News 4 March 2026

British American Tobacco share price rebounds — buybacks, UK vape bill and oil shock in focus
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British American Tobacco share price rebounds — buybacks, UK vape bill and oil shock in focus

British American Tobacco shares rose 0.7% in early London trading after Tuesday’s 3.3% drop, as the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill returned to the House of Lords. The company disclosed a buyback of 92,891 shares on March 2 for cancellation. Lawmakers backed new enforcement funding and penalties in the bill, which faces its next session on March 5. Investors also watch BAT’s late-March ex-dividend date and U.S. vape enforcement.
March 4, 2026
NatWest shares steady after buyback update, with oil shock clouding UK rate bets
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NatWest shares steady after buyback update, with oil shock clouding UK rate bets

NatWest shares rose 0.2% to 587.2 pence by 09:44 GMT after two days of sharp losses, following news of a fresh share buyback. The bank bought over 1 million shares late Tuesday at an average 585 pence each for cancellation. Investors remain focused on oil-driven inflation and Bank of England rate signals. Lloyds and Barclays also traded higher after recent declines.
March 4, 2026
IAG shares slide again as Middle East airspace shutdown hits British Airways
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IAG shares slide again as Middle East airspace shutdown hits British Airways

IAG shares dropped 5.4% Tuesday as Middle East disruptions forced major Gulf hubs to close or restrict traffic for a fourth day, causing widespread flight cancellations and reroutes. Flightradar24 reported about 21,300 cancellations at seven airports including Dubai and Doha since the strikes began. Airlines face rising fuel costs and mounting losses, with $22.6 billion in market value wiped from travel firms on Monday.
March 4, 2026
Rio Tinto stock slips in premarket as China policy countdown and new projects set the tone
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Rio Tinto stock slips in premarket as China policy countdown and new projects set the tone

Rio Tinto’s U.S. shares fell 0.4% to $94.90 in premarket trading after a 4.3% drop Tuesday, tracking weaker iron ore prices and investor caution amid rising oil. The miner won conditional Canadian government support for a gallium project and approved a $473 million restart at South Africa’s Zulti South mine. Traders await signals from China’s National People’s Congress opening March 5.
March 4, 2026
Lloyds share price slips again as oil shock dents UK rate-cut bets; buyback and Aegon talk in focus
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Lloyds share price slips again as oil shock dents UK rate-cut bets; buyback and Aegon talk in focus

Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 0.5% to 96.48p in early London trading Wednesday after closing down nearly 3% Tuesday. The drop follows a surge in oil and gas prices, which has rattled UK banks and pushed investors to scale back bets on Bank of England rate cuts. Lloyds bought back over 66 million shares this week and issued 220 million new shares for staff awards. The Bank of England’s next rate decision is set for March 19.
March 4, 2026
Beazley share price today: Stock stuck near 1,290p as Zurich takeover overshadows results
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Beazley share price today: Stock stuck near 1,290p as Zurich takeover overshadows results

Beazley shares edged up 0.04% to 1,290.5 pence after reporting a 19% drop in 2025 pretax profit to $1.15 billion and flat interim dividend. Zurich’s 1,335 pence-per-share cash offer remains the main reference point as traders await deal approvals and Beazley’s April updates. Written premiums slipped 1% to $6.10 billion, with cyber premiums down and combined ratio rising to 81.2%.
March 4, 2026
Metaspins rolls out instant-win crypto games as casinos dangle 1 BTC bonuses to hook players
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Metaspins rolls out instant-win crypto games as casinos dangle 1 BTC bonuses to hook players

Metaspins launched new in-house instant-win crypto games, including Plinko, Mines, and a Wheel of Fortune-style title, with RTPs up to 99%. The site offers a 100% welcome bonus up to 1 BTC, subject to a 40x wagering requirement. Metaspins holds an active Curaçao license. Rival Crypto-Games.io claims 4,000+ games and operates under a Costa Rica license.
March 4, 2026
Oil nears $85 as Hormuz crisis drags on and stocks slide again
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Oil nears $85 as Hormuz crisis drags on and stocks slide again

Brent crude rose 3.3% to $84.07 a barrel as fighting in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted oil flows and Iraq cut output by 1.5 million barrels per day. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 12%, triggering a brief trading halt, while Japan’s Nikkei lost 3.9%. Europe’s STOXX 600 fell over 3% Tuesday, led by banks and insurers. Money markets slashed bets on a March Bank of England rate cut as energy prices surged.
March 4, 2026
Shell stock price slips as Iran conflict pushes oil higher; buyback and LNG legal loss in focus
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Shell stock price slips as Iran conflict pushes oil higher; buyback and LNG legal loss in focus

Shell’s U.S. shares fell 2.2% to $82.33 Tuesday despite oil prices rising on escalating conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The company announced new share buybacks and lost a New York court challenge in an LNG dispute with Venture Global. Brent crude rose 3.3% early Wednesday to $84.07 a barrel. The Dow dropped 0.8% as energy prices fueled inflation concerns.
March 4, 2026
Anglo American share price in focus before London open after 3.8% drop as miners slide
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Anglo American share price in focus before London open after 3.8% drop as miners slide

Anglo American shares fell 3.84% to 3,452p in London on Tuesday, extending a two-day slide amid a sharp drop in UK stocks and surging energy prices. About 17.3 million shares traded, with the stock now 11% below its February high. The miner set its AGM for April 29 and will go ex-dividend on March 12. Brent crude rose nearly 7% as Middle East tensions disrupted energy exports.
March 4, 2026
Rolls-Royce share price today: Buyback update lands before London open after 3.8% slide
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Rolls-Royce share price today: Buyback update lands before London open after 3.8% slide

Rolls-Royce bought back 1,652,501 shares on March 3 under its £2.3 billion buyback plan, paying between 1,263.5 and 1,362 pence each. Shares closed Tuesday at 1,303 pence, down 3.77%, as the FTSE 100 fell 2.8%. The company proposed a 5.0 pence final dividend for 2025, payable June 3 if approved. Retired U.S. generals Laura Richardson and Duke Richardson joined the North America board.
March 4, 2026
Mineral Resources share price slips after CSI record update runs into oil shock, rate-hike jitters
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Mineral Resources share price slips after CSI record update runs into oil shock, rate-hike jitters

Mineral Resources shares closed 0.6% lower at A$55.71 in Sydney after trading between A$54.83 and A$57.56. The company reported record first-half volumes and a 29% jump in Mining Services EBITDA to $488 million. The stock remains volatile, having dropped 6.1% in the previous session. Investors are watching oil prices and rate expectations ahead of the RBA’s March meeting.
March 4, 2026
PLS share price slips again as China lithium futures hit near-limit drop — what investors watch next
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PLS share price slips again as China lithium futures hit near-limit drop — what investors watch next

PLS Group shares closed down 1.3% at A$4.74 in Sydney, extending a two-day drop of nearly 8% as lithium prices slumped. China’s lithium carbonate futures fell almost 13% after weak EV sales data. About 21.5 million PLS shares traded hands. Investors are watching China’s lithium market, oil prices, and rate expectations for direction ahead of PLS’s next quarterly report on April 16.
March 4, 2026
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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.