News 25 April 2026 - 26 April 2026

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

Stock Market Today: Live Updates 15.07.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 15, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 15, 2026, 11:46 AM EDT RECI trust's 10.3% yield: £2,000 could be worth £2,396 by July 2027, analysts say July 15, 2026, 10:12 AM EDT. Real Estate Credit Investments (LSE:RECI), a FTSE-listed trust lending to European property developers, is paying a 10.3% dividend yield. The shares are down 8% in the last year, leaving them at a 15% discount to net asset value. But the dividend has held at 3p per share each quarter. The trust makes money on higher rates in riskier parts of the real estate market. European
July 15, 2026
United Utilities Group PLC’s £34m River Irwell Works Put Rising Water Bills to the Test
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United Utilities Group PLC’s £34m River Irwell Works Put Rising Water Bills to the Test

United Utilities Group PLC is moving forward with more than £34 million worth of sewer and storm-tank upgrades across Bury, Prestwich and Whitefield. The local work carries weight beyond the region, putting Britain’s water industry to the test: can steeper bills actually deliver cleaner rivers? According to the company, these projects aim to reduce the frequency that storm overflows — those pressure-release outlets for excess wastewater and rain when the sewers can’t cope — spill into the River Irwell and its tributaries. Timing is crucial here. With the 2025-30 investment cycle already started, water companies now face intensified scrutiny—not just from regulators, but from politicians and customers fed up with sewage spills. United Utilities has laid out a £13 billion
April 26, 2026
Intel Stock Surge Sends S&P 500, Nasdaq to Records. The Hard Part Starts Now
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Intel Stock Surge Sends S&P 500, Nasdaq to Records. The Hard Part Starts Now

Intel’s shares surged 23.65%, powering both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite to fresh record highs Friday as upbeat sales guidance—driven by AI demand—sparked a rally in chipmakers. The S&P 500 added 0.80% to 7,165.08, while the Nasdaq advanced 1.63% to 24,836.60. The Dow didn’t join the party, slipping 0.16%. This all comes down to timing. Next week, earnings from Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Apple are on deck, with the Fed meeting thrown in for good measure. Intel’s surge landed first, serving as an early gauge: is AI-fueled spending still enough to prop up these lofty market caps after the run-up? “A big week for confirmation of the rally,” said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise.
April 26, 2026
3i Group Shares Drop Again as Action Growth Worries Put May Results in Focus
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3i Group Shares Drop Again as Action Growth Worries Put May Results in Focus

Shares of 3i Group slipped further on Friday, wrapping up a tough week for the UK investment firm as scrutiny over its heavy stake in Dutch discount chain Action lingered. The stock finished 1.83% lower at 2,627.50 pence in London, matching its intraday low. This shift matters because the stock isn't being seen as a straightforward compounding play anymore. Shares are now trading under estimated net asset value—NAV measures assets minus debt—and with 3i set to post full-year numbers to March 31 on May 14, investors are watching closely.
April 25, 2026
IAG Fares Are Set To Rise As British Airways Owner Faces A Fuel Shock
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IAG Fares Are Set To Rise As British Airways Owner Faces A Fuel Shock

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA plans to hike ticket prices in response to climbing jet fuel costs, though the British Airways parent said it hasn’t encountered any supply disruptions so far. The company cautioned it was “not immune” to the broader impact from the Iran-war-driven spike in fuel prices. An IAG spokesperson added that the group is urging governments for more leeway on airport slots—crucial takeoff and landing rights airlines must typically use to retain—so carriers can operate more efficiently as expenses mount. The fuel pinch has broken out of the oil patch. Brent crude wrapped up Friday at $105.33 a barrel—up roughly 16% over the past week. Reuters, citing shipping data, reported just five vessels cleared the Strait of
April 25, 2026
Intertek Rejects EQT’s £8.3 Billion Takeover Bid as May Deadline Looms
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Intertek Rejects EQT’s £8.3 Billion Takeover Bid as May Deadline Looms

