News 14 May 2026

Etihad Orders 10 Boeing Jets, Raising Talk of Hard-to-Get 787 Slots

Stock Market Today: Live Updates 14.07.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 14, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 14, 2026, 4:53 PM EDT Brisbane Buyers Take Upper Hand as Market Slows on Tax Moves July 14, 2026, 4:48 PM EDT. Buyers are starting to call the shots in Brisbane, with home values cooling and tax changes hitting the market. After more than ten years of strong gains, home prices across Australia had their sharpest drop in over three years in June. Brisbane’s surge has dropped off after climbing 75% over five years. Federal budget updates to negative gearing and capital gains tax-plus higher interest rates-are giving buyers more
July 14, 2026
Xero Limited Shares Sink 9% as A$550 Million Buyback Fails to Blunt Melio Profit Hit
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Xero Limited Shares Sink 9% as A$550 Million Buyback Fails to Blunt Melio Profit Hit

Xero Limited shares tumbled 9.04% in Sydney trading, landing at A$73.68 by Thursday’s close. The Wellington-based accounting software company posted a 27% slide in annual net profit, which outweighed its 31% revenue jump. The board is moving ahead with plans to buy back as much as A$550 million in stock to counter staff-equity dilution. The selloff stands out—FY26 was the first real gauge of how Xero's $3 billion Melio acquisition would land with investors. Last year, Xero agreed to pick up the U.S.-Israeli payments outfit, aiming to bolt payments onto its accounting platform and ramp up its stateside expansion. At the time, Reuters put Xero’s U.S. sales at just 7%.
May 14, 2026
Westpac Banking Corporation Stock Faces New Test as Bad-Loan Fears Hit Australia’s Banks
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Westpac Banking Corporation Stock Faces New Test as Bad-Loan Fears Hit Australia’s Banks

Westpac Banking Corp clawed back just a sliver of ground after a bruising rout across bank stocks, with shares finishing at A$35.72 on Thursday—up 0.4% for the day, but still sitting 8.3% below the close from seven days ago. Australia’s second-biggest mortgage player stays in the spotlight, as investors keep probing how ugly the bad-loan story could get. Timing played a key role here. Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia sank 10.43% on Wednesday—its steepest single-day decline ever—dragging the broader banking sector lower. The country’s biggest lender lifted provisions and investors braced for federal budget measures restricting negative gearing, a popular tax break for property investors. That pulled down Westpac, NAB and ANZ as well.
May 14, 2026
National Australia Bank Limited Just Bought Banked — Why NAB’s Payments Bet Matters Now
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National Australia Bank Limited Just Bought Banked — Why NAB’s Payments Bet Matters Now

National Australia Bank Limited has snapped up Banked, a global payments tech platform, aiming to ramp up real-time account-to-account payment options for business clients. NAB says the platform enables merchants to take payments straight from a customer’s bank account, sidestepping credit and debit cards. The price wasn’t revealed. Timing is key here. Australian banks are under pressure to protect profits, squeezed by higher rates, shifting housing policy tied to the budget, and credit concerns with roots in the Middle East. With this deal, NAB steps up its push into merchant payments—where the promise of quicker settlements and cost cuts could help it win over more business clients.
May 14, 2026
BHP’s Incoming CEO Opens Door to Copper Deals as Shares Hit Record
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BHP’s Incoming CEO Opens Door to Copper Deals as Shares Hit Record

Brandon Craig, the next CEO of BHP Group Ltd, is signaling a return to dealmaking for the world’s largest listed miner. Craig said BHP is open to exploration, striking partnerships, and pursuing smaller acquisitions as it seeks to lock in growth opportunities past 2035. Timing is key here. BHP’s leadership is in transition just as copper pulls more weight in its earnings mix, the stock notching fresh highs, and China’s iron ore market still feeling the aftershocks of a drawn-out procurement spat.
May 14, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Shares Bounce After Record Rout as Budget Shock Tests Mortgage Growth
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Shares Bounce After Record Rout as Budget Shock Tests Mortgage Growth

Shares in Commonwealth Bank of Australia bounced back a bit on Thursday, following their record-breaking plunge the previous day. Still, investors are left grappling with the same tough issue: Canberra’s tax overhaul and the uncertainty it casts over the bank’s mortgage growth. CBA rebounded 1.79% to close at A$156.42, clawing back some ground after Wednesday’s 10.43% plunge that wiped close to A$30 billion off its market cap. That late-session recovery on Thursday offered a boost to financials and nudged the S&P/ASX 200 slightly higher.
May 14, 2026
Australia Stock Market Today: ASX 200 Snaps Losing Run as CBA Bounces — But Rally Looks Thin
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Australia Stock Market Today: ASX 200 Snaps Losing Run as CBA Bounces — But Rally Looks Thin

