News 17 March 2026 - 18 March 2026

Etihad Orders 10 Boeing Jets, Raising Talk of Hard-to-Get 787 Slots
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Stock Market Today: Live Updates 16.07.2026

LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: July 16, 2026, 4:00 AM EDTUpdated: July 16, 2026, 8:51 AM EDT Sydney Home Ownership Slides to 1950s Level on Affordability Strain July 16, 2026, 8:41 AM EDT. Sydney’s home ownership rate is now at its lowest since the 1950s, as the affordability crisis pushes more buyers out of reach. Soaring prices are keeping first-time buyers out, and some young families are moving out of the city. KPMG, using rental bonds and Australian Bureau of Statistics numbers, points to the deepening problem. The pressure is mounting for the New South Wales government to push ahead with higher-density
July 16, 2026
RELX PLC stock price slips after 24 million-share sale lands at 2,565p
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RELX PLC stock price slips after 24 million-share sale lands at 2,565p

Shares in RELX Plc slipped 1.44% to 2,594p at 1355 GMT on Wednesday, after 24 million shares changed hands overnight at 2,565 pence apiece. This deal drops about £615.6 million worth of shares onto the market, right as RELX is in the middle of its own buyback. On Tuesday, RELX disclosed it had bought back 487,344 shares at an average price of 2,591.1464p. The stock sale went out via a bookbuild—a quick-fire institutional placing that’s typically priced below market.
March 18, 2026
Rolls-Royce Share Price Today: Stock Rises on UltraFan Funding and Atlas Air Engine Order

Rolls-Royce Share Price Today: Stock Rises on UltraFan Funding and Atlas Air Engine Order

Shares in Rolls-Royce climbed 2.9% in London Wednesday, following news that the company won 64 million euros in EU funding for its UltraFan 30 project. Earlier this week, Rolls-Royce also announced a 40-engine order connected to Atlas Air’s new Airbus A350 freighters. As of 10:57 a.m. UTC, the stock was trading at 1,283.5 pence, Reuters data showed. The move is significant as investors have been probing whether Rolls can pick up speed again after pulling back from those record highs seen Feb. 26. On that day, the company lifted its 2026 and mid-term goals, reported 2025 underlying operating profit at 3.46 billion pounds—its favored metric, excluding certain one-offs—and mapped out a 7 billion to 9 billion pound buyback plan for
March 18, 2026
Primark Raises Pay to £13 for Great Britain Staff, Expands Repair Service as Retail Wage Race Intensifies
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Primark Raises Pay to £13 for Great Britain Staff, Expands Repair Service as Retail Wage Race Intensifies

Primark says over 27,000 retail employees across Great Britain will see their hourly rate bumped up to at least 13 pounds starting April 1. In London, the base jumps to 13.71 pounds an hour. The company has also expanded its clothing-repair pilot, now running in three shops. Timing is key here. With the new National Living Wage for workers 21 and over set at 12.71 pounds an hour from April 1, British retailers are already stepping up pay. Tesco on Wednesday announced a raise to 13.28 pounds for store and online fulfilment workers, effective March 29. Aldi, for its part, said last month it plans to pay at least 13.50 pounds an hour outside London starting in April.
March 18, 2026
Why Barclays PLC Stock Is Rising as UK Bank Shares Rebound Before Fed, BoE
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Why Barclays PLC Stock Is Rising as UK Bank Shares Rebound Before Fed, BoE

Barclays PLC gained roughly 1.6% in London on Wednesday, pushing shares to near 400 pence and ranking the bank as one of the FTSE 100’s top performers. This came on the heels of a 1.44% climb Tuesday, with Barclays outpacing the wider market both days. The gain is significant with investors recalibrating expectations for UK and U.S. rates. Global markets held firm as oil prices slipped, traders keeping an eye on the Fed. Over at J.P. Morgan, analysts pushed out their forecast for the Bank of England’s next cut, now eyeing the first quarter of 2027.
March 18, 2026
HSBC Stock Price Today: Shares Rise as Bank Launches $2.5 Billion AT1 Deal
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HSBC Stock Price Today: Shares Rise as Bank Launches $2.5 Billion AT1 Deal

HSBC was trading higher in London after the bank released a same-day filing regarding a capital securities issue. Shares stood at 1,210.6 pence as of 13:00 GMT, an increase of 3.4 pence. In Hong Kong, HSBC’s shares added HK$3.10 to reach HK$127.90, according to company figures. HSBC is heading back to the market for additional Tier 1, or AT1, capital—the kind of bank capital security that's been in focus after recent conflict jolted credit markets. The bank's plan: two $1.25 billion tranches of perpetual contingent convertible securities, set to pay 6.75% and 7.0%. According to Bloomberg News, this marks the first major-currency AT1 offering since the Iran conflict erupted.
March 18, 2026
Shell Plc Stock Hits Fresh 52-Week High as Oil Stays Above $100 and Buybacks Roll On
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Shell Plc Stock Hits Fresh 52-Week High as Oil Stays Above $100 and Buybacks Roll On

