News 9 March 2026 - 10 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, 3:05 PM EDT Shell to Buy ARC Resources for LNG Supply, Sells India Renewables Unit July 16, 2026, 2:55 PM EDT. Shell (LSE:SHEL) said it will buy ARC Resources, aiming to expand its North American gas for LNG and push ahead with the Dragon gas field in Venezuela. Shell is also leaving Indian renewables, selling Sprng Energy to Aditya Birla Renewables. The moves point to a shift toward gas assets and away from broader renewables. The company says the ARC deal lifts its LNG position and could impact
July 16, 2026
Entain PLC Draws Barclays 5% Stake as UK Gambling Tax Shake-Up Hits Rivals
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Entain PLC Draws Barclays 5% Stake as UK Gambling Tax Shake-Up Hits Rivals

Late Monday, Barclays revealed a 5.02% stake in Entain, putting it among the bookmaker’s largest declared shareholders. According to the TR-1 filing—a UK requirement triggered when investors pass significant ownership thresholds—Barclays controlled 32,126,575 voting rights in the company. This shift comes as investors weigh which betting firms can absorb Britain’s steeper online gambling taxes. Entain last week projected it could cushion roughly a quarter of the tax impact in 2026, and more than half from 2027 onward, relying on efficiency gains across the group.
March 10, 2026
United Utilities Group PLC starts two new water-quality projects as UK water scrutiny intensifies
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United Utilities Group PLC starts two new water-quality projects as UK water scrutiny intensifies

United Utilities Group PLC on Monday announced the launch of two new water-quality initiatives in northwest England. The company has begun construction of a stormwater tank in Barrow, while also kicking off a £5 million project in Lancashire aimed at reducing storm overflow spills. The changes come as Britain's water companies face mounting calls to tackle storm overflows—those emergency relief points triggered when rainfall floods the sewer system—following years of frustration about sewage spills. In December, Ofwat projected that bills in England and Wales could jump an average 36% between 2025 and 2030, supporting a £104 billion investment push.
March 10, 2026
Coca-Cola HBC AG Shares Buck FTSE Slide as Oil Shock Tests 2026 Profit Outlook
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Coca-Cola HBC AG Shares Buck FTSE Slide as Oil Shock Tests 2026 Profit Outlook

Shares of Coca-Cola HBC AG managed a small rise on Monday, closing at 4,500 pence—up 0.09%—even as the FTSE 100 slipped 0.3%. Investors took another look at the bottler’s growth outlook against the backdrop of surging oil and metals prices. Oil’s jump is translating straight into higher transport and distribution costs, and aluminium is central to can production. Brent finished up 6.8% after spiking as much as 29% during the session. Meanwhile, benchmark aluminium hit levels last seen in March 2022. IG market analyst Tony Sycamore noted traders found "no obvious off-ramp" as the crisis unfolded.
March 10, 2026
Rightmove plc Shares Slip Despite Fresh Buyback as AI Spending Doubts Linger
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Rightmove plc Shares Slip Despite Fresh Buyback as AI Spending Doubts Linger

Rightmove scooped up 210,000 of its own shares on Monday as part of its current buyback push, but that didn't stop shares from sliding 2.7% to 453 pence by the close. The UK property portal said it paid an average of 453.416 pence per share and plans to cancel the repurchased stock, reducing shares in issue to 761.27 million. Rightmove's reputation took a hit after its shares tumbled on the back of increased spending on artificial intelligence and other upgrades—investors weren't convinced. After Monday’s session, the stock finished roughly 45% off its 52-week peak. The big question lingers: when will all that extra investment actually translate into growth?
March 10, 2026
Airtel Africa Plc Buys 80,000 Shares as $100 Million Buyback Nears March 31 Deadline
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Airtel Africa Plc Buys 80,000 Shares as $100 Million Buyback Nears March 31 Deadline