Intertek Group plc has turned down a sweetened £8.3 billion bid from Sweden-based EQT AB, sticking to its view that the private equity firm’s £54-per-share cash offer doesn’t fairly value the London-listed testing and certification group. The board rejected this latest proposal “unanimously and unequivocally” on Friday, according to a regulatory filing, after receiving the revised approach on April 21. The process moves forward, with EQT facing a 5 p.m. London deadline on May 14 to either confirm a formal offer or walk away—unless the UK Takeover Panel decides to grant more time.
April 25, 2026
Standard Chartered’s £500 Million Solar Deal Puts UK Clean-Energy Finance Back in Play
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Standard Chartered’s £500 Million Solar Deal Puts UK Clean-Energy Finance Back in Play

Standard Chartered PLC is backing as much as 500 million pounds in financing for a set of UK solar and battery projects—another clean-energy push for the Asia-focused lender, as Britain ramps up efforts to boost power investment. London-listed lender Standard Chartered is stepping in as mandated lead arranger, bookrunner, lender and hedging counterparty on a senior secured platform financing aimed at backing solar photovoltaic projects paired with battery energy storage systems—those BESS units that store power and discharge it when demand spikes. The financing covers development, construction and ongoing operations.
April 25, 2026
British Airways Pilot Salary 2026: Pay Deal Vote Puts Strike Risk And CEO Pay In Focus
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British Airways Pilot Salary 2026: Pay Deal Vote Puts Strike Risk And CEO Pay In Focus

London—April 25, 2026, 22:04 BST A 79-page pay deal is up for a vote by British Airways pilots next week, renewing the risk of strike threats right ahead of the airline’s critical summer rush. At the same time, new figures for BA pilot salaries and Chief Executive Sean Doyle’s 2026 pay have surfaced, spotlighting the company’s pay practices.
April 25, 2026
Haleon PLC Stock Faces Q1 Demand Test After Friday Rebound
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Haleon PLC Stock Faces Q1 Demand Test After Friday Rebound

Haleon PLC picked up 1.02% to finish Friday at 355.20p in London trading, ahead of what’s expected to be a busy stretch for the consumer-health company. Still, the shares showed a 0.95% drop over the last five sessions and remain 5.23% lower year-to-date, according to MarketScreener data. April 29 is on the radar, with Haleon set to deliver its first trading update since outlining a 3% to 5% organic revenue growth goal for 2026. Organic growth, which excludes impacts from currency shifts and acquisitions, helps investors focus on core sales performance. The company’s 2026 annual meeting lands on the same date, according to its calendar.
April 25, 2026
St. James’s Place Buyback Puts Shares in Focus Before Crucial Q1 Update
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St. James’s Place Buyback Puts Shares in Focus Before Crucial Q1 Update

St. James’s Place Plc snapped up 234,313 ordinary shares on April 23, planning to cancel them as part of its ongoing buyback effort—just ahead of a key update on client flows. The shares changed hands at an average price of 1,280.3336 pence each. Once cancelled, the company’s ordinary shares outstanding will stand at 519,164,225. Timing’s crucial here. SJP shares finished Friday off 2.75% at £12.58, lagging a soft FTSE 100. The company’s got its first-quarter new business update scheduled for April 29, with the AGM set for the following day.
April 25, 2026
Compass Group Stock Beats FTSE Before May Results as AI Risk Stays in View
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Compass Group Stock Beats FTSE Before May Results as AI Risk Stays in View

Compass Group shares finished Friday in the green, outpacing the broader UK market. Investors focused on the world’s biggest caterer’s half-year report, coming up in May, marking its first set of results since its London listing transitioned to dollars. On April 24, the stock delivered a 0.96% total return for the day, even as the FTSE 100 dropped 0.75%, according to AJ Bell market data. Compass is under pressure as investors weigh whether growth in North American workplace dining and fresh contracts will continue to balance out concerns that artificial intelligence might shrink office job numbers at certain clients. Back in February, Reuters noted the shares fell to a three-year low despite Compass topping quarterly revenue forecasts. Analysts at the
April 25, 2026
Hiscox Ltd Shares Slip After Dividend Cutoff, Putting $300 Million Buyback In Focus
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Hiscox Ltd Shares Slip After Dividend Cutoff, Putting $300 Million Buyback In Focus