Shell Plc’s shares in London finished Tuesday at £34.74, up 1.73% and notching another 52-week high. That beat out the FTSE 100’s 0.83% rise. Volume ran below the usual pace, but the stock still managed to push into record territory. This shift is drawing attention as investors pile back into energy stocks, one of the few sectors solidly benefiting from the recent oil surge. In March alone, energy-sector funds have already attracted $2.1 billion, pacing toward their largest monthly haul in a dozen years. “The boom in energy stocks started as a value play and evolved into a geopolitical risk trade,” said David Russell, global head of market strategy at TradeStation Group. Grant Meyer at TruMix Advisors chimed in, pointing
March 18, 2026
BP Stock Price Near 52-Week High as Brent Stays Above $100, Whiting Lockout Adds Risk
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BP Stock Price Near 52-Week High as Brent Stays Above $100, Whiting Lockout Adds Risk

BP PLC shares slipped up to 554.3 pence in London on Wednesday, adding roughly 0.4% for the session and hovering near their 52-week peak. Brent crude has managed to stay above $100 a barrel for the fourth session running, with oil prices still swinging on anxiety over persistent supply risks in the Middle East. The timing is straightforward. Investors are weighing BP as both a winner from stronger oil prices and as a firm with notable risk tied to the Middle East—the very region behind the recent turmoil. According to Reuters calculations, roughly 22% of BP’s oil and gas production for 2025 is linked to the Middle East, including Egypt. That's compared to about 11% for Shell, and 34% for
March 18, 2026
Technology News 18.03.2026
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Technology News 18.03.2026

ENDEDLive coverage has endedEnded: March 19, 2026, 12:02 AM EDT Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra display shows angle-dependent variation even with Privacy Display off March 18, 2026, 11:54 PM EDT. Samsung acknowledged that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's display can vary in brightness and color when held at certain angles and at high brightness, but said the effect should not affect everyday use. Independent lab work cited by Tom's Guide suggests the S26 Ultra is slightly dimmer than the S25 Ultra even with Privacy Display off. GSMArena also notes a different panel structure under a microscope, especially when Privacy Display is on.
March 18, 2026
Suncorp Stock Price Back in Focus as Buyback Builds, June Note Payouts Set
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Suncorp Stock Price Back in Focus as Buyback Builds, June Note Payouts Set

Suncorp Group drew attention Wednesday after new ASX disclosures: the insurer reported another daily share buyback, and scheduled June-quarter distributions for three listed capital-note securities. Shares finished at A$15.71 on Tuesday, marking a 0.38% gain, according to market data. This update lands as Suncorp works to regain its footing—cash earnings took a 67% dive in the storm-battered first half, dragging shares down as much as 5.4% on Feb. 18. Chairman Duncan West described the stretch as “challenging,” but management stuck with the A$400 million buyback goal and said capital levels are still solid.
March 18, 2026
ANZ Share Price Falls Today After Mortgage Rate Move, Worldline Buyout Report
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ANZ Share Price Falls Today After Mortgage Rate Move, Worldline Buyout Report

Shares of ANZ Group Holdings Limited slipped Wednesday, despite the bank’s decision to push through the Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent rate hike to its borrowers. With delayed data, the stock was showing a 2.3% drop, trading at A$36.67 as of 11:08 a.m. AEDT. The drop is notable—ANZ had just reached a record high of A$40.20 in February, buoyed by first-quarter profit gains and early traction on CEO Nuno Matos’ cost-cutting push. Now, shares sit nearly 9% off that top. Investors appear less interested in the immediate benefit from higher mortgage rates, and more focused on execution and deal risk.
March 18, 2026
Macquarie Share Price Today Climbs After Group Exits $7 Billion Kuwait Pipeline Deal
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Macquarie Share Price Today Climbs After Group Exits $7 Billion Kuwait Pipeline Deal

Macquarie Group shares got a lift on Wednesday, jumping roughly 0.8% to around A$197.3 in late-morning Sydney action. Investors responded after Reuters said the firm had dropped out of the running for Kuwait’s oil pipeline network—a deal that could fetch up to $7 billion. This marks one of the earliest documented cases of an investor pulling out of a Gulf asset sale linked to the Iran war. Macquarie's decision comes just weeks after the group, based in Sydney, reported stronger profits across every major division for the third quarter of fiscal 2026.
March 18, 2026
Telstra Share Price Nears 52-Week High as Buyback Tops A$713 Million — Why TLS Stock Is in Focus
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Telstra Share Price Nears 52-Week High as Buyback Tops A$713 Million — Why TLS Stock Is in Focus

