News 16 May 2026

LSEG Shares Fall Late Friday After AI Data News
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LSEG Shares Fall Late Friday After AI Data News

London Stock Exchange Group shares closed Friday at 9,132 pence, down 0.87%, as the FTSE 100 dropped 1.7% amid political and economic concerns. Despite the fall, LSEG ended the week 1% higher than the previous Friday. The company reported a 9.8% rise in first-quarter income and continued its share buyback program. LSEG also announced new AI and climate-index partnerships during the week.
May 16, 2026
Tesco Shares in Focus as Buyback Runs Into FTSE Pressure
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Tesco Shares in Focus as Buyback Runs Into FTSE Pressure

Tesco shares closed at 448.80 pence on Friday, down 0.42% for the day and 3.9% for the week, despite the company buying back nearly 5 million shares on May 14. CEO Ken Murphy’s pay rose to £10.8 million, according to Tesco’s annual report published the same day. The FTSE 100 fell 1.7% Friday amid political and economic uncertainty. Tesco’s AGM is set for June 18.
May 16, 2026
Anglo American Drops After Big Run; Monday in Focus
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Anglo American Drops After Big Run; Monday in Focus

Anglo American shares fell 5.66% to 3,833p in London on Friday, erasing much of a midweek surge to a 52-week high. The drop followed a sharp decline in metals prices, with copper down about 5% and London miners broadly lower. The FTSE 100 lost 1.71%. Anglo’s planned merger with Teck Resources remains pending regulatory approval.
May 16, 2026
Banks, Oil, Jobs Data Put ASX 200 on Notice After Volatile Week
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Banks, Oil, Jobs Data Put ASX 200 on Notice After Volatile Week

The S&P/ASX 200 closed Friday down 0.1% at 8,630.8, ending the week 1.2% lower—its weakest in over three weeks. Financials dropped 4.3% for the week after budget housing-tax changes hit bank mortgage-growth outlooks. Commonwealth Bank lost nearly A$30 billion in market value midweek before rebounding 1.9% Friday. Miners rose 1.7% for the week despite a sharp Friday pullback.
May 16, 2026
GSK Stock Goes Ex-Dividend Today: Why the 17p Payout Comes With a Bigger Pipeline Test
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GSK Shares Face Monday Test After Dividend Hit, China Drug Deal And Buyback

GSK shares closed Friday at 1,862.5p, down 0.5% on the day but up 1.1% for the week, as the FTSE 100 ended a weak session. Trading volume reached 11.08 million shares. The stock went ex-dividend Thursday and faces scrutiny after a China hepatitis B deal and the launch of a final buyback tranche. Investors remain cautious following GSK’s mixed first-quarter results.
May 16, 2026
SSE Stock Just Took a 9% Weekly Hit. Monday’s Gilt Open Could Decide What Comes Next
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SSE Stock Just Took a 9% Weekly Hit. Monday’s Gilt Open Could Decide What Comes Next

SSE PLC shares dropped 7.65% to 2,271 pence Friday, closing 17.94% below their April 13 high as the FTSE 100 fell 1.71%. The selloff came ahead of preliminary results due May 28 and amid rising UK gilt yields and political uncertainty. SSE’s week-to-week loss totaled about 9.4%. Other utilities, including National Grid and Centrica, also posted steep declines.
May 16, 2026
Rio Tinto 52-week high wobbles ahead of Monday open
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Rio Tinto 52-week high wobbles ahead of Monday open

Rio Tinto shares fell 4.76% in London on Friday to 7,766p, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 1.71% drop and retreating from a midweek 52-week high. Copper prices slid 4.81% on May 15, adding pressure to miners globally. Rio’s first-quarter copper output rose to 229,000 tons, and the company maintained its 2026 Pilbara iron ore sales forecast. Rio named Trudi Charles as chief legal officer, effective August 1.
May 16, 2026
NatWest in Focus Monday After UK Bank Selloff and New Buyback
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NatWest in Focus Monday After UK Bank Selloff and New Buyback

NatWest shares closed at 561.2p on Friday, down 1.6% for the day and 3.2% for the week, amid a broader selloff in UK banks and the FTSE 100. The bank disclosed it bought and plans to cancel 3.67 million shares during the week. Barclays and Lloyds also fell more than 2% as gilt yields rose and investors sold sterling. NatWest’s first-quarter profit rose to £2.0 billion, but it cut its UK GDP forecast.
May 16, 2026
Lloyds shares fall ahead of UK bank rule changes
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Lloyds shares fall ahead of UK bank rule changes

Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 2.63% to 94.06 pence Friday, closing the week about 5% below their May 8 level amid a broader selloff in UK bank stocks. Investors reacted to rising UK borrowing costs, political uncertainty around Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and speculation over changes to bank taxes and ring-fencing rules.
May 16, 2026
Unilever in focus as traders look to Monday open after slump
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Unilever in focus as traders look to Monday open after slump

Unilever closed Friday at 4,207p in London, down 0.39%, near its April low after a week of selling in UK markets. Reuters reported Blackstone and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice are exploring bids for Magnum Ice Cream, spun out of Unilever less than six months ago. Unilever retains a 19.9% stake in Magnum. The FTSE 100 fell 1.7% on Friday amid political and inflation concerns.
May 16, 2026
BP Shares Outpaced FTSE; Monday Trading Tied to Oil Shock
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BP Shares Outpaced FTSE; Monday Trading Tied to Oil Shock

BP shares closed Friday up 2.13% at 552.20 pence, bucking a 1.7% drop in the FTSE 100. Reuters reported BP plans to dismantle its pipeline gas trading team, shifting staff to LNG and cutting around 20 roles. BP is also considering selling some Egyptian gas assets after output there fell 40% in 2025. Brent crude settled at $109.26 a barrel, up 3.35% on shipping concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
May 16, 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.