News 29 March 2026

Golar LNG slides even after posting record quarterly results
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Golar LNG slides even after posting record quarterly results

Golar LNG shares fell 2.6% to $50.47 by midday Wednesday, underperforming peers after last week’s earnings. Investors weighed a strategic review and plans for a fourth floating LNG unit as energy stocks broadly declined. Golar reported first-quarter revenue up 120% to $137.6 million and will pay a 25-cent dividend June 10. Goldman Sachs is advising on strategic options, but no timeline or outcome is set.
May 27, 2026
Mineral Resources Limited Faces Fresh Onslow Iron Risk as Ashburton Port Stays Shut After Cyclone
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Mineral Resources Limited Faces Fresh Onslow Iron Risk as Ashburton Port Stays Shut After Cyclone

The Port of Ashburton remains closed after ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle, disrupting Mineral Resources’ Onslow Iron exports, while Dampier reopened March 28. Pilbara Ports has not given a reopening time and says engineering checks will continue into next week. Onslow Iron shipped 17.3 million tonnes in the first half, helping MinRes cut net debt to A$4.9 billion by Dec. 31. Sea conditions are still limiting inspections at Ashburton.
March 29, 2026
Whitehaven Coal Limited shares rise even after CEO, chairman sell stock
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Whitehaven Coal Limited shares rise even after CEO, chairman sell stock

Whitehaven Coal shares jumped 4.9% to A$9.23 on March 27, despite CEO Paul Flynn and Chairman Mark Vaile selling a combined A$10.1 million in stock this month. The company faces an April cash outflow for its Daunia and Blackwater mine purchase and is seeking to refinance a US$1.1 billion facility. Dimensional Entities disclosed a 5% stake. First-half revenue fell 28% to A$2.48 billion; EBITDA dropped 54% to A$446 million.
March 29, 2026
Transurban-Backed Run for the Kids Raises A$1.32 Million as Toll-Road Group Faces Reform Test

Transurban-Backed Run for the Kids Raises A$1.32 Million as Toll-Road Group Faces Reform Test

More than 30,000 people took part in Melbourne’s Herald Sun/Transurban Run for the Kids on Sunday, raising A$1.32 million for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Transurban reaffirmed FY26 distribution guidance at 69 cents per security in February, with shares last closing at A$14.07. Harry Norman won the men’s 14.4-km race in 43:14. Transurban’s NSW toll reform proposal is due to be finalised in the first half of 2026.
March 29, 2026
Why Qube Holdings Shares Still Trail Macquarie’s A$11.7 Billion Buyout Offer
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Why Qube Holdings Shares Still Trail Macquarie’s A$11.7 Billion Buyout Offer

Qube Holdings shares closed about 5% below the dividend-adjusted value of Macquarie Asset Management’s A$11.7 billion takeover offer, reflecting uncertainty as key approvals remain pending. Qube last traded at A$4.89 versus an implied offer of A$5.1465. The shareholder vote is expected around June. The deal still requires regulatory, court, and independent expert clearance.
March 29, 2026
Xero Limited Bets on Anthropic to Put Claude AI Inside Small-Business Finance
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Xero Limited Bets on Anthropic to Put Claude AI Inside Small-Business Finance

Xero said Thursday it will embed Anthropic’s Claude AI in its accounting platform and allow Xero data inside Claude.ai, with rollout expected in coming months. The move follows Xero’s U.S. bill payments launch after its Melio acquisition. Xero shares closed Friday at A$72.84, up 0.6%. The company has 4.6 million subscribers and reported first-half revenue of NZ$1.2 billion, up 20% year-on-year.
March 29, 2026
Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston Takes Medical Leave, CFO Jeremy Robson Named Acting Chief
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Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston Takes Medical Leave, CFO Jeremy Robson Named Acting Chief

Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston will take temporary medical leave, with CFO Jeremy Robson named acting CEO and Neil Wesley as acting CFO. The leadership change comes as Suncorp prepares to pay its interim dividend and follows a 67% drop in half-year cash earnings after severe weather claims. No return date was given for Johnston. Suncorp shares closed at A$16.42 on Friday, up 0.12%.
March 29, 2026
Neogen (NEOG) Workers Demand First Contract in Lansing, Putting Labor Risk Back in Focus
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Neogen (NEOG) Workers Demand First Contract in Lansing, Putting Labor Risk Back in Focus

Unionized workers at Neogen’s Lansing warehouse rallied Friday, demanding a first contract and accusing the company of unfair labor practices. The protest comes as Neogen tries to boost margins after integrating 3M’s former food safety business. Neogen’s stock last traded at $8.70 on Friday, down from a previous close of $9.15. The company reported $224.7 million in Q2 revenue, a 2.8% year-over-year decline.
March 29, 2026
Woolworths AI Job Interviews Draw Fresh Complaints as Fairness Questions Grow

Woolworths AI Job Interviews Draw Fresh Complaints as Fairness Questions Grow

Woolworths Group faces renewed criticism after New Zealand job applicants said its AI interview tool wrongly screened them out before any human review. The company said the system is fair and includes later human checks. Woolworths uses the Sapia AI tool to handle about 1 million applications annually. New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development said it has not received specific complaints.
March 29, 2026
Telstra Group Limited Faces 1 Million-Sq-Km Coverage Map Threat as Optus, TPG Back Tougher Rules
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Telstra Group Limited Faces 1 Million-Sq-Km Coverage Map Threat as Optus, TPG Back Tougher Rules

