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, 5:43 PM EDT Google Faces Lawsuit from Major Publishers Over AI Copyright Claims July 14, 2026, 5:37 PM EDT. Hachette, Cengage, Elsevier and author Scott Turow sued Google in New York federal court, claiming it pulled millions of copyrighted books to train Gemini AI models without proper rights. The publishers say Google went beyond what it’s allowed to do under Google Books and broke copyright laws, cutting into authors’ income by letting AI churn out cheap competing content. The complaint says Google knew it could be hit with
July 14, 2026
National Grid Shares Rise After Profit Miss: Why the £70bn Grid Plan Matters Now
···

National Grid Shares Rise After Profit Miss: Why the £70bn Grid Plan Matters Now

National Grid plc fell short of annual profit expectations Thursday, blaming higher storm-related repair costs in the U.S. Still, shares moved higher after the company reaffirmed its growth forecast and announced plans for at least £70 billion in network investments over five years. UK electricity and gas network operator reported adjusted operating profit at £5.68 billion for the year to March 31, slightly short of the £5.75 billion consensus pulled together by the company. Over in the U.S., storm costs climbed 7.4% to £636 million. Shares gained 2.3%, trading at 1,305 pence as of 0846 GMT.
May 14, 2026
Tate & Lyle Takeover Bid: Ingredion’s $3.7 Billion Approach Sends Shares Soaring
·····

Tate & Lyle Takeover Bid: Ingredion’s $3.7 Billion Approach Sends Shares Soaring

Tate & Lyle PLC on Thursday said it's talking with Ingredion, its U.S. competitor, about a possible all-cash buyout that would peg Tate & Lyle's value around £2.74 billion. The current offer on the table: up to 615 pence for each share, with 595 pence in cash and the rest—20 pence—potentially coming by way of dividends. Tate & Lyle has landed in the takeover spotlight barely a week before its full-year results. For investors battered by the squeeze on demand and margins, the move could offer an exit route. The bid ratchets up pressure on would-be buyers to spell out just how much extra they’re willing to pay for London-listed specialty ingredients names—especially as these firms shift away from less
May 14, 2026
Shell Plc Reveals $23.8 Billion Government Payments Before AGM Climate Vote
····

Shell Plc Reveals $23.8 Billion Government Payments Before AGM Climate Vote

Shell Plc reported $23.84 billion in payments to governments for 2025, a new tally of tax, royalty, and production remittances tied to its vast oil and gas operations, just ahead of a high-profile shareholder meeting. Timing comes into play here. Shell’s annual general meeting is set for May 19 in London, where a Follow This climate resolution will go to a vote. Investors are being asked how Shell’s plan stacks up if oil and gas demand drops. The company, though, is telling shareholders to vote it down.
May 14, 2026
SSE PLC Raises Profit Outlook Before Results — But Investors Eye the Accounting Catch
····

SSE PLC Raises Profit Outlook Before Results — But Investors Eye the Accounting Catch

SSE PLC raised its full-year profit outlook, after a shift in accounting treatment at Neos Networks reined in loss recognition. Investors get a clearer—though not cash-linked—boost as they wait for results May 28. The Perth-based group, focused on power networks and renewables, now sees adjusted earnings per share in the 149p-154p range, up from the 147p-152p it indicated in April. That accounting tweak should tack on 1.9p to adjusted earnings metrics, but prior reports won’t be restated, the company said. Timing is key here. SSE wants shareholders on board as it pushes through a major grid-build, and when May results hit, investors will be watching debt, cash flow and progress just as closely as profits.
May 14, 2026
BP Stock News: Uzbekistan Oil Deal Deepens Pivot as Whiting Labor Talks Loom
····

BP Stock News: Uzbekistan Oil Deal Deepens Pivot as Whiting Labor Talks Loom

BP grabbed a 40% stake in a production sharing deal for six oil and gas exploration blocks in Uzbekistan’s North Ustyurt region, underscoring the London-listed major’s renewed push into conventional energy. Under a production sharing agreement, output, costs, and profits are divvied up between the government and project partners. Timing’s a factor here. BP has barely started a leadership shakeup, with CEO Meg O’Neill stepping in April 1. She’s already signaled to employees that a reorg—splitting BP into upstream and downstream divisions—kicks off in June. It’s a return to something more like the traditional oil-major playbook, moving away from the renewables-heavy structure set up under Bernard Looney.
May 14, 2026
NatWest Group Plc Gets Fitch Boost as UK Bank Rules Face Shake-Up
···

