The company reported 86,200 scans in the March quarter, up 79%, and began a one-year research contract with GSK on May 1. CT:VQ software adoption expanded to five U.S. academic centers, with Mayo Clinic evaluating. 4DMedical raised A$233 million this year and moved into the S&P/ASX 200.
May 3, 2026
South32 Stock: $3.3 Billion Hermosa Mine Reset Puts Its U.S. Growth Bet Under Pressure
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South32 Stock: $3.3 Billion Hermosa Mine Reset Puts Its U.S. Growth Bet Under Pressure

South32 raised expected capital spending for its Taylor zinc-lead-silver project in Arizona to about US$3.3 billion, up US$1.1 billion from its earlier estimate. First production is now slated for the second half of fiscal 2028, with full output delayed to fiscal 2031. Shares dropped 4.63% over the week after the announcement. Analysts flagged concerns over higher costs and slower ramp-up despite a larger ore reserve.
May 3, 2026
Scentre Group’s $1.3 Billion Debt Buyback Hits 89% as Westfield Owner Heads for Redemption
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Scentre Group’s $1.3 Billion Debt Buyback Hits 89% as Westfield Owner Heads for Redemption

Scentre Group received tenders for about 89% of its US$1.31 billion non-call 2030 subordinated notes, clearing the way for full redemption after a May 4 New York deadline. The company expects about A$3.2 billion in liquidity after settlement. Scentre shares last closed at A$3.77 ahead of the ASX open. First-quarter partner sales rose 5% to A$7.0 billion, with portfolio occupancy at 99.8%.
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’s A$1.35 billion bid for RAC Insurance faces a regulatory deadline Monday, with submissions due to the ACCC’s in-depth review. The deal would combine Western Australia’s two largest home and motor insurers. The ACCC is examining possible impacts on competition and repair services. IAG and RAC both say they remain confident and await the regulator’s decision.
May 3, 2026
Telstra Group Limited Shares Face a Big Week as Mobile Price Hikes Hit and Buyback Nears A$1.25 Billion
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Telstra Group Limited Shares Face a Big Week as Mobile Price Hikes Hit and Buyback Nears A$1.25 Billion

Telstra will raise most postpaid mobile plan prices by A$4 a month from May 5, with the Basic plan moving to A$74 and Essential to A$84. The company has bought back 204.4 million shares for about A$1.03 billion, nearing its A$1.25 billion ceiling. Telstra serves 22.5 million retail mobile services and reported a first-half profit of A$1.12 billion in February.
May 3, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100’s Short Week Hinges on Oil, Rates and Diageo
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100’s Short Week Hinges on Oil, Rates and Diageo

London markets will remain closed Monday for the Early May Bank Holiday, delaying trading after the FTSE 100’s third weekly loss, ending Friday at 10,363.93. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but warned of higher inflation risks from energy prices. Diageo will release a trading update Wednesday. BP is considering selling some or all of its UK North Sea assets, Reuters reported.
May 3, 2026
Fortescue Ltd Shares Face a China Pricing Test as $680 Million Green Power Bet Looms
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Fortescue Ltd Shares Face a China Pricing Test as $680 Million Green Power Bet Looms

Fortescue faces pressure to reach a pricing deal with China Mineral Resources Group after BHP’s agreement with the state-backed buyer. The company approved a US$680 million Pilbara green-energy project and kept its 2026 shipment guidance at 195–205 million tonnes. March-quarter iron ore shipments hit a record 148.7 million tonnes for the nine months. Iron Bridge guidance was cut after cyclone disruptions.
May 3, 2026
ASX Week Ahead: RBA Rate Call Puts Australia’s Stock Market Rebound on the Line
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ASX Week Ahead: RBA Rate Call Puts Australia’s Stock Market Rebound on the Line

ASX 200 futures signal a weaker open Monday ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rate decision Tuesday. A Reuters poll found 30 of 33 economists expect a 25 basis point hike to 4.35% after March CPI jumped 4.6% and fuel prices soared 32.8%. The RBA will release its decision and policy statement at 2:30 p.m. AEST Tuesday. Friday’s session saw the ASX 200 rise 0.7% to 8,730.
May 3, 2026
Liontown Shares Just Hit a Near Three-Year High. Kathleen Valley’s Cash Flow Is Why
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Liontown Shares Just Hit a Near Three-Year High. Kathleen Valley’s Cash Flow Is Why

Liontown shares surged 12.3% Friday to A$2.64, their highest in nearly three years, after reporting A$33 million in positive net cash flow for the March quarter and record spodumene sales from Kathleen Valley. The company kept FY2026 guidance unchanged and began early works on a planned mine expansion, with up to A$77 million to be spent before a final investment decision expected in early FY2027.
May 3, 2026
Wesfarmers Stock Rebounds Near Year Low as Retail Investors Wait for the Next Shock
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Wesfarmers Stock Rebounds Near Year Low as Retail Investors Wait for the Next Shock

Wesfarmers shares closed up 0.71% at A$73.44 on Friday, marking a third straight gain but remaining near recent lows. The rise followed a broader S&P/ASX 200 rebound, not any new company announcement. Wesfarmers’ last major earnings update in February showed half-year net profit up 9.3% to A$1.6 billion. Investors remain cautious amid pressure on household spending.
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 reported a 3.1% rise in third-quarter sales to A$10.70 billion, driven by stronger supermarket and online performance, but warned of rising supplier and operating costs. Supermarket sales climbed 4.0% to A$9.78 billion, while liquor revenue fell 3.9%. The company flagged a direct fuel cost impact of A$10–15 million in the fourth quarter. Coles last traded at A$22.92, up 3.7%.
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 signed agreements to sell 30% of its new lithium joint venture to POSCO Holdings for US$765 million, moving the deal into the approvals stage. Proceeds are expected to redeem US$750 million in bonds and cut annual finance costs by about A$150 million. MinRes lifted FY26 volume guidance and reported a net debt drop to A$4.5 billion. The transaction is not yet closed and remains subject to approvals.
May 3, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Banking Lobby Condemns Dark Trade Crackdown as 'Anti-Competitive'
    May 30, 2026, 2:07 PM EDT. Banking sector lobbyists argue proposed crackdowns on dark trades-private securities transactions not publicly reported immediately-would be anti-competitive. They counter claims that these trades unfairly disadvantage everyday investors, emphasizing the need to preserve market liquidity and trading efficiency. The debate highlights tensions between regulators seeking market transparency and industry players concerned about stifling competition and innovation.