Finance 3 May 2026

ChampionsGate Stock Little Changed as SPAC Deal Timeline Gets Attention
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ChampionsGate Stock Little Changed as SPAC Deal Timeline Gets Attention

ChampionsGate Acquisition Corporation stock was flat in premarket trading Wednesday. The Nasdaq-listed SPAC stayed near the level investors could redeem for cash if the company doesn’t seal a merger. The stock last changed hands at $10.35, off 0.07% in the past 24 hours. TradingView data showed the market shut with no fresh trades on the tape at the time. It had a market cap near $103.4 million.
June 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

Australian stocks open the week with the Reserve Bank of Australia—not earnings—calling the shots. The ASX looks set for a soft start Monday, as traders position themselves ahead of a likely third consecutive rate hike on Tuesday, a move widely anticipated by both markets and economists. The local equity market just clawed back some ground on Friday after a tough stretch, but one thing’s unresolved: Will oil-driven inflation keep borrowing costs elevated? That’s still hanging over rate-sensitive banks, property plays, and consumer stocks—right at the heart of the action.
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

PERTH, Australia, May 4, 2026, 00:03 A surge in Liontown Limited shares is forcing investors to reassess the Western Australian lithium miner’s valuation, after its first quarter of positive net cash flow and newly announced spending to expand Kathleen Valley. Liontown’s quote page listed the stock at A$2.64. Market data had shares up 12.3% Friday, reaching their strongest price in nearly three years.
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 Ltd reported third-quarter sales revenue up 3.1% to A$10.70 billion, boosted by robust supermarket performance and a notable surge in online orders. The company also flagged that supplier and operating costs are beginning to bite harder. It’s a key issue right now: grocery costs are tangled up in Australia’s inflation fight once again. The consumer price index climbed 4.6% for the year through March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Food and non-alcoholic drink prices moved up 3.1%, while automotive fuel prices jumped a sharp 32.8% just in March.
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 finalized investment and shareholders agreements with POSCO Holdings, confirming the sale of a 30% stake in their new lithium joint venture and shifting the US$765 million deal into the approvals stage. The JV, named LithCo, is set to house MinRes’ current 50% stakes in both the Wodgina and Mt Marion lithium mines. Managing Director Chris Ellison described the move as a “critical step.” POSCO Holdings President Ju-Tae Lee pointed to the partnership’s potential for the “stabilisation” of battery-materials supply. This deal has immediate implications for MinRes, linking straight into its debt repair—not just future lithium ambitions. According to the company, it plans to redeem the outstanding US$750 million in 2028 senior unsecured notes, those bonds not
May 3, 2026
Northern Star Resources Buyback Accelerates as Gold Miner Cancels A$29 Million of Shares
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Northern Star Resources Buyback Accelerates as Gold Miner Cancels A$29 Million of Shares

Northern Star Resources Ltd scrapped 1.316 million ordinary shares it picked up through its on-market buyback, according to a May 1 filing. The move marks another step in the Australian gold miner’s A$500 million capital-return program. The shares—acquired between April 27 and April 30—were cancelled on April 30. The total spent: A$28.995 million. This matters because Northern Star has moved past just board approval—the buyback is now live, putting real cash on the table as it works to shore up confidence in its returns and mining operations. In a daily filing, the company disclosed it picked up 641,557 shares on April 30, spending A$13.44 million. To date, 1.73 million shares have been scooped up, with 20.25 million still left in
May 3, 2026
Woolworths Group Ltd’s 300-Item Price Freeze Is Here — Investors Now Face Profit and Court Risk
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Woolworths Group Ltd’s 300-Item Price Freeze Is Here — Investors Now Face Profit and Court Risk

This week, Woolworths Group Ltd isn’t drawing attention for its sales numbers—investors are zeroing in on how much profit the supermarket giant might sacrifice to keep shoppers coming through the door. Australia’s top grocer cut its domestic food earnings outlook and is freezing prices on 300 household staples, moves that sent shares tumbling as much as 9.8% after last week’s announcement, according to Reuters. It’s a tough moment for Woolworths. Shoppers are laser-focused on price tags, freight expenses keep climbing thanks to fuel, and there’s still no word from the Federal Court on the regulator’s challenge to those “Prices Dropped” ads. Sales numbers are there, yes—but tougher questions on margins and trust aren’t going away.
May 3, 2026
Nationwide £100 Fairer Share Update: 64,527 Net Switches Put 2026 Payout In Focus
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Nationwide £100 Fairer Share Update: 64,527 Net Switches Put 2026 Payout In Focus