Airtel Africa on Monday disclosed it snapped up 80,000 of its own shares, paying an average price of 345.59 pence apiece. The latest purchase adds to the telecom operator’s $100 million buyback program, which the company still expects to wrap up by March 31. The timing of the filing is notable, coming as the London-listed telecom group pushes ahead with plans to float Airtel Money—its mobile payments arm—in the first half of 2026. Back in January, Airtel reiterated its target, saying the unit that enables money transfers via mobile phones remained on course for that window.
March 10, 2026
M&G Plc Shares Slide Ahead of 2025 Results as Dividend and Cash Generation Face Test
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M&G Plc Shares Slide Ahead of 2025 Results as Dividend and Cash Generation Face Test

M&G Plc slipped 2.1%, ending Monday at 297 pence. With full-year 2025 results due Thursday, investors are watching for fresh numbers on profit, cash generation and the dividend. Analysts tracking M&G expect adjusted operating profit before tax to come in around 820 million pounds in 2025, a touch below the 837 million pounds projected for 2024, according to consensus figures posted on the company’s investor site. For operating capital generation—essentially surplus cash—the forecast is about 729 million pounds, sliding from 933 million pounds the previous year. A March 6 LSE tearsheet put the trailing stock yield near 6.66%.
March 10, 2026
Informa Plc presses on with £200 mln share buyback ahead of 2025 results as Gulf risks shadow outlook
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Informa Plc presses on with £200 mln share buyback ahead of 2025 results as Gulf risks shadow outlook

Informa disclosed on Monday it repurchased 1.363 million shares for cancellation last week through March 6, continuing its 2026 buyback program with at least 200 million pounds committed, just ahead of its annual results. After settlement, the B2B events and publishing company’s outstanding shares are set to drop to 1,279,627,119. According to its website, Informa plans to report full-year 2025 results this Thursday. Timing is key here. Buybacks cut the share count, boosting earnings per share—a basic profit gauge—and often hint at management’s confidence. Back in January, Informa projected 2025 revenue above 4.0 billion pounds, pegged adjusted EPS around 55.5 pence, and put adjusted free cash flow north of 860 million pounds. That’s the target set for Thursday.
March 10, 2026
Aviva plc Restarts £350 Million Buyback as Shares Slide — Why Analysts Still See Value
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Aviva plc Restarts £350 Million Buyback as Shares Slide — Why Analysts Still See Value

Aviva plc confirmed Monday it repurchased 20,000 shares for cancellation in a March 6 deal, part of the £350 million buyback announced last week. The shares still slipped 2.58% to finish at 611.2 pence, with the FTSE 100 down 0.34%. Aviva’s paused buybacks drew attention after its £3.7 billion Direct Line acquisition—a move that catapulted it to the top spot among UK home and motor insurers. Now that the deal is wrapped up, and after last week’s annual results, investors are less focused on M&A. Instead, the spotlight’s on whether the bigger group can address the valuation gap analysts called out Monday.
March 10, 2026
Hiscox Ltd Cancels More Shares as $300 Million Buyback Builds After Record Profit
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Hiscox Ltd Cancels More Shares as $300 Million Buyback Builds After Record Profit

Hiscox Ltd disclosed Monday it repurchased 69,849 shares on March 6, paying an average 1,459.08 pence apiece, with plans to cancel them. This forms part of the insurer’s ongoing $300 million buyback. The company noted it’s shifting to weekly, rather than daily, repurchase notices because of a change to UK listing rules, though trade details will remain unchanged. This update moves Hiscox’s buyback plan off the drawing board and into action, coming just days after the insurer flagged it with annual results. The Bermuda-based group expects to wrap up the initial $150 million tranche by the end of Q3. Up to 20.8 million shares are eligible for repurchase under the current shareholder mandate; Hiscox says it’s targeting a smaller share
March 10, 2026
Diageo plc Shares Stay Near Lows After Dave Lewis Slashes Dividend and Cuts Forecast
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Diageo plc Shares Stay Near Lows After Dave Lewis Slashes Dividend and Cuts Forecast

