News 31 March 2026

Bassett Furniture Stock Slips Before the Open — Dividend Date and Housing Worries Put BSET in Focus
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Bassett Furniture Stock Slips Before the Open — Dividend Date and Housing Worries Put BSET in Focus

Bassett Furniture shares fell 1.2% to $14.46 ahead of Wednesday’s session, valuing the company at about $125 million. The stock is two days from a 20-cent quarterly dividend payment. First-quarter net sales dropped 2.2% to $80.3 million, with operating income at $1.2 million. CEO Rob Spilman cited weak housing demand and severe weather for the slowdown.
May 27, 2026
Australia to Ban Debit and Credit Card Surcharges From October as RBA Cuts Fees
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Australia to Ban Debit and Credit Card Surcharges From October as RBA Cuts Fees

Australia will ban surcharges on debit and credit card payments via eftpos, Visa, and Mastercard from Oct. 1, after the Reserve Bank found the fees were no longer transparent. The RBA expects businesses to save about A$910 million a year, while consumers currently pay around A$1.6 billion annually in surcharges. Interchange fee caps will also be reduced from 2027. Some banks warn they may offset lost revenue with other charges.
March 31, 2026
SSE Plc files 90-MW Offaly wind farm plan as Ireland pushes for more renewable power

SSE Plc files 90-MW Offaly wind farm plan as Ireland pushes for more renewable power

SSE Plc and BnM have filed for planning approval to build a 90-MW wind farm with 15 turbines in County Offaly, Ireland. The Lemanaghan project, part of a 50:50 joint venture, could power 65,700 homes annually and create up to 120 construction jobs. SSE’s application comes days before its year-end market update, as Ireland pushes for 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
March 31, 2026
Australia Stock Market Today: ASX 200 Rebounds at Close, Still Suffers Worst Month Since 2022
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Australia Stock Market Today: ASX 200 Rebounds at Close, Still Suffers Worst Month Since 2022

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to 8,481.80 on March’s final day, but still posted its steepest monthly drop since June 2022. Financials and tech hit multi-year lows as oil prices and rate hike fears weighed on sentiment. Consumer confidence fell to a record low of 58.8. Miners headed for their worst month since 2015, while energy stocks surged on oil above $100.
March 31, 2026
FTSE 100 Today: UK Stock Market Closes Higher, but March Is Worst Since 2020
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FTSE 100 Today: UK Stock Market Closes Higher, but March Is Worst Since 2020

The FTSE 100 closed up 0.48% at 10,176.45 on Tuesday, but both it and the FTSE 250 ended their longest winning streaks in years, capping their worst month since 2020. Unilever dropped 7.2% after announcing talks with McCormick, while Raspberry Pi surged 47% on strong earnings. Investors now expect up to three Bank of England rate hikes this year after earlier anticipating cuts.
March 31, 2026
RELX PLC ramps up share buyback as LexisNexis owner heads into April trading update (Reuters)
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RELX PLC ramps up share buyback as LexisNexis owner heads into April trading update (Reuters)

RELX repurchased 3.43 million shares worth about £83.5 million between March 23 and 27, the first week of a new £350 million buyback plan, a filing showed. The company has bought back 31.06 million shares since January 2 and now holds 35.16 million in treasury. RELX will update investors at its annual general meeting and trading update on April 23. J.P. Morgan Securities is executing the current buyback phase, which ends April 22.
March 31, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group taps Dell for private cloud as investors seek proof on AI strategy
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London Stock Exchange Group taps Dell for private cloud as investors seek proof on AI strategy

London Stock Exchange Group has signed a multi-year deal with Dell Technologies to build a private cloud platform for parts of its data and markets operations. The move follows investor pressure for clearer technology benefits after LSEG’s Microsoft partnership and record buyback. LSEG reported 7.1% income growth for 2025 and announced a further £3 billion buyback in February.
March 31, 2026
British American Tobacco Deepens Charlotte’s Web Bet in $75 Million CBD Deal
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British American Tobacco Deepens Charlotte’s Web Bet in $75 Million CBD Deal