Nationwide Building Society topped the UK’s current-account switching charts in the latest official release, drawing attention to speculation over a possible return of its £100 Fairer Share payout for qualifying members in 2026. Timing is key here, with UK customers shifting their bank accounts at a quicker pace. According to CASS, the Current Account Switch Service, 319,529 accounts moved in the first quarter—jumping 43% from last year, as households chased improved rates, perks, and service.
May 3, 2026
PLS Group Stock Alert: AustralianSuper Cuts Stake as Lithium Rally Tests Record High
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PLS Group Stock Alert: AustralianSuper Cuts Stake as Lithium Rally Tests Record High

AustralianSuper has reduced its stake in PLS Group Limited to 12.87%, down from 13.88%, according to a substantial-holder filing released Friday. That’s a decrease of roughly 32.5 million votes, though the fund still ranks as a top shareholder in the lithium producer. The filing put AustralianSuper’s current relevant interest at 414.8 million ordinary shares. It's a notable step, coming as the rally picks up pace. PLS shares finished Friday at A$6.14, up 1.99%—a touch under the 52-week high of A$6.17—after more than 21 million shares changed hands on the Sydney market.
May 3, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Earnings Preview: Why May 5 Could Move ASX Bank Stocks
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Westpac Banking Corporation Earnings Preview: Why May 5 Could Move ASX Bank Stocks

Westpac Banking Corporation is set to release its first-half results at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Sydney. Investors will be watching the bank’s bad-debt provisions, lending margin, and the sale of its RAMS mortgage portfolio. Westpac’s investor page confirms a webcast for the half-year results on May 5, with the financial calendar also marking that date for interim results and the dividend announcement. The result drops the same day the Reserve Bank of Australia is tipped to bump its cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35%, a move that hits both mortgages and business loans. According to a Reuters poll, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and National Australia Bank all see that level as the likely ceiling. Westpac, on the
May 3, 2026
National Australia Bank Results Preview: NAB Shares Face Monday Test as RBA Hike Looms
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National Australia Bank Results Preview: NAB Shares Face Monday Test as RBA Hike Looms

National Australia Bank Limited is set to report its first-half numbers Monday, and investors have had plenty of warning: higher bad-loan charges, a capital increase, and a major software write-down are all on the table. The bank’s 2026 half-year results briefing is slated for 10:30 a.m. AEST. Awkward timing for NAB. According to a Reuters poll out Friday, 30 out of 33 economists now expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points—pushing it up to 4.35%—on May 5, just one day after NAB reports. More than a third of those surveyed think rates could get to at least 4.60% before the year is out.
May 3, 2026
Macquarie’s Mortgage Surge Before Results: Why Australia’s Big Banks Are Watching
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Macquarie’s Mortgage Surge Before Results: Why Australia’s Big Banks Are Watching

Macquarie Group Ltd’s banking division posted the steepest rise in Australian household mortgages for March, putting a fresh spotlight on the investment bank’s retail lending segment ahead of full-year results due this week. Macquarie Bank’s mortgage portfolio climbed A$3.6 billion in March, up 2.1% to A$173.7 billion, according to Canstar, which referenced data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. That lift pushed Macquarie into fifth place among Australia’s biggest home lenders—and marked it as the fastest-growing authorised deposit-taking institution, or ADI, a term covering banks and other deposit-holding lenders.
May 3, 2026
ANZ Profit Jump Masks a Tougher Test as Shares Slide After Half-Year Results
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ANZ Profit Jump Masks a Tougher Test as Shares Slide After Half-Year Results

ANZ Group Holdings posted a profit increase, but that didn’t keep investors from dumping the stock. Lower costs and an unchanged dividend weren’t enough—concerns over credit risk, geopolitical turmoil, and CEO Nuno Matos’ ambitious overhaul took center stage instead. Statutory profit at the Melbourne-based lender landed at A$3.65 billion for the six months ending March 31, with cash profit coming in slightly higher at A$3.78 billion. The cash figure, which leaves out non-core items, climbed 14% from the previous half—ANZ’s calculation excludes significant items for that comparison.
May 3, 2026
Commonwealth Bank Lifts Term Deposit Rate Before RBA Decision — But ANZ Still Pays More
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Commonwealth Bank Lifts Term Deposit Rate Before RBA Decision — But ANZ Still Pays More