Diageo plc ended Monday down 0.29% at 1,521 pence, not far from the lows seen after CEO Dave Lewis slashed the drinks giant's 2026 sales outlook and took an axe to its interim dividend on Feb. 25. Shares dropped as low as 1,491.5 pence during the session before recovering some ground. This is hitting home for Diageo, with brands like Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Don Julio, and Guinness in the mix. Shares of Pernod Ricard, Remy Cointreau, and Campari dropped after Diageo's Feb. 25 update, reflecting deeper worries around premium spirits, as both the U.S. and China remain sluggish.
March 10, 2026
Legal & General Group Plc Shares Slide Ahead of Results as £1.2 Billion Buyback Comes Into Focus
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Legal & General Group Plc Shares Slide Ahead of Results as £1.2 Billion Buyback Comes Into Focus

Legal & General Group Plc slipped 1.8% Monday, trading around 249.9 pence. Investors, eyeing the insurer's full-year numbers due March 11, aren't zeroed in on earnings this time—the real attention is on capital returns and the speed of payout. L&G finished offloading its U.S. insurance business to Meiji Yasuda on Feb. 2, saying the deal unlocked £1.2 billion in Solvency II capital and pointing to an extra £1 billion earmarked for shareholders—boosting its planned 2026 buyback up to £1.2 billion. Chief Executive António Simões called the move one that “supports enhanced returns for shareholders.”
March 10, 2026
Imperial Brands PLC Shares Slip as London Selloff Puts Buyback, Dividend Support to the Test
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Imperial Brands PLC Shares Slip as London Selloff Puts Buyback, Dividend Support to the Test

Imperial Brands PLC slipped 0.6% to finish at 3,143 pence Monday, following the broader London market lower. UK equities came under pressure as oil-driven inflation jitters resurfaced, putting the spotlight back on the tobacco group’s steady cash returns. The FTSE 100 eased 0.3%. Imperial’s offering stability just when markets are twitchy. The stock shows an indicated yield near 5.1%. A £1.45 billion buyback is underway. Investors get the final dividend March 31, and the next trading update hits April 14.
March 10, 2026
Prudential plc Keeps Share Buyback Running as Full-Year Results Loom
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Prudential plc Keeps Share Buyback Running as Full-Year Results Loom

Prudential plc has cut its share total once more, according to a March 9 filing in Hong Kong. The company cancelled 364,056 shares purchased earlier in the week, while 729,486 shares picked up on March 5 and 6 are still pending cancellation. The update arrives right ahead of Prudential’s full-year 2025 numbers, set for March 18 in Hong Kong. Investors are eyeing new commentary on growth and any details on capital returns. Back in January, Prudential indicated its overarching capital plan aimed to hand out over $5 billion to shareholders between 2024 and 2027—even before counting any cash from the planned ICICI Prudential Asset Management IPO.
March 10, 2026
Experian PLC cuts VantageScore 4.0 to 99 cents in fresh challenge to FICO
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Experian PLC cuts VantageScore 4.0 to 99 cents in fresh challenge to FICO

Costa Mesa, Calif., March 9, 2026, 15:32 UTC-07:00. Experian on Monday put a 99-cent price tag on each VantageScore 4.0 mortgage origination score, slashing the cost for lenders sizing up home loan applicants and ramping up pressure on Fair Isaac’s FICO. The company, listed in London, said lenders buying a FICO score via its Score Choice bundle will keep getting the VantageScore free through 2026.
March 9, 2026
Haleon PLC’s Centrum Silver May Slow Biological Aging, Nature Medicine Study Finds
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Haleon PLC’s Centrum Silver May Slow Biological Aging, Nature Medicine Study Finds

Haleon’s Centrum Silver multivitamin showed a slight slowdown in biological aging markers among older adults, according to an ancillary analysis from the COSMOS trial, detailed in a Nature Medicine paper published Monday. The findings land as a scientific boost for the British consumer health group’s flagship brand. Timing counts for Haleon. Back on Feb. 25, the company set its sights on 2026 organic revenue growth between 3% and 5% — that’s excluding currency effects and recent acquisitions — after soft U.S. demand and aggressive price moves from competitors took a bite out of sales. “The squeeze is apparent even in over-the-counter medicines,” noted Chris Beckett at Quilter Cheviot.
March 9, 2026
British American Tobacco share buyback update: BAT repurchases stock as 2026 outlook stays cautious
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British American Tobacco share buyback update: BAT repurchases stock as 2026 outlook stays cautious

