News 19 May 2026

Santos Stock Holds Close to Year High After Alaska First Oil
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Santos Stock Holds Close to Year High After Alaska First Oil

Santos Limited confirmed first oil from its Pikka project in Alaska, with shares last trading at A$8.09, near a 52-week high of A$8.19. Pikka will ramp up to 20,000 barrels per day before targeting 80,000 bpd in Q3, though initial output will be intermittent. First sales revenue is expected in two to three months. Brent crude traded at $110.82 a barrel on Tuesday.
May 19, 2026
Woodside Energy Stock Rises, But One Gas Fight Could Move It Next
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Woodside Energy Stock Rises, But One Gas Fight Could Move It Next

Woodside Energy Group shares closed up 0.40% at A$32.28 in Sydney, trailing the S&P/ASX 200’s 1.17% gain, as investors weighed strong oil prices against new government plans to reserve 20% of east coast gas for domestic use from 2027. Company executives warned the policy could threaten future supply. Brent crude traded at $110.82 a barrel amid Middle East tensions.
May 19, 2026
Telstra Faces $7.32 Billion Hurdle After Rally
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Telstra Faces $7.32 Billion Hurdle After Rally

Telstra shares closed at A$5.55, up 2.6% and near a 12-month high, after Australia’s regulator set the market value for renewing key spectrum licences at A$7.32 billion. The licences, held by Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom and NBN Co, face renewal applications from June 18. Telstra traded 29.44 million shares Tuesday, above its average volume. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.17% to 8,604.7.
May 19, 2026
Macquarie shares bounce in Sydney after dividend date
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Macquarie shares bounce in Sydney after dividend date

Macquarie Group shares closed up 1.87% at A$240.98 in Sydney on Tuesday as investors moved past the record date for its A$4.20 final dividend. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1.17%, with financial stocks rebounding after Monday’s selloff. Macquarie reported a FY26 net profit of A$4.847 billion, up 30% from the previous year. The stock went ex-dividend on Monday; the dividend is 35% franked.
May 19, 2026
NAB Shares Rebound; Watch for What’s Next for Big Australian Banks
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NAB Shares Rebound; Watch for What’s Next for Big Australian Banks

National Australia Bank shares rose 1.98% to A$37.04 on Tuesday, rebounding from a 52-week low hit Monday. The move followed Reserve Bank of Australia minutes suggesting room to pause on rate hikes. Inflation, energy shocks, and bad-debt risks continue to weigh on the sector. NAB’s first-half cash earnings recently missed estimates, partly due to a A$706 million credit impairment charge.
May 19, 2026
Brambles shares plunge 20% on ASX
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Brambles shares plunge 20% on ASX

Brambles shares closed at A$17.53 on Tuesday, near a 52-week low, after the company cut FY26 guidance and lost about 20% of its market value in one session. The pallet supplier cited U.S. repair bottlenecks and expects a US$60 million earnings hit. Brambles now forecasts FY26 sales growth of 2%-3% and underlying profit growth of 3%-5%. Broker responses varied, with Goldman Sachs raising its rating to Neutral.
May 19, 2026
CBA Opens Higher but Pressure Remains on Australia’s Top Bank
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CBA Opens Higher but Pressure Remains on Australia’s Top Bank

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares rose 1.33% to A$162.88 on Tuesday, rebounding after last week’s record 10.43% drop. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.17%, with all major banks advancing after U.S. President Trump postponed strikes on Iran. Investors remain cautious amid higher-rate risks, new tax changes, and weak housing forecasts. Reserve Bank minutes signaled rates may rise again, keeping pressure on financial stocks.
May 19, 2026
BHP Eases After Rally as Iron Ore Loses Steam
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BHP Eases After Rally as Iron Ore Loses Steam

BHP shares closed down 0.1% at A$58.70 on Tuesday, lagging a 1.17% rise in the S&P/ASX 200 as metals prices slipped. Copper and iron ore futures both fell, pressuring miners across the board. South Australia and BHP finalized an updated legal framework for Olympic Dam, following a record A$25.6 million royalty payment in April. Copper now accounts for over half of BHP’s underlying earnings.
May 19, 2026
Haleon shares edge higher as buyback returns spotlight
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Haleon shares edge higher as buyback returns spotlight

Haleon bought 8.3 million shares for cancellation under its 2026 buyback programme, bringing the completed portion to 36%. The stock rose 0.86% to 340.10p/340.20p on Hargreaves Lansdown. The company reported Q1 organic revenue growth of 2.2% and kept its full-year guidance. UK stocks broadly gained after weak labour data eased rate hike concerns.
May 19, 2026
BAT Shares Settle in London After Rally as Investors Look Ahead
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BAT Shares Settle in London After Rally as Investors Look Ahead

British American Tobacco shares fell 0.6% to 4,896p in London on Tuesday afternoon, underperforming the FTSE 100, which edged up 0.1%. The drop followed a sharp rally, with BAT stock up 16.8% over four weeks. The company announced a new technology hub in Bengaluru and confirmed it had bought back 592,630 shares for cancellation. Investors also weighed ongoing buybacks and growth in smokeless products.
May 19, 2026
3i Rises on £750m Buyback; Action Sale Fears Remain
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3i Rises on £750m Buyback; Action Sale Fears Remain

3i Group shares jumped 5.33% to 2,193 pence Tuesday after a buyback filing, rebounding from Monday’s sharp fall. The company bought 701,317 shares for £15.04 million last week, its first move under a £750 million buyback plan. Shares remain well below last year’s high, pressured by slower sales growth at Action, which makes up about three-quarters of 3i’s portfolio.
May 19, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Oil prices drop below $100 on Iran peace deal hopes, markets rise
    May 25, 2026, 8:37 AM EDT. Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in two weeks as hopes grow for a US-Iran peace deal. Brent crude dropped 5.5% to just under $98. The conflict's focal point remains Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint. Equity markets responded positively, with Japan's Nikkei up nearly 3% and Europe's Stoxx 600 rising 0.8%. The dollar weakened while the pound hit its highest level since May. Analysts caution markets remain wary as past negotiations have stalled. Inflation fears have driven central banks to consider further rate hikes, with the Bank of England expected to raise rates twice in 2024.