Optus and TPG have backed tougher mobile coverage-map rules that could force Telstra to remove about 1 million square kilometres from its claimed coverage, ahead of an ACMA decision due March 31. Telstra says 1.5 million customers a month use service below the proposed signal threshold and warns the change would cut a third of its mapped reach. The ACCC supports the stricter rules, citing misleading maps.
March 29, 2026
4DMedical Ltd Wins EU CE Mark, Raises A$83 Million as Mayo Clinic Deal Boosts CT:VQ Push
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4DMedical Ltd Wins EU CE Mark, Raises A$83 Million as Mayo Clinic Deal Boosts CT:VQ Push

4DMedical said Friday its CT:VQ lung imaging software won CE mark clearance in the EU and secured A$83 million in a private placement at A$5.90 a share. The company expects to have A$289 million in cash at year-end 2025. Mayo Clinic began using CT:VQ on March 25, joining five other U.S. academic centers since FDA clearance in September. Shares closed at A$6.28 after touching A$7.55 intraday.
March 29, 2026
Evolution Mining Limited Back in Focus After UBS Upgrade, Northparkes Growth Push
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Evolution Mining Limited Back in Focus After UBS Upgrade, Northparkes Growth Push

UBS upgraded Evolution Mining to neutral from sell, setting a A$12.50 target after a stock pullback and improved copper outlook at Northparkes. The move follows similar upgrades by JPMorgan and Macquarie this month. Evolution posted record half-year profit of A$767 million in February and approved major copper and gold projects at Northparkes and Ernest Henry. A 20-cent interim dividend is due April 2.
March 29, 2026
Wesfarmers Limited CSBP Scrambles for Fertiliser as Iran War Hits Urea Supply

Wesfarmers Limited CSBP Scrambles for Fertiliser as Iran War Hits Urea Supply

CSBP, Wesfarmers Ltd’s fertiliser unit, is seeking alternative supplies and boosting local output after Persian Gulf conflict disrupted urea and phosphate shipments to Australia, according to manager Ben Sudlow. March and April contracts are covered, but May and June cargoes remain uncertain. China has tightened fertiliser export controls, worsening the supply crunch. Western Australian growers face delays as seeding season begins.
March 29, 2026
Australia Stock Market Week Ahead: Oil Spike, RBA Minutes, China PMI Put ASX on Alert
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Australia Stock Market Week Ahead: Oil Spike, RBA Minutes, China PMI Put ASX on Alert

The S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.11% lower at 8,516.30 on Friday but ended the week up 1.0%, as Brent crude climbed above $112 a barrel and Wall Street fell sharply. The Reserve Bank of Australia will release March meeting minutes Tuesday after raising its cash rate to 4.10%. China’s March manufacturing PMI and key Australian economic data are due this week. Miners face rising diesel costs, with a 10-cent increase costing top firms $500 million.
March 29, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Week Ahead Faces Oil Shock, GDP Test and Good Friday Closure
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Week Ahead Faces Oil Shock, GDP Test and Good Friday Closure

The FTSE 100 slipped 0.05% Friday and the FTSE 250 dropped 1.5%, both heading for steep monthly losses as oil prices surged and Middle East tensions persisted. The OECD cut its UK 2026 growth forecast to 0.7% and raised inflation expectations to 4%. London trading will pause for holidays April 3 and 6, delaying reaction to U.S. jobs data. Retail sales fell 0.4% in February and consumer confidence hit an 11-month low.
March 29, 2026
Fortescue Set to Pay A$0.62 Dividend as Macquarie Upgrade Pushes Shares Back Above A$20
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Fortescue Set to Pay A$0.62 Dividend as Macquarie Upgrade Pushes Shares Back Above A$20

Fortescue Ltd will pay its A$0.62 interim dividend Monday, after shares closed at A$20.19 Friday following a Macquarie upgrade and A$22 target. February’s half-year profit rose 23% to $1.91 billion on record shipments and higher ore prices. Shareholders opting for stock will receive shares at A$19.2518. Fuel costs remain a risk, with a 10-cent diesel price change costing Fortescue $70 million.
March 29, 2026
PLS Group Limited Faces UBS Downgrade After Lithium Rally Lifts Shares Above Target

PLS Group Limited Faces UBS Downgrade After Lithium Rally Lifts Shares Above Target

UBS downgraded PLS Group to Neutral on March 27, setting a A$4.95 price target below its A$5.15 share price. PLS joined the S&P/ASX 50 on March 23. The company reported first-half revenue of A$624 million and net profit of A$33 million in February. PLS secured a two-year supply deal with China’s Canmax in February, including a US$1,000-a-tonne floor price.
March 29, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Imperial Brands Boosts Tobacco-Free Portfolio with Black Buffalo Acquisition
    May 27, 2026, 12:17 PM EDT. Imperial Brands PLC (LSE:IMB) shares rebounded Wednesday after announcing a strategic purchase of Black Buffalo, a move to expand its tobacco-free product range. The purchase signals Imperial's intent to diversify beyond traditional tobacco products amid shifting consumer preferences and regulatory pressures. Black Buffalo specializes in cannabis-derived goods, aligning with Imperial's growth in alternative nicotine and wellness sectors. The company confirmed an investment of at least £X million, reflecting a commitment to adapt and capture emerging market opportunities. This acquisition supports Imperial's transition strategy, potentially offsetting declines in conventional tobacco revenue as global markets evolve.