Australian stocks managed a slight climb Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 tacking on 10.3 points, or 0.12%, to close at 8,640.7. Banks bounced late, enough to counter declines in tech, staples and healthcare, ending a four-day losing streak. The mood, however, remained subdued. This shift is hitting while local traders are still processing the housing-tax tweaks from the federal budget, along with Commonwealth Bank’s steep drop just a day before. Breadth was weak; decliners topped advancers, despite the benchmark eking out a gain by the close.
May 14, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Rises as GDP Surprise Offsets Starmer Turmoil
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Rises as GDP Surprise Offsets Starmer Turmoil

London’s main indexes finished in the green on Thursday. The FTSE 100 added 47.58 points, or 0.5%, landing at 10,372.93. The FTSE 250 climbed 299.70 points, or 1.3%, to reach 22,828.07. Stronger economic data managed to offset renewed political turbulence. Why does this matter? The UK market was already juggling plenty: energy costs pushing higher, government bond yields under strain, chatter about more rate hikes, and now fresh questions swirling around Prime Minister Keir Starmer. When the growth figures hit, the FTSE 250—mid-caps more tied to the UK economy than the FTSE 100’s global giants—jumped harder, a clear sign traders were buying on relief.
May 14, 2026
BT Group plc’s BAE Systems Deal Lands at a Crucial Moment for Its Turnaround
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BT Group plc’s BAE Systems Deal Lands at a Crucial Moment for Its Turnaround

BT Group plc landed a five-year deal to supply secure connectivity to BAE Systems’ operations in the UK and worldwide, handing the British telecoms player another defence-sector contract just ahead of its full-year earnings. According to BT, the agreement spans BAE’s network in 40 countries and includes an option to extend for three more years. Timing is key here. BT wants investors to believe that secure business services growth can happen right alongside its larger, more sluggish fibre and mobile units—right as the market looks ahead to its May 21 FY26 earnings update.
May 14, 2026
Haleon’s New UEFA Medical Deal Puts Voltaren in Football Spotlight—But Shares Lag
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Haleon’s New UEFA Medical Deal Puts Voltaren in Football Spotlight—But Shares Lag

Haleon PLC is now the first Health Partner for UEFA Medical, landing the maker of Sensodyne and Voltaren a new foothold in football medicine. The move comes as Haleon looks to spotlight its over-the-counter pain brands in a consumer health sector that's turning more challenging. The company and UEFA have signed a multi-year deal aimed at advancing evidence-based pain management—think topical treatments, digital training modules, and webinars designed for medical staff. Topical NSAIDs, a class of painkillers applied directly to skin, not taken orally, are part of the focus.
May 14, 2026
Diageo PLC Gets an India Profit Boost as Premium Drinks Outrun U.S. Weakness
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Diageo PLC Gets an India Profit Boost as Premium Drinks Outrun U.S. Weakness

United Spirits, the Indian unit of Diageo plc, posted a 28% jump in consolidated profit for the fourth quarter on Thursday. That’s some relief for the Johnnie Walker and Guinness maker as softness lingers in its North American spirits segment. The company credited premium drinks for cushioning the impact of policy headwinds at home. The clock’s ticking for Diageo. Dave Lewis, the new chief executive, is working to stabilize the group ahead of a full strategy update set for August. The latest sales numbers got a lift—thanks mostly to strong Guinness demand and distributors stocking up ahead of the FIFA World Cup, not from any real turnaround in the U.S. market.
May 14, 2026
Halma plc Share Price Jumps Near 52-Week High as FTSE 100 Stock Faces June Results Test
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Halma plc Share Price Jumps Near 52-Week High as FTSE 100 Stock Faces June Results Test

Halma plc surged 2.94% Thursday, wrapping up at £46.94 and pulling close to its 52-week high. Traders seemed to position ahead of the company’s full-year numbers due next month. The FTSE 100 added 0.46%. MarketWatch noted Halma’s trading volume landed under its 50-day average. This shift comes with Halma’s June 11 results looming—investors have already bid up the stock, expecting a strong showing. The company’s financial calendar pegs that day for the 2025/26 full-year numbers, following the March 31 financial year-end.
May 14, 2026
IAG Just Cleaned Up €822 Million of Debt — But Fuel Costs Are Still the Real Story
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IAG Just Cleaned Up €822 Million of Debt — But Fuel Costs Are Still the Real Story

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA agreed to buy back €821.7 million in 2028 convertible bonds, effectively retiring 99.6% of the issue. The British Airways parent is looking to streamline its balance sheet as fuel prices pressure the industry. Bondholders will be paid €145,685.11 per €100,000 principal, with settlement slated for about May 19. Timing is critical here. Just days ago, IAG flagged that its 2026 profit, capacity, and free cash flow—money left after covering operations and investment—will land below previous targets. The culprit: jet-fuel prices and supply snags tied to the Iran war have cut deeper than IAG anticipated.
May 14, 2026
Tesco PLC’s Equal Pay Fight Just Got Harder After Court Ruling
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Tesco PLC’s Equal Pay Fight Just Got Harder After Court Ruling