NatWest Group Plc Gets Fitch Boost as UK Bank Rules Face Shake-Up

Fitch Ratings bumped NatWest Group Plc’s core banking arms up to AA from AA-, handing the lender a credit upgrade on the same day Britain announced plans to overhaul rules splitting retail banking from riskier trading. NatWest described the outlook for these entities as stable, noting the move came after Fitch revised its bank rating criteria. Timing is key. The new Enhancing Financial Services Bill from the government aims to overhaul the ring-fencing regime—the rulebook put in place after the crisis that requires major UK banks to separate their retail operations from their investment arms. According to Reuters, the rules target banks holding over £35 billion in retail deposits. That list includes NatWest, Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, and Santander UK.
May 14, 2026
Standard Chartered PLC Buyback Nears $1 Billion as Credit-Risk Test Hits StanChart Stock
····

Standard Chartered PLC Buyback Nears $1 Billion as Credit-Risk Test Hits StanChart Stock

Standard Chartered PLC picked up 801,239 shares of its own stock on May 13, shelling out an average of 1,871.7606 pence per share—roughly a 15.0 million pound buy. The $1.5 billion buyback rolls on, even as credit risks for Asia-focused banks draw scrutiny. These shares will be canceled, trimming the bank’s outstanding ordinary shares to 2,210,827,184. The timing isn’t arbitrary. Banks often roll out buybacks to flag that they’ve got excess capital on hand. This time, though, those moves are arriving just as investors are digging into loan-loss provisions — the buffer for potentially bad loans — with the Middle East conflict pushing up oil prices, interest rates, and balance-sheet risk for Asia-Pacific lenders.
May 14, 2026
Aviva Q1 Update: Premiums Jump 19% as Direct Line Deal Starts to Feed Through
···

Aviva Q1 Update: Premiums Jump 19% as Direct Line Deal Starts to Feed Through

Aviva plc reported a 19% jump in first-quarter general insurance premiums, reaching 3.4 billion pounds as Direct Line joined the portfolio and personal lines improved. Wealth net flows surged 49% to 3.3 billion pounds. The FTSE 100 insurer is sticking with its 2026 targets. Investors are watching closely to see if Chief Executive Amanda Blanc’s 3.7 billion pound Direct Line acquisition actually delivers growth without eroding margins or capital. The deal closed last year, and Aviva’s Q1 numbers now roll in Direct Line’s results under UK and Ireland personal lines.
May 14, 2026
RELX Stock Rebounds as AI Pressure Puts Its Risk Data Moat on Trial
····

RELX Stock Rebounds as AI Pressure Puts Its Risk Data Moat on Trial

Shares of RELX PLC bounced Thursday, with investors reacting to the company’s latest push: management touting the Risk division’s edge from its own data, AI, and automated decision tools—key weapons, they argue, for staying competitive in fraud, identity, and compliance. The stock, listed in London, climbed 2.25% to 2,385.50 pence as of 12:10 BST, according to a Cboe Europe estimate. That recouped a fraction of Wednesday’s 4.97% slide, when shares closed at 2,333 pence. Still, shares remain down 20.79% for the year, per MarketScreener data.
May 14, 2026
Rolls-Royce Share Price Faces Fresh Test as £2.3bn Buyback Meets Jet-Fuel Shock
····