British American Tobacco plans to raise its stake in Charlotte’s Web to about 40% by converting a C$75.3 million debenture and adding $10 million in cash, according to U.S. filings. The deal would erase $65 million of Charlotte’s Web debt and give BAT two board seats if approved by shareholders and the Toronto Stock Exchange. Charlotte’s Web posted a $29.8 million net loss before tax in 2025.
March 31, 2026
Rolls-Royce Starts First Large UK Battery Project in Scotland as Power Push Builds
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Rolls-Royce Starts First Large UK Battery Project in Scotland as Power Push Builds

Rolls-Royce Holdings has started construction on a 43-megawatt battery storage facility in Falkirk, Scotland, its first large-scale UK battery project, with grid connection expected in 2026 and operations in 2027. The company will build and maintain the site for Voltaria Helios Energy Storage for 15 years. Rolls-Royce also bought back 1.2 million shares on March 30 under its ongoing £2.3 billion repurchase program.
March 31, 2026
Aviva plc makes £100 million UK rental homes bet with National Housing Bank
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Aviva plc makes £100 million UK rental homes bet with National Housing Bank

Aviva and the National Housing Bank will invest £100 million to build family rental homes in Liverpool and Manchester, with plans to expand to 3,300 homes nationwide. The partnership is among the first backed by the new government housing bank, which launches Wednesday with up to £16 billion in funding. About 300 homes will be built initially, including 135 in Liverpool and 150 in Manchester. Aviva Investors will manage the assets.
March 31, 2026
Compass Group Shares Rise Ahead of April 1 USD Switch on London Stock Exchange
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Compass Group Shares Rise Ahead of April 1 USD Switch on London Stock Exchange

Compass Group will switch the trading currency of its London-listed shares to U.S. dollars on April 1, aiming to cut foreign-exchange volatility. Shares rose 0.8% to 2,097 pence by midday Tuesday. The change follows Compass’s 2024 shift to dollar reporting and comes as North America remains its largest market. The move will not affect Compass’s FTSE 100 index status or London Stock Exchange listing.
March 31, 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 raised fares and cut capacity as jet fuel prices surged following the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz closure. The Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index hit $4.62 a gallon, with Brent crude at $115.50. Korean Air will enter emergency mode in April, and Cathay Pacific imposed an $800 fuel surcharge on Sydney-London returns. Brussels urged governments to delay refinery maintenance to ease supply pressure.
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

Shell warned Australia that a proposed windfall tax on LNG exporters would deter investment and threaten energy security, as surging prices boost industry profits. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked Treasury to model the tax and possible changes to the PRRT. Shell and Chevron executives criticized the plan at a Sydney conference. Asia spot LNG prices have doubled since February, and Australia exported A$65 billion of LNG last year.
March 31, 2026
Glencore Horne Smelter Rescue Takes Shape as Quebec Moves on Emissions Delay, Ottawa Weighs Aid
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Glencore Horne Smelter Rescue Takes Shape as Quebec Moves on Emissions Delay, Ottawa Weighs Aid

Quebec plans to extend Glencore’s deadline to meet stricter arsenic limits at its Horne copper smelter from 2027 to 2029, Canadian Mining Journal reported. Ottawa is considering about C$150 million in support for new pollution controls. Public health officials warn the delay prolongs toxic exposure for nearby residents. Glencore froze nearly C$1 billion in planned investments after talks with Quebec stalled.
March 31, 2026
Barclays PLC Faces Fresh Test After UK Car Finance Bill Lands at £9.1 Billion
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Barclays PLC Faces Fresh Test After UK Car Finance Bill Lands at £9.1 Billion

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority set the final cost of a car-finance compensation scheme at £9.1 billion, below last year’s estimate. Barclays faces questions over whether its £325 million provision will cover its share. The scheme covers 12.1 million agreements from 2007 to 2024, with average payouts of £830. Payouts are expected to begin this year after a short implementation period.
March 31, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Johnson Matthey Q4 2026 Earnings Preview: What to Expect
    May 27, 2026, 9:25 AM EDT. Johnson Matthey PLC (LSE:JMAT) will report Q4 2026 earnings on May 28, 2026. Market estimates currently show zero revenue consensus for the quarter. Investors await detailed financial results as the company faces market uncertainty. Johnson Matthey, known for sustainable technologies, often impacts sectors like chemicals and clean fuel. Market participants are cautious ahead of the announcement given missing revenue guidance, signaling potential volatility in shares.