Hiscox Ltd shares edged lower Friday once the Bermuda-based, London-listed insurer crossed the record date for its 2025 final dividend. With that in the rearview, investors are now eyeing the $300 million buyback and the first-quarter trading statement coming up next month. The stock slipped 3 pence, down 0.19%, ending at 1,560p in London. Around 4.13 million shares changed hands. Not a dramatic move, but it arrived as the income event firmed up. Now, investors are watching for evidence that last year’s underwriting gains are sustainable.
April 25, 2026
Tesco Stock: £750m Buyback Moves Fast as Profit Risk Keeps Investors on Edge
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Tesco Stock: £750m Buyback Moves Fast as Profit Risk Keeps Investors on Edge

Tesco PLC wasted no time launching its £750 million buyback. In a Friday filing, the company disclosed snapping up 415,797 ordinary shares on April 23, paying an average 481.00 pence apiece, with plans to cancel them. That brings the tally since the program’s start to 822,350 shares—roughly £4.0 million in value. The timing of the buyback is notable, hitting the market as investors face a broader profit forecast this financial year and grapple with a UK consumer squeeze tied to the Iran war. Back on April 22, Tesco announced its programme could total £750 million by April 2027, starting with a £250 million tranche managed by Citigroup. A buyback like this means the company is purchasing and cancelling its own
April 25, 2026
NatWest Group Plc Buyback Sharpens Q1 Earnings Test for UK Bank Investors
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NatWest Group Plc Buyback Sharpens Q1 Earnings Test for UK Bank Investors

NatWest Group Plc plans to cancel shares acquired through its buyback program after wrapping up another week of repurchases. This move comes with capital returns in mind, just ahead of the British bank’s first-quarter earnings. According to a Friday filing, UBS AG, London Branch handled purchases between April 20 and April 24, with prices falling between 575.6 pence and 613 pence. Once these settle, NatWest said it will have 7.974 billion ordinary shares outstanding, excluding those held in treasury. Timing comes into play here. NatWest is set to release Q1 2026 results at 7 a.m. BST on May 1, with management stepping up for a presentation at 9 a.m. It’ll be the year’s first clear shot for investors to gauge
April 25, 2026
Legal & General Shares Drop After Dividend Shift — Now A £1.2bn Buyback Is Back In Focus
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Legal & General Shares Drop After Dividend Shift — Now A £1.2bn Buyback Is Back In Focus

Legal & General Group Plc slipped on Friday, finishing at roughly 252p. The drop followed the stock’s ex-dividend adjustment—technical, but enough to turn attention back to the insurer’s capital-return ambitions. With markets closed, Hargreaves Lansdown quotes showed the shares at 252.60p/252.65p, off 0.61% on the day and marked ex-dividend. Timing is key here. For 2025, Legal & General’s final dividend comes in at 15.67 pence per share, according to S&P Capital IQ data on MarketScreener. Investors looking to qualify need to own shares before the April 23 ex-dividend date; the record date follows on April 24, with payment scheduled for June 4.
April 25, 2026
Imperial Brands PLC Stock Faces Buyback Test After Morgan Stanley Downgrade
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Imperial Brands PLC Stock Faces Buyback Test After Morgan Stanley Downgrade

Imperial Brands PLC pressed on with its £1.45 billion buyback this Friday, picking up 179,206 shares for cancellation—a standard move, but one that landed just as Morgan Stanley slapped the tobacco group with a new downgrade. The company shelled out an average 2,768.2686 pence per share. Once the purchase clears and the shares are cancelled, Imperial’s share count drops to 778,437,959 ordinary shares. Buybacks are carrying much of the weight for the Imperial Brands investment story these days, as doubts swirl about cigarette price hikes making up for flagging market share. London markets shut for the weekend with Imperial finishing Friday at 2,769p, slipping 0.11%.
April 25, 2026
Bank of England Warning Puts Global Stocks on Notice as AI and Private Credit Risks Build
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Bank of England Warning Puts Global Stocks on Notice as AI and Private Credit Risks Build

Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden says global equities are trading above sustainable levels and warned of a likely pullback, arguing that stock prices are overlooking significant risks to the global economy. “There’s a lot of risk out there,” Breeden told the BBC. The Bank, she added, anticipates a market correction at some stage. The timing of the warning is awkward, hitting just as markets diverge. London’s FTSE 100 keeps slipping, while tech-driven gains have sent Wall Street and Tokyo to fresh highs. Investor bets that Middle East turmoil won’t dent company earnings are holding up sentiment.
April 25, 2026
Rio Tinto’s A$1.5 Million Cyclone Pledge Puts Pilbara Risk Back in View
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Rio Tinto’s A$1.5 Million Cyclone Pledge Puts Pilbara Risk Back in View

Rio Tinto is putting up A$1.5 million for Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services to assist communities hit by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle—a move that comes after the storm knocked out some of the miner’s Pilbara iron ore logistics. The funds are earmarked for relief efforts, reconstruction, and longer-term resilience projects, the company said. The Pilbara’s significance runs deeper for Rio than just a regional concern — it's the backbone of the miner’s iron ore operations. Cyclones keep knocking shipments off course: back in late March, Rio said Cyclones Mitchell and Narelle together disrupted about 8 million tonnes of iron ore shipments. Still, the company stuck with its 2026 Pilbara shipment outlook, keeping the range at 323 million
April 25, 2026
Palantir Stock Just Got a $200 Wake-Up Call as PLTR’s AI Bet Faces Its Next Test
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Palantir Stock Just Got a $200 Wake-Up Call as PLTR’s AI Bet Faces Its Next Test

Palantir Technologies' shares have been under pressure, but Rosenblatt Securities analyst John McPeake isn’t budging. He reaffirmed his Buy rating and left his $200 price target untouched—standing behind one of the highest-priced large-cap software stocks in the AI sector. Investors, though, are blunt: can Palantir’s growth actually justify that kind of valuation? Timing is key here. Palantir’s first-quarter earnings arrive May 4, the first update since its bold 2026 targets and a stretch of fresh government contracts. The company projects Q1 revenue between $1.532 billion and $1.536 billion, with a full-year forecast of $7.182 billion to $7.198 billion.
April 25, 2026
National Grid Shares Rise Again as £70 Billion Investment Plan Faces May Results Test
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National Grid Shares Rise Again as £70 Billion Investment Plan Faces May Results Test

National Grid plc shares climbed again Friday, finishing 0.61% higher at 1,295p after Thursday’s 0.97% advance, according to market data. Investors appeared willing to return to the UK utility ahead of a May results update, which could challenge the company’s long-term investment case. National Grid’s timeline is key here, since management has already pointed to a short-term earnings headwind. In a recent U.S. filing, the company said results for the year ended March 31 matched forecasts, but it put the dent from customer refund charges—tied to the March 19 FERC ruling on New England Transmission—and higher-than-planned U.S. storm expenses at about 1p per share on underlying earnings. Investors get the full-year numbers May 14.
April 25, 2026
GSK’s Jemperli Court Fight Just Got Tougher Before Q1 Earnings
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GSK’s Jemperli Court Fight Just Got Tougher Before Q1 Earnings

Tesaro, the GSK plc subsidiary, took a hit Friday when the Delaware Court of Chancery tossed out its claim that AnaptysBio had anticipatorily breached their Jemperli cancer-drug partnership. The court’s move leaves the door open for the larger licensing dispute to continue. It’s a tough moment for GSK. The drugmaker, listed in London, is set to release its first-quarter numbers on Wednesday, April 29, at 0700 BST. Investors want to see evidence that the company’s push into oncology and specialty drugs under Chief Executive Luke Miels is still driving growth.
April 25, 2026
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