Rolls-Royce Share Price Faces Fresh Test as £2.3bn Buyback Meets Jet-Fuel Shock

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc snapped up 1,828,412 of its own ordinary shares last week and plans to cancel the lot—underscoring its focus on capital returns as the turnaround narrative grinds on. Investors are now gauging the run-up in the stock against renewed pressure in global aviation. The tally so far: 52.7 million shares bought back as part of the £2.3 billion buyback, with an average purchase price of 1,201.13p, according to a regulatory filing. This shift is notable as Rolls-Royce shares are no longer moving in just one direction. According to AJ Bell, the stock was quoted at 1,201.8p for sellers on Thursday, slipping 0.25%. It’s still well below its 52-week peak of 1,420p, and the company’s market cap is now
May 14, 2026
Reckitt Benckiser’s AI Investor Day Has a Catch: No New Trading Update
····

Reckitt Benckiser’s AI Investor Day Has a Catch: No New Trading Update

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc plans to outline its approach to digital science and generative AI in research and development this Thursday during an investor seminar. The company behind Dettol, Durex, Lysol and Nurofen isn’t unveiling any fresh financial or trading details, but said its “Reckitt Focus On: Digital Science” event kicks off at 15:00 BST and will be streamed. The timing is what sets this session apart. In its April trading update, Reckitt posted a 0.6% rise in group like-for-like net revenue for the first quarter. Core Reckitt climbed 1.3%. Europe, though, fell 4.2%, while emerging markets jumped 7.6%. Like-for-like revenue takes out currency shifts and changes to the portfolio, aiming for a clearer picture of actual sales.
May 14, 2026
Intertek’s £9.4bn EQT Takeover Is Back in Play After Board U-Turn
····

Intertek’s £9.4bn EQT Takeover Is Back in Play After Board U-Turn

Intertek Group plc edged toward a potential sale to Sweden’s EQT after the board indicated it would likely back a £60-per-share cash offer—this comes after three prior rejections. EQT is now set to start confirmatory due diligence, those last reviews before any binding agreement is inked. What’s at stake? The latest proposal puts the London-listed product testing giant at roughly £9.4 billion, or $12.7 billion. That would make this Britain’s third-biggest private equity deal ever, trailing only BAA in 2006 and Alliance Boots in 2007, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters.
May 14, 2026
Rio Tinto’s New BP Hire Lands as Copper Boom Raises Stakes for the Miner
·····

Rio Tinto’s New BP Hire Lands as Copper Boom Raises Stakes for the Miner

Rio Tinto plc on Thursday tapped Trudi Charles, a longtime BP executive, as chief legal officer, governance and corporate affairs. The mining group, pushing further into copper and eyeing the critical minerals surge, slots Charles into a key risk and compliance seat. According to a regulatory notice, the news hit the ASX and LSE at 07:30 BST, with Charles due to start on Aug. 1. The title isn’t really the story here. Shares of Rio Tinto ended Wednesday at £82.72, up 4.44%—hitting a fresh 52-week high—as the FTSE 100 added 0.58%. That kind of rally is making even routine executive moves stand out more.
May 14, 2026
BAE Systems Named in $992 Million U.S.-Israel Rocket Sale as Defense Demand Stays Strong
····

BAE Systems Named in $992 Million U.S.-Israel Rocket Sale as Defense Demand Stays Strong

BAE Systems plc landed the role of principal contractor for a proposed U.S. arms deal with Israel, covering 10,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System-II rounds. The $992.4 million package appeared in a Federal Register notice on Thursday. Processed as a Foreign Military Sale, this U.S. government channel facilitates direct arms transfers between countries. According to the notice, APKWS-II features a laser-guidance system developed by BAE. It’s all about timing. Governments continue snapping up missiles, air defence gear and other munitions at a clip that outpaces what most defence factories can churn out, and BAE has zeroed in on those segments for its expansion. Reuters noted last week that the Iran conflict is fueling steady demand for the UK’s largest defence
May 14, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group’s £5,000 Mortgage Opens a Door — But Not for Every First-Time Buyer
····

Lloyds Banking Group’s £5,000 Mortgage Opens a Door — But Not for Every First-Time Buyer