Tesco Stores Ltd, the Tesco PLC subsidiary, lost nearly all arguments in its Court of Appeal push to shape the assessment of evidence in its lengthy equal pay dispute—a blow to Britain’s largest supermarket as it fights on in a separate tribunal. Judges threw out every ground except one, leaving the litigation to proceed. The final decision is still pending. This case has fresh urgency, with Tesco revealing around 62,000 claims so far from both current and ex-hourly store workers—a figure that’s likely to climb as the legal fight drags on. Those bringing the claims argue that jobs in stores and distribution centers should count as equal work when it comes to pay. Tesco, for its part, maintains that it’s
May 14, 2026
Vodafone Stock Is Rising Again. Germany Is the Test Investors Can’t Ignore
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Vodafone Stock Is Rising Again. Germany Is the Test Investors Can’t Ignore

Shares in Vodafone Group Public Limited Company gained ground in London on Thursday, building on a rebound as the telecoms operator projected stronger core earnings and signaled its three-year restructuring effort had entered a more targeted stage. As of 15:46 London time, Vodafone was up 0.65% at 115.65 pence, according to trading data. This shift carries weight at this stage, with Chief Executive Margherita Della Valle nearly wrapping up the group’s asset overhaul. Vodafone, after pulling out or scaling down in underperforming markets, now centers operations on Germany, Britain, and Africa. Just last week, the company struck a deal to acquire full ownership of VodafoneThree in Britain.
May 14, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group Stock Rises as UBS Backs AI Push After Google Cloud Deal
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London Stock Exchange Group Stock Rises as UBS Backs AI Push After Google Cloud Deal

London Stock Exchange Group plc shares moved higher Thursday, with UBS’s Michael Werner sticking to his Buy call and leaving the price target at 11,700p, MarketScreener reported, citing dpa-AFX Analyser. At 15:47 in London, the shares were quoted at 9,262p, a 1.49% gain, according to ADVFN. This comes as LSEG is keen to convince investors: artificial intelligence isn’t just something that could eat into its Workspace terminal and analytics business. For the group, AI is being positioned as a fresh way to market and sell licensed financial data.
May 14, 2026
Smith & Nephew Faces Fresh Cevian Pressure After Activist Stake Tops 11%
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Smith & Nephew Faces Fresh Cevian Pressure After Activist Stake Tops 11%

Cevian Capital bumped its holding in Smith & Nephew plc to a little above 11% of voting rights, according to a regulatory notice released Thursday. The move ramps up activist pressure on the British medical technology company, which has faced a sluggish opening stretch this year. Cevian Capital II GP Limited upped its stake in Smith & Nephew, according to a TR-1 filing, after pushing past a key threshold on May 11. The firm alerted Smith & Nephew two days later, with its position now at 11.013663%, up from 10.094356%. That’s 94.1 million voting rights.
May 14, 2026
Compass Group PLC Stock Rises Again After Profit Upgrade — What Investors Need To Know
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Compass Group PLC Stock Rises Again After Profit Upgrade — What Investors Need To Know

Shares of Compass Group PLC climbed Thursday, adding to gains earlier in the week as the world’s largest catering company bumped up its 2026 profit forecast. The upgrade follows a pickup in contract awards and continued solid appetite for workplace dining. The quote had Compass shares selling at $32.77 and buying at $32.79, showing a 1.17% rise as of 15:11 BST, according to Fidelity data. Since April 1, Compass shares have been listed in U.S. dollars on the London Stock Exchange, following the shift from sterling pence.
May 14, 2026
GSK Stock Goes Ex-Dividend Today: Why the 17p Payout Comes With a Bigger Pipeline Test
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GSK Stock Goes Ex-Dividend Today: Why the 17p Payout Comes With a Bigger Pipeline Test

GSK plc shares in London went ex-dividend on Thursday, locking in eligibility for the first-quarter payout just as the company aims to steer focus toward its pipeline. Investors buying on or after May 14 miss out on this round of dividends; GSK’s calendar puts the ex-dividend date on May 14, with the record date following on May 15 and the payment set for July 9. The timing here is key. GSK wants investors to weigh both reliable capital returns and its specialty medicines push at the same time. The group announced a 17 pence dividend for the first quarter, stuck to its projection for 70 pence in 2026, and reiterated expectations: 3% to 5% turnover growth and 7% to 9%
May 14, 2026
Rentokil Stock Edges Higher, But North America Is Still The Test Investors Cannot Ignore
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Rentokil Stock Edges Higher, But North America Is Still The Test Investors Cannot Ignore

Rentokil Initial plc shares ticked up in London Thursday, recovering a slice of this week’s drop as some investors latched onto hints of a North America rebound—even as the U.S. pest-control market remains tough. The stock was last up 0.63% at 476.90p as of 15:03 BST. The FTSE All-Share, for its part, gained 0.21%, according to Fidelity data. This shift is key: Rentokil’s narrative has tightened. The debate isn’t about pest control’s staying power anymore. It’s about whether the new leadership team can get things right in North America—a region that’s shouldered the bulk of the pressure ever since the Terminix acquisition changed Rentokil’s shape.
May 14, 2026
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