Investment 13 May 2026 - 14 May 2026

POLE Stock Is Quiet. Andretti Acquisition II’s September Deadline Is Not
····

POLE Stock Is Quiet. Andretti Acquisition II’s September Deadline Is Not

Andretti Acquisition Corp. II’s Class A shares (POLE) closed at $10.71 on Thursday, down 0.3% with just 3,504 shares traded. The company, a SPAC, faces a Sept. 9 deadline to complete a business combination or risk liquidation, with filings citing “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue. Its planned merger with StoreDot was terminated in February. Andretti reported $246.4 million in its trust account as of March 31.
May 28, 2026
National Grid Shares Rise After Profit Miss: Why the £70bn Grid Plan Matters Now
···

National Grid Shares Rise After Profit Miss: Why the £70bn Grid Plan Matters Now

National Grid posted adjusted operating profit of £5.68 billion for the year, missing forecasts as U.S. storm costs rose to £636 million. Shares rose 2.3% after the company announced at least £70 billion in network investment by 2031 and a 3.8% dividend increase. Statutory operating profit climbed 10% to £5.43 billion. Net debt stood at £44.2 billion, above consensus.
May 14, 2026
SSE PLC Raises Profit Outlook Before Results — But Investors Eye the Accounting Catch
····

SSE PLC Raises Profit Outlook Before Results — But Investors Eye the Accounting Catch

SSE PLC raised its profit outlook for the year ended March 31, now expecting adjusted earnings per share of 149p-154p after an accounting change at Neos Networks. The company will report full-year results on May 28. Shares rose 0.7% to 2,467p in London afternoon trading. SSE plans to simplify reporting and maintain capital investment guidance at about £3.5 billion for 2025/26.
May 14, 2026
HSBC Holdings Plc Taps Debt Markets Again as Credit Risk Moves Back Into View
····

HSBC Holdings Plc Taps Debt Markets Again as Credit Risk Moves Back Into View

HSBC issued $4.5 billion in U.S. dollar senior notes and €3.5 billion in euro notes on May 12, and plans a $1.5 billion 6.750% contingent convertible capital issue on May 18. The moves follow a drop in its common equity tier 1 ratio to 14.0% and a $400 million UK fraud-related provision. HSBC’s 2026 credit-loss guidance was raised to 45 basis points of average gross loans.
May 14, 2026
British American Tobacco Stock Nears a High After Two U.S. Turns Investors Wanted
···

British American Tobacco Stock Nears a High After Two U.S. Turns Investors Wanted

British American Tobacco shares climbed to 4,899.5 pence in London, reaching the top of their 52-week range after a U.S. judge dismissed a major sanctions case and the FDA eased enforcement on some nicotine pouches and vapes. BAT paid about $630 million in penalties and met compliance terms under a deferred prosecution agreement. The FDA guidance also boosted shares of rivals Philip Morris and Altria.
May 14, 2026
Spire Healthcare Group PLC Shares Surge as Toscafund’s £1bn Takeover Bid Revives Sale Talks
···

Spire Healthcare Group PLC Shares Surge as Toscafund’s £1bn Takeover Bid Revives Sale Talks

Toscafund has made a non-binding cash proposal of 250 pence per share for Spire Healthcare, valuing the company at about £1.01 billion. Spire’s board said it would be minded to recommend the offer if Toscafund makes it firm by the June 11 UK Takeover Panel deadline. Spire shares rose 42% to 213.36 pence after the news. Talks remain at an early stage, with Toscafund conducting due diligence.
May 14, 2026
Legal & General Shares Jump As CEO Rules Out Sale: L&G Takeover Talk Explained
····

Legal & General Shares Jump As CEO Rules Out Sale: L&G Takeover Talk Explained

Legal & General shares jumped nearly 5% Thursday after CEO António Simões said the insurer was not considering a sale or break-up, despite interest from North American private capital groups. The stock was set for its biggest one-day rise since December 2024. Simões, CEO since 2024, has pledged to simplify the group and expand in asset management, while L&G reported 2025 core operating profit up 6% to £1.62 billion.
May 14, 2026
3i Shares Plunge as Action Sales Slowdown Clouds £750 Million Buyback
···

3i Shares Plunge as Action Sales Slowdown Clouds £750 Million Buyback

3i Group shares dropped as much as 24% in London after reporting a sharp slowdown in sales growth at Action, its largest holding, despite announcing a £750 million buyback. Like-for-like sales at Action rose just 2.4% in the year to May 10, down from 6.8% a year earlier, with France and Germany flat. 3i’s stake in Action makes up about three quarters of its portfolio value.
May 14, 2026
Orica Limited Stock Alert: State Street Cuts Stake as Hydrogen Funding Picture Shifts
···

Orica Limited Stock Alert: State Street Cuts Stake as Hydrogen Funding Picture Shifts

State Street cut its stake in Orica Limited to 7.56%, or about 35 million shares, according to an ASX notice published Wednesday. Orica reported a half-year net profit before significant items of A$283.1 million, up 8%, and declared an unfranked interim dividend of 28.5 cents per share. The company’s Hunter Valley hydrogen project faces tighter funding after Australia reduced its subsidy pool to A$1 billion.
May 14, 2026
Santos Limited’s $400 Million PNG Gas Project Puts 2028 Growth Back in Focus
···

