News 30 March 2026 - 31 March 2026

Talphera Trades Around 80 Cents With Focus on Single Trial Catalyst
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Talphera Trades Around 80 Cents With Focus on Single Trial Catalyst

Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) reached $10 billion in assets in 50 days, breaking the record for fastest ETF to that mark. The fund surged 87% since its April 2 launch as Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix rallied on AI-driven memory-chip demand. Filings show Wall Street preparing a 2x leveraged version. Micron and SK Hynix both briefly topped $1 trillion in value this week.
May 27, 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
Unilever PLC says McCormick food deal could be signed today in $60 billion shake-up (Reuters)

Unilever PLC says McCormick food deal could be signed today in $60 billion shake-up (Reuters)

Unilever is in advanced talks with McCormick to combine most of its Foods business in a deal valued at over $60 billion, with an agreement possible Tuesday. The proposed structure would give Unilever and its shareholders 65% of the new company and about $15.7 billion in cash. Unilever’s India food operations would not be included. The company said there is no certainty a transaction will be reached.
March 31, 2026
BP PLC Loses EV Charging Chief Ahead of Meg O’Neill Takeover as Oil Pivot Deepens
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BP PLC Loses EV Charging Chief Ahead of Meg O’Neill Takeover as Oil Pivot Deepens

Martin Thomsen, head of BP’s global EV charging business, has left to join Rolls-Royce as chief procurement and supply chain officer. His departure comes days before Meg O’Neill becomes BP’s new CEO, as the company shifts investment from renewables and EV charging toward oil and gas. BP had about 40,000 charging points and recently cut EV spending below $500 million annually. Brent crude neared $115 a barrel Tuesday.
March 31, 2026
UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 31.03.2026
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UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 31.03.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: March 31, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: March 31, 2026, 11:56 PM EDT Cassius Mining (ASX:CMD) Updates on Gold Projects and Operational Activity March 31, 2026, 11:56 PM EDT. Cassius Mining (ASX:CMD) is advancing its gold projects with focused operational activity. The company continues exploration and development efforts aimed at expanding its resource base. Recent updates highlight progress in key areas, reflecting Cassius's commitment to enhancing shareholder value. Market participants watch closely as CMD executes its strategic initiatives in the gold sector. Investors are advised to consider professional guidance when evaluating such opportunities. Cassius Mining, gold projects, ASX,
March 31, 2026
Santos Limited Fast-Tracks Crude to Refineries as Australia Fuel Crunch Deepens

Santos Limited Fast-Tracks Crude to Refineries as Australia Fuel Crunch Deepens

Santos advanced part of a 575,000-barrel Cooper Basin crude cargo to Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery and sold 150,000 barrels of Varanus Island crude to Ampol. Australia, which imports about 90% of its fuel, had 30 days of diesel and jet fuel and 39 days of petrol on hand last week. The government has halved fuel excise for three months and will underwrite prompt cargoes as supply strains persist.
March 31, 2026
National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less
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National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less

National Australia Bank’s Consumer Stress Index rose to 59.1 in the March quarter, its highest in over a decade, as cost-of-living pressures hit 71.8, the worst since 2014. The survey, conducted before a recent fuel price spike, found 57% of Australians switched at least one provider due to rising costs. Major banks raised variable mortgage rates after the Reserve Bank’s March rate hike. Job-security stress eased to its lowest since 2021.
March 31, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation
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Westpac Banking Corporation Warns of 3 More RBA Rate Hikes as Oil Shock Fuels Inflation

Westpac now expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise its cash rate three more times this year, peaking at 4.85%, the highest since 2008, citing war-driven fuel costs. The bank forecasts headline inflation at 5.4% in the June quarter despite a temporary fuel excise cut. Westpac shares fell 4.05% Monday as markets reacted. The bank also delayed any rate cut expectations to 2028.
March 30, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says EV Loan Demand Soars 161% as Fuel Crunch Drives Buyers Electric
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Says EV Loan Demand Soars 161% as Fuel Crunch Drives Buyers Electric

Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported a 161.5% surge in battery electric vehicle loan demand in March, driven by record fuel prices and supply concerns. Inquiries on its car-buying portal rose 136%, and business applications for Tesla vehicles jumped 268% from a year earlier. Canberra halved fuel excise for three months as diesel topped A$3 a litre. National Australia Bank also saw EV loan demand double since early March.
March 30, 2026
Northern Star Resources CEO Converts A$7 Million in Rights Into Shares Ahead of April Quarterly
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Northern Star Resources CEO Converts A$7 Million in Rights Into Shares Ahead of April Quarterly

Northern Star Resources said CEO Stuart Tonkin converted 380,837 vested performance rights into ordinary shares worth about A$7 million, according to late-Monday filings. The conversion came from the company’s incentive scheme, not an on-market purchase. Northern Star shares closed up 5.18% at A$19.51. Investors await the March-quarter report on April 22 after the miner warned of challenges meeting FY26 output targets.
March 30, 2026
Woodside Keeps Browse CCS Alive With Plan to Refile Under New Australia Law
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Woodside Keeps Browse CCS Alive With Plan to Refile Under New Australia Law

Woodside has withdrawn its Browse carbon capture and storage project from Australia’s federal approvals process and will resubmit under the amended EPBC Act. The plan aims to inject 3–4 million tonnes of CO2 per year underground, cutting Browse-to-North West Shelf emissions by about 47%. The federal portal now lists the proposal as withdrawn. Woodside said it intends to resubmit “as soon as practicable.”
March 30, 2026
BHP Group Shares Lag Rio and Vale as Pilbara Recovery Turns Focus to April Review
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BHP Group Shares Lag Rio and Vale as Pilbara Recovery Turns Focus to April Review