Telstra Group closed Tuesday at A$5.25, sticking near its 52-week peak after the telecom firm logged another round of on-market buybacks in a March 17 ASX disclosure. Shares edged up roughly 0.2% for the day. Here’s the gist: Telstra’s new filing breathes more life into its capital-return narrative. Not even a month has passed since the company bumped its programme cap up to A$1.25 billion. A buyback trims down the number of shares on the market, potentially boosting earnings per share—assuming the business keeps its growth streak.
March 18, 2026
Santos Stock Price Today: Why ASX STO Held Firm as Oil Hit $103 and Rates Rose
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Santos Stock Price Today: Why ASX STO Held Firm as Oil Hit $103 and Rates Rose

Santos Limited shares ticked higher on March 17, closing at A$7.71, with Brent crude finishing the session at $103.42 a barrel. Renewed Iranian attacks on the UAE rattled nerves over Middle East supply, feeding into the move. That kept Santos—Australia’s No. 2 oil and gas producer—firmly on traders’ radar. The clock’s a factor here. Back in January, Santos flagged a boost in 2026 output, hinging on the Barossa gas project and Alaska’s Pikka oil ramping up. CEO Kevin Gallagher projected the pair would “lift Santos’ production by around 25 to 30 per cent by 2027.”
March 18, 2026
National Australia Bank Limited Share Price Today: NAB Stock Rises After RBA Hike
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National Australia Bank Limited Share Price Today: NAB Stock Rises After RBA Hike

Shares of National Australia Bank Ltd jumped on Tuesday, tracking gains after the country’s central bank delivered its second consecutive rate hike—a trend investors typically link to stronger bank profits. LSEG figures on Reuters indicated NAB was last up 0.85% at A$47.46 in delayed action. NAB has lingered close to all-time highs since February, after a robust first-quarter update drove shares to A$47.96. For the three months ended Dec. 31, the bank reported A$2.02 billion in cash earnings—its favored metric for underlying profit. Net interest margin landed at 1.80%, as NAB battled with Commonwealth Bank and Westpac for customer business.
March 18, 2026
UK Petrol Prices Jump Again as Iran Conflict Opens a 49p Gap Between M1 Pumps and London’s Cheapest Stations
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UK Petrol Prices Jump Again as Iran Conflict Opens a 49p Gap Between M1 Pumps and London’s Cheapest Stations

UK petrol prices ticked higher on Tuesday, with almost 49 pence a litre separating the most expensive motorway stop on the M1 from the lowest price posted at a London forecourt. Crude held above $100 a barrel, underpinned by supply worries tied to the conflict. RAC figures put average unleaded at 142.29p per litre, diesel at 162.06p. Spot checks from the Guardian and Secret London found prices ranging from 172.9p on the M1 to as low as 123.9p in Camden. Right now, the spread is hard to ignore. Motorists are feeling the squeeze from both ends: national average prices keep climbing, and the gap between local stations has gotten wide enough to make picking your route pay. The timing isn’t
March 17, 2026
Westpac Stock Price Rises After RBA Hike as Lender Lifts Mortgage Rates
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Westpac Stock Price Rises After RBA Hike as Lender Lifts Mortgage Rates

Westpac Banking Corp finished Tuesday up 1.39% at A$41.49, as the Reserve Bank of Australia opted for a split decision to boost the cash rate by 25 basis points—taking it to 4.10%. Why does it matter? Higher policy rates let banks protect their net interest margins—the difference between income from loans and what’s paid out on deposits. The RBA’s narrow 5-4 vote reopens the debate: was March just a blip, or does it signal the start of more hikes? “The domestic data flow alone justified a rate hike today,” Commonwealth Bank’s Belinda Allen said. For May, though, Westpac’s Luci Ellis called another move “less certain.”
March 17, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Share Price Rises After RBA Hike, but Split Vote Clouds Outlook
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia Share Price Rises After RBA Hike, but Split Vote Clouds Outlook

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares finished Tuesday at A$176.12, a 0.34% gain, after the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted rates by a quarter point and CBA confirmed it will pass the full increase on to mortgage customers. The bank announced variable home-loan rates will go up 25 basis points, or 0.25 percentage point, starting March 27. This is relevant right now because CBA, the country’s top lender, serves as a gauge for the wider banking sector. While higher policy rates typically boost net interest margins — that’s the gap between what banks make on loans versus what they pay out on deposits — the RBA’s 5-4 split suggests that further tightening, along with any incremental earnings upside, could prove tougher
March 17, 2026
BHP stock price rises as miner files $5 billion Escondida plan, advances Arizona copper project
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BHP stock price rises as miner files $5 billion Escondida plan, advances Arizona copper project

BHP Group climbed 1.1% to finish at A$49.73 in Sydney on Tuesday, after news that the miner had sought environmental clearance for a new ore-processing facility at its Escondida site in Chile. The company also advanced its Resolution Copper project in Arizona toward the next stage. BHP is doubling down on copper at a time when its iron ore segment is running into new headwinds in China. Back in February, the company reported copper made up 51% of operating earnings for the half—marking the first time that figure topped iron ore’s contribution.
March 17, 2026
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