Lloyds Banking Group plc is set to roll out a £5,000-deposit mortgage next week, easing the upfront cost for certain first-time buyers but maintaining strict eligibility rules. Starting May 18, the new loan will be offered via Lloyds, Halifax and through brokers. It’s tailored for those able to handle monthly payments but unable to amass a bigger deposit. Timing is key here. UK mortgage holders are dealing with renewed uncertainty around rates, as a Reuters poll finds most economists see the Bank of England keeping Bank Rate at 3.75% this year. Still, over a third now look for at least one increase before end-2026. Markets, though, were pricing in two hikes, according to Reuters.
May 14, 2026
Unilever’s $45 Billion McCormick Deal Faces Fresh Investor Heat After Terry Smith Exit
·····

Unilever’s $45 Billion McCormick Deal Faces Fresh Investor Heat After Terry Smith Exit

Unilever PLC’s board secured wide support from shareholders at its annual meeting, yet debate flared up again over the proposed merger of its food unit with McCormick & Co. The issue gained steam after veteran fund manager Terry Smith exited his stake in the maker of Dove and Vaseline. Shareholders gave the green light to all 21 resolutions put forward at the annual general meeting on May 13, according to a regulatory filing. Among the directors re-elected: Chief Executive Fernando Fernandez and activist investor Nelson Peltz, who secured backing from 98.35% of voting shareholders. Roughly 73% of eligible share capital participated in most of the votes.
May 14, 2026
Glencore PLC’s $2.55 Billion Financing Move Lands as Copper Rally Nears a Test
····

Glencore PLC’s $2.55 Billion Financing Move Lands as Copper Rally Nears a Test

Glencore PLC is bringing in a $2.55 billion oil-and-gas trade receivables securitisation, adding fresh working-capital firepower. The move comes as commodity traders juggle record copper prices and ongoing Middle East supply strains, both weighing on balance sheets. On May 12, FIS announced that Glencore picked its Supply Chain Finance Platform—previously known as Demica—to back the first supply chain finance programme in Glencore’s oil and gas commodities division. Trade receivables securitisation involves generating cash using outstanding customer payments, instead of letting invoices sit unpaid.
May 14, 2026
HSBC Holdings Plc Taps Debt Markets Again as Credit Risk Moves Back Into View
····

HSBC Holdings Plc Taps Debt Markets Again as Credit Risk Moves Back Into View

HSBC Holdings Plc raised $4.5 billion through U.S. dollar senior unsecured notes and another €3.5 billion in euro-denominated notes, with a fresh $1.5 billion capital security lined up for next week. The London lender’s latest funding push comes as scrutiny intensifies around capital cushions, credit costs, and rates. The timing here is key. HSBC’s common equity tier 1 ratio slipped to 14.0% by March’s end, compared with the previous quarter. The bank also bumped up its 2026 expected credit-loss guidance to about 45 basis points of average gross loans—a basis point equals one-hundredth of a percent. Chief Executive Georges Elhedery described efforts for a “simple, more agile” bank, saying he’s confident the group will hit its targets.
May 14, 2026
British American Tobacco Stock Nears a High After Two U.S. Turns Investors Wanted
····

British American Tobacco Stock Nears a High After Two U.S. Turns Investors Wanted

British American Tobacco climbed on Thursday, hitting 4,899.5 pence in London—right up at the peak of its 52-week range. Traders seemed to be rethinking the U.S. legal and regulatory outlook as the company pivots toward vapes and nicotine pouches. Timing is critical here. BAT has been weighed down by legacy sanctions exposure—one of its two major U.S. headaches. The other: a murky outlook for non-cigarette nicotine products, the category BAT is banking on as cigarette sales keep sliding over the long haul.
May 14, 2026
Spire Healthcare Group PLC Shares Surge as Toscafund’s £1bn Takeover Bid Revives Sale Talks
····

Spire Healthcare Group PLC Shares Surge as Toscafund’s £1bn Takeover Bid Revives Sale Talks

Shares of Spire Healthcare Group PLC surged Thursday, following news that Toscafund Asset Management—its number two shareholder—has put forward a non-binding cash bid valuing the hospital group at roughly £1.01 billion, or 250 pence per share. Timing is key here. Spire’s strategic review has been underway for a while, but now the sale process is back in play—earlier takeover talks with Bridgepoint and Triton fizzled out, stalling momentum. Reuters said Triton walked away in March.
May 14, 2026
1 … 182 183 184 185 186 … 492