Santos Limited’s $400 Million PNG Gas Project Puts 2028 Growth Back in Focus

Santos Limited approved the Agogo Production Facility tie-in project in Papua New Guinea, committing $160 million toward a $400 million gas expansion set to supply the PNG LNG system. The project includes a new 19-kilometre pipeline, two wells, and aims for first gas in Q2 2028. Santos expects to add 54 mmscf/d to its net capacity. Shares closed at A$7.68, up 1.59% on Wednesday.
May 14, 2026
Wesfarmers Limited Shares Get a Budget Lift — Why the Bunnings Owner Still Faces a Rates Test
····

Wesfarmers Limited Shares Get a Budget Lift — Why the Bunnings Owner Still Faces a Rates Test

Wesfarmers shares closed up 0.35% at A$71.55 on Wednesday, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 0.47% drop as consumer discretionary stocks rebounded. The company reported half-year revenue of A$24.21 billion and net profit of A$1.60 billion, up 9.3%. Australia’s Wage Price Index rose 0.8% in the March quarter. The Reserve Bank lifted rates to 4.35% on May 5.
May 13, 2026
Macquarie Stock Dodges Australia’s Bank Rout as Profit Beat Forces a Second Look
···

Macquarie Stock Dodges Australia’s Bank Rout as Profit Beat Forces a Second Look

Macquarie Group shares closed up 1.1% to A$236.80 on May 13, bucking a sharp selloff in other major Australian banks after Commonwealth Bank’s provision shock. Macquarie’s annual profit rose 30% to A$4.85 billion, with its Commodities and Global Markets arm up 49%. Analysts raised FY2027 earnings forecasts but kept the consensus target price near A$249. Energy trading and asset sales remain key factors for future performance.
May 13, 2026
Aristocrat Leisure Shares Surge 13% as A$1 Billion Buyback Changes the ASX Story
···

Aristocrat Leisure Shares Surge 13% as A$1 Billion Buyback Changes the ASX Story

Aristocrat Leisure shares surged 13% to A$51.94 after the company raised its share buyback by A$1 billion and reported higher first-half profit. Normalised NPATA rose 8.4% to A$794 million, while revenue slipped 0.2% to A$3.03 billion. The buyback authorization now totals A$2.5 billion, extended through May 2027. The interim dividend increased to 50 cents a share, unfranked.
May 13, 2026
Commonwealth Bank Shares Just Had Their Worst Day Ever: What Triggered CBA’s $30 Billion Drop
····

Commonwealth Bank Shares Just Had Their Worst Day Ever: What Triggered CBA’s $30 Billion Drop

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares plunged 10.43% Wednesday, erasing nearly A$30 billion in value after the bank raised loss provisions and investors reacted to proposed property tax changes. CBA reported a March quarter cash net profit of about A$2.7 billion, up 4% year-on-year but below analyst forecasts. Loan impairment expense rose to A$316 million. Other major banks also fell, with Westpac down 3%.
May 13, 2026
IMI plc Keeps 2026 Guidance Intact — The Middle East Risk Investors Are Watching
···

IMI plc Keeps 2026 Guidance Intact — The Middle East Risk Investors Are Watching

IMI reported first-quarter organic revenue up 5% and kept full-year adjusted EPS guidance at 136p–142p, in line with analyst consensus. Shares closed down 1.25% at 2,696p, lagging the FTSE 100. Management flagged risk to £30 million in Middle East shipments if regional disruption continues. Automation division posted 6% organic revenue growth; orders fell 2%.
May 13, 2026
St. James’s Place Stock Rebounds After 4% Slide — Why the SJP Share Price Story Is Still Uneasy
···

St. James’s Place Stock Rebounds After 4% Slide — Why the SJP Share Price Story Is Still Uneasy

St. James’s Place closed at 1,160p on Wednesday, up slightly after a 4.35% drop the previous day. The wealth manager reported £1.53 billion in net inflows and £216.94 billion in funds under management for the first quarter. Gross inflows rose year-on-year, but funds under management fell short of the end-2025 figure. Analysts remain divided on the impact of fee changes and market volatility.
May 13, 2026
1 … 8 9 10 11 12 … 46

Stock Market Today

  • Top ASX ETFs for Retirement Investing: QUAL and QLTY
    May 28, 2026, 6:15 PM EDT. Investors seeking retirement growth may consider two quality-focused ASX-listed ETFs: VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) and Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY). QUAL holds about 300 global companies selected for high return on equity, earnings stability, and low debt, delivering a 15% yearly return over the past decade. QLTY, with 150 holdings chosen by factors including cash flow generation, offers balanced diversification and a 14% ten-year average return. Both ETFs emphasize high-quality global firms, providing potential for steady long-term earnings growth. While these funds have lower dividend yields, investors can still generate income by selling portions of their holdings. These ETFs offer a viable avenue for Australians aiming for wealth accumulation toward and during retirement.