Investing 10 March 2026 - 17 March 2026

Diageo shares closed at 1,450p in London Tuesday, just above their 12-month low, after cutting its 2026 organic sales forecast and halving its interim dividend. CEO Debra Crew and finance chief Hannah Brooks received new share awards under a long-term incentive plan. First-half net sales fell 4% to $10.46 billion, with U.S. and China demand weak. The next trading update is set for May 6.

Imperial Brands shares fell 0.4% to 3,240 pence after Spring Mountain Investments cut its stake below 5%, according to a UK filing. The company repurchased nearly 391,000 shares last week as part of a £1.45 billion buyback. Imperial’s final dividend is due March 31, with a trading update set for April 14. The FTSE 100 rose 0.6% as energy and bank stocks gained.

London Stock Exchange Group shares rose 0.2% to 8,759 pence Monday as the company launched a U.S. dollar bond sale that could raise up to $3 billion. LSEG disclosed it bought back 344,841 shares on March 13 for cancellation. The group reported 7.1% organic income growth and plans to complete a £3 billion buyback by February 2027. Shares remain down about 20% over the past year.

Telstra shares closed at A$5.19 Friday, up 1.37%, after the company bought back 3.49 million shares for about A$18 million this week. The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.14% and is down 6.32% in March amid inflation and rate concerns. Telstra outperformed rival TPG Telecom, which ended at A$3.91. The buyback program is set to run until June 30 but can be suspended at any time.

ANZ shares closed up 0.49% at A$37.20 Friday as investors anticipated a Reserve Bank of Australia rate hike on March 17. The bank named Tammy Medard as Group Executive, Business & Private Bank, effective May 1, and moved its half-year results release to the same date. ANZ’s first-quarter cash profit rose 17% to A$1.94 billion in February. Shares of rival banks also gained, tracking sector momentum.

Imperial Brands shares climbed 2.37% to 3,201 pence Friday after the company bought back 12,064 shares for cancellation. The buybacks are part of a £1.45 billion program announced in October. Imperial’s next trading update is set for April 14, with a final dividend payment due March 31. John Rishton will become chair in December, following recent leadership changes.

Schroders shares closed at 570.5p Friday after releasing the scheme document for Nuveen’s £9.9 billion takeover, with shareholder votes set for April 16. The stock remains 19.5p below the 590p cash offer and 41.5p below the 612p headline value including permitted dividends. Shares dropped mechanically after going ex-dividend for a 15p payout. BNP Paribas completed syndication of most lender commitments on March 11.

Pearson bought back 1,225,869 shares for cancellation on March 12 and issued 398,115 new shares for employee plans on Friday. The stock closed at 988.6 pence, up 0.67%. Pearson also published its audited 2025 annual report and filed its U.S. Form 20-F. The company has repurchased about 7.9 million shares so far under its £350 million buyback plan.

Reckitt Benckiser shares rose 0.17% to 5,325 pence after a 140,000-share buyback under a new £540 million program managed by Deutsche Bank. The move follows a sharp post-earnings drop and ongoing concerns over weak European demand, cold-and-flu sales, and “stranded costs” from asset disposals. Shares remain down 4.6% over five sessions.

Lloyds Banking Group shares rose 0.3% to 95.76 pence Friday, remaining well below their 52-week high. The UK bank index fell 4.8% Thursday as oil prices neared $100 a barrel, raising inflation concerns and delaying rate cut expectations. Lloyds also resolved a mobile app glitch that exposed some customer transactions. Housing data showed new buyer enquiries at their weakest since December.

London Stock Exchange Group shares rose 1.6% to 8,722 pence Friday after disclosing a buyback of 350,220 shares for cancellation. The company’s annual report showed total income of £9.0 billion and a 7.1% organic growth rate. Shares remain 27% below their 52-week high. Investors continue to scrutinize LSEG’s growth prospects amid ongoing buybacks and AI-related concerns.

Tesco PLC shares rose 1.45% to 475.5 pence Thursday, outperforming a falling London market as oil prices neared $100. The stock is up 7.6% since January 1 ahead of annual earnings due April 16. Tesco’s UK grocery market share climbed to 28.7% after a 4.5% sales increase in the 12 weeks to February 22. The company has told suppliers it aims to regain a 30% share.

3i Group shares rose 0.72% Wednesday after hitting a 12-month low, closing at a 3.42% discount to estimated NAV, according to Hargreaves Lansdown. The FTSE 100 fell 0.6% amid Middle East tensions. 3i reported Action sales of €16 billion and raised its stake in the retailer to 62.3%. CVC Capital Partners dropped 6.9% after warning on earnings, while KKR flagged pressure on private credit returns.