Commonwealth Bank of Australia bumped up its 12-month term deposit special to 5.20% per annum, as the competition for household savings heats up just ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s upcoming interest-rate call. According to the bank’s rates page, the new offer is set to kick in from May 1 and is limited to 12-month deposits. Cash is getting a fresh look in the banking system. The RBA’s cash rate target—its overnight benchmark—sits at 4.10%. Traders are waiting for the next policy decision, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on May 5.
May 3, 2026
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 03.05.2026
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UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 03.05.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: May 3, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: May 3, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT Valuing Bank of Queensland Shares Using Dividend Yield and PE Ratio May 3, 2026, 11:51 PM EDT. Since the Covid lows, Westpac Banking Corp (WBC) shares have been popular among ASX investors. The Bank of Queensland (BOQ) shares are also notable for stable dividends and franking credits, benefits that make Australian bank stocks attractive. Analysts compare BOQ's price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 15.7 times to the banking sector average of 19 times. This suggests a sector-adjusted PE valuation of about $7.69 compared with the current share
May 3, 2026
Fresnillo PLC Shares Rise as Silver Jump Puts Output Worries Back in Play
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Fresnillo PLC Shares Rise as Silver Jump Puts Output Worries Back in Play

Fresnillo PLC ended the day in London at 3,255p, gaining 0.62%. The Mexican precious-metals miner saw a choppy session, with shares swinging from 3,113p to as high as 3,282p, according to market data. The timing stood out: London’s FTSE 100 dipped 0.1% in light volumes before a UK public holiday, just as Reuters flagged spot silver climbing 3% and gold reversing earlier declines. That uptick in metals gave Fresnillo investors a new angle, shifting focus away from last month’s production shortfall at the silver miner.
May 3, 2026
Haleon PLC Share Count Shrinks as Sensodyne Owner Faces Growth Test
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Haleon PLC Share Count Shrinks as Sensodyne Owner Faces Growth Test

Haleon PLC reported 8,879,691,798 total ordinary shares with voting rights as of April 30, handing investors the key number they’ll need if a stake crosses a disclosure threshold. It's a modest update, but not without significance. Haleon, which owns Sensodyne, Panadol and Advil and trades in London, is leaning on buybacks to slim down its capital base, while it argues that the softness seen in the first quarter was down to seasonality. The latest filing pegs treasury shares—the stock it holds on its own books, with no voting rights—at 12,240,797.
May 3, 2026
Tesco PLC Buyback Moves Ahead as Profit Risks Shadow UK Grocery Leader
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Tesco PLC Buyback Moves Ahead as Profit Risks Shadow UK Grocery Leader

Tesco PLC trimmed its share count once more in a £750 million buyback, snapping up 415,107 ordinary shares for cancellation at an average price of 481.80 pence on April 30, according to a regulatory filing. Since kicking off the program on April 22, Tesco has bought back 2.89 million shares, totaling £14.0 million. The timing of the filing is notable as Tesco hands cash back to shareholders and the market gauges how well the UK’s biggest grocer can hold onto profit in a more challenging year. Last month, Tesco posted full-year figures with sales, stripped of VAT and fuel, at £66.59 billion. Adjusted operating profit hit £3.15 billion, and free cash flow—after operations and investment—came in at £1.96 billion, all
May 3, 2026
JPMorgan, Citi Governance Spotlight Widens After $52 Million Banker Hire and Lawmaker Stock Sale
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JPMorgan, Citi Governance Spotlight Widens After $52 Million Banker Hire and Lawmaker Stock Sale

Citigroup’s recent move to bring in Viswas Raghavan—the ex-dealmaking boss from JPMorgan Chase—has drawn new questions, after reports surfaced suggesting JPMorgan had already decided he wouldn’t have a lasting role there due to worries about his leadership approach. According to GlobalCapital, JPMorgan offered no comment on the matter. Citi, for its part, pushed back, calling the account of its recruitment process “mischaracterized.” The question is pressing for Citi, which is out to show its investment bank can claw back share from JPMorgan—the top fee generator in the sector. Investors are also eyeing how effectively the big banks can rein in culture, compensation, and disclosure. In the first quarter, Citi’s banking division posted $304 million in net income, a 36% increase.
May 3, 2026
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