BHP Group’s U.S. shares slipped 0.7% Monday, underperforming Rio Tinto’s 2.5% gain and Vale’s 0.3% rise. Investors continue to trade BHP on iron ore prospects, despite copper overtaking iron ore as its top earnings driver. No new filings appeared on the ASX, with BHP’s next operational update due April 22. Rio Tinto resumed Pilbara terminal loading after Cyclone Narelle and kept shipment guidance unchanged.
March 30, 2026
Exxon’s Haimara Project Sharpens Focus on Guyana’s $2 Billion Berbice Gas Pipeline as Power Demand Climbs
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Exxon’s Haimara Project Sharpens Focus on Guyana’s $2 Billion Berbice Gas Pipeline as Power Demand Climbs

ExxonMobil plans to anchor its ninth offshore Guyana project at the Haimara gas field and may seek environmental approval within weeks. The company estimates a second gas pipeline to Berbice could cost over $2 billion, double the first line. Guyana Power and Light projects peak electricity demand will reach 1,575 MW by 2030, up from 221.5 MW in 2025. Talks with Suriname on sharing pipeline infrastructure are underway.
March 30, 2026
Wall Street Rebounds, but Dow and Nasdaq Stay in Correction as Oil Shock Deepens
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Wall Street Rebounds, but Dow and Nasdaq Stay in Correction as Oil Shock Deepens

The Dow rose 324 points by midday Monday but remained in correction, with Brent crude near $113 as Middle East fighting widened and oil surged 60% in March. U.S. and European bond markets showed signs of stress, and Morgan Stanley cut its global equities outlook to neutral. President Trump warned Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 also stayed well below recent highs.
March 30, 2026
Haleon shares rise after 8.9 million-share buyback ahead of April update
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Haleon shares rise after 8.9 million-share buyback ahead of April update

Haleon bought back 8.94 million shares for cancellation under its £500 million repurchase plan, bringing total buybacks to about 19.5 million shares since March. Shares rose 2.53% to 376.2 pence in delayed London trading. UBS and Citi expect first-quarter organic sales growth of about 2.2%, below consensus, after weak respiratory demand. Haleon’s next trading update is due April 29.
March 30, 2026
Vodafone Shares Rise After Latest Buyback Filing as Germany Recovery Stays in Focus
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Vodafone Shares Rise After Latest Buyback Filing as Germany Recovery Stays in Focus

Vodafone bought back 2.7 million shares at an average 110.93 pence under its 500 million euro programme, bringing treasury holdings to 1.234 billion shares. The stock closed Monday up 2.1% at 112.60 pence in London. Germany and the UK made up 55% of group service revenue last quarter. Vodafone’s current buyback began in February and follows 3.5 billion euros of repurchases since May 2024.
March 30, 2026
3i Group CEO Buys £9 Million of Stock After Action Slowdown Triggers Selloff
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3i Group CEO Buys £9 Million of Stock After Action Slowdown Triggers Selloff

Simon Borrows and family trusts bought 350,147 3i shares at £25.55 each on March 26, totaling about £8.95 million, after 3i stock fell 17.66% last week. Action, 3i’s largest holding, maintained 2026 targets for 4%-5% like-for-like sales growth and at least 400 net store openings. Action reported €3.7 billion in net sales for the first 12 weeks of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year.
March 30, 2026
Informa Plc accelerates share buyback, cancels 1.9 million shares as stock stays off highs
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Informa Plc accelerates share buyback, cancels 1.9 million shares as stock stays off highs

Informa Plc bought back 1.897 million shares last week for cancellation at an average 756.55 pence each, reducing its share count to 1.274 billion. The company raised its 2026 buyback target to £250 million and reported £4.04 billion in 2025 revenue. Some Middle East events have been delayed to late 2026 due to the Iran war. Shares closed Monday at 745.8 pence, down 25% from November’s high.
March 30, 2026
SSE Shares Jump as Utility Maps Out £29 Billion Grid Push Ahead of RIIO-T3
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SSE Shares Jump as Utility Maps Out £29 Billion Grid Push Ahead of RIIO-T3

SSE said Monday its SSEN Transmission unit plans about £29 billion in gross capital spending, with £22 billion net to the group, under Ofgem’s new five-year price control. The company expects regulated asset value to rise from £7 billion in 2025 to £30 billion by 2030. SSE shares closed up 3.7% at £25.74. Near-term earnings guidance for 2026 is below last year’s results due to mixed weather.
March 30, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Filtronic Shares Surge 4,622% Amid FTSE 250 Prospects, Eyes FTSE 100
    May 27, 2026, 10:24 AM EDT. Filtronic Plc's share price has soared 4,622% over five years, reaching a market capitalization of £935 million, positioning it near the FTSE 250 index. Despite recent revenue declines from £25.6 million to £25.3 million and profits falling from £6.7 million to £2.6 million, the company secured its largest-ever $63 million contract with SpaceX, signalling potential growth. Analysts highlight diversification efforts to mitigate concentration risk, with new orders from European defence clients marking expansion. While FTSE 100 membership requires a market cap over triple Filtronic's current size, sustained growth could make this achievable. Market watchers will eye the upcoming FTSE index review for possible inclusion.