British American Tobacco p.l.c. disclosed Monday it repurchased 100,227 ordinary shares on March 6, paying an average of 4,300.2148 pence apiece—roughly 4.31 million pounds spent in this tranche of its ongoing buyback. Those shares are set for cancellation, trimming the total in issue to 2,174,255,596, not counting treasury stock. It's a modest buy, yet it comes as BAT dials up cash returns to placate shareholders. On Feb. 12, the group said it tapped Banco Santander to handle share purchases through April 22. Those shares will be cancelled, trimming the overall count.
March 9, 2026
National Grid plc stock back in focus as BofA lifts target after £70 billion plan
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National Grid plc stock back in focus as BofA lifts target after £70 billion plan

Bank of America bumped up its price target for National Grid to 1,525 pence from 1,300 on Monday, handing the British utility another dose of analyst support following last week’s growth upgrade. London-listed shares last changed hands at 1,332.5 pence, slipping 5 pence earlier in the session, Reuters data showed. This call comes as National Grid prepares to enter RIIO-T3, Ofgem’s upcoming five-year framework that will determine both spending caps and grid-owner returns. Back on March 2, the company projected that the regulator’s bump to allowed revenue would drive a 13% to 15% increase in underlying earnings per share by fiscal 2027.
March 9, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group plc hires Trusha Pillay as £1.75 billion buyback rolls on ahead of July strategy update
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Lloyds Banking Group plc hires Trusha Pillay as £1.75 billion buyback rolls on ahead of July strategy update

Lloyds Banking Group plc on Monday named Trusha Pillay as managing director within its infrastructure and project finance arm, tapping a senior executive with prior stints at BNP Paribas and MUFG. Pillay, who brings two decades of industry experience, is set to handle debt structuring and arrangement for clients spanning the UK, US, and Europe. She’ll report directly to Tony Hable, the bank said. This is significant: Britain’s top mortgage lender is ramping up efforts to move past its traditional retail stronghold. Reuters reported last month that Lloyds is looking to step up lending to larger corporate clients and financial institutions. Chief Executive Charlie Nunn is expected to outline the next phase of the bank’s strategy in July.
March 9, 2026
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc starts £540 million share buyback after Europe warning rattles investors
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Reckitt Benckiser Group plc starts £540 million share buyback after Europe warning rattles investors

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc kicked off its third share buyback tranche on Monday, targeting as much as 540 million pounds in purchases before July 27. The company behind Durex and Lysol said it plans to hold these newly bought shares in treasury. The timing is notable, landing just days after Reckitt’s annual results rattled investors—even though sales topped forecasts. The company cautioned that Europe would remain challenging, and that softer cold-and-flu sales would weigh on first-quarter demand. Buybacks trim outstanding shares and often lift earnings per share; Reckitt pointed out last week that EPS had already gotten a boost from a reduced share count.
March 9, 2026
Glencore plc weighs ASX listing after Rio Tinto talks collapse
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Glencore plc weighs ASX listing after Rio Tinto talks collapse

Glencore plc may consider listing in Australia if it means attracting more investors, the Australian Financial Review reports, suggesting the miner is still hunting for a boost after its merger bid with Rio Tinto fell through. Chief executive Gary Nagle said a second listing would let investors “another option other than Rio and BHP.” The Rio move has spotlighted a valuation gap, just as copper—essential for power grids and building projects—becomes central to mining industry playbooks. Glencore argued that the proposal failed to reflect the real worth of its copper unit and its expansion prospects. According to the AFR, Nagle views an Australian listing as a route to better acquaint local investors with Glencore and maybe give its shares a
March 9, 2026
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