News 15 May 2026

Nextpower Shares Set to Resume Tuesday After Volatile Week
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Nextpower Shares Set to Resume Tuesday After Volatile Week

Nextpower Inc. closed Friday at $130.50, up 7.83% for the day but down 9.6% for the week, as U.S. markets shut Monday for Memorial Day. The company posted record fiscal 2026 revenue of $3.56 billion and raised its 2027 outlook. Nextpower agreed to acquire power conversion assets from Zigor and Apex Power for $80.5 million, pending approvals. Wall Street remains divided on the stock’s prospects.
May 25, 2026
BHP Group Ltd Stock Slides After Record Run as New CEO’s Copper Plan Takes Centre Stage
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BHP Group Ltd Stock Slides After Record Run as New CEO’s Copper Plan Takes Centre Stage

BHP shares fell 2.58% to A$60.46 on Friday after hitting a record A$61.61 earlier in the week, as investors took profits and metals prices eased. Incoming CEO Brandon Craig pitched copper-led growth via existing mines, partnerships, and small acquisitions, ruling out large deals like the failed Anglo American bid. The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.12%, with mining stocks broadly lower.
May 15, 2026
Diageo plc Shake-Up: Guinness Maker’s New CEO Cuts Top Ranks as U.S. Slump Bites
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Diageo plc Shake-Up: Guinness Maker’s New CEO Cuts Top Ranks as U.S. Slump Bites

Diageo is removing several senior executives, including North America chief marketing officer Ed Pilkington and Africa president Hina Nagarajan, as CEO Dave Lewis advances a turnaround plan, Bloomberg reported. The company will merge its Africa and Europe divisions, according to the Irish Times. The moves follow weak North American sales and a 28.9% drop in Diageo’s share price over the past year. Lewis will present a strategy update in August.
May 15, 2026
Halma Share Price Falls From 52-Week High as June Results Test Nears
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Halma Share Price Falls From 52-Week High as June Results Test Nears

Halma plc shares fell 3.71% to 4,520 pence in London on Friday, retreating from a 52-week high set Thursday, ahead of full-year results due June 11. The drop outpaced the FTSE 100’s 1.73% decline. Halma’s market value stood at £17.82 billion with a trailing P/E ratio of 51.32. The company recently acquired Surgistar and expects mid-teens organic revenue growth for the year.
May 15, 2026
M&S Shares Face Results Test as Marks & Spencer Starts £340 Million Warehouse Build
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M&S Shares Face Results Test as Marks & Spencer Starts £340 Million Warehouse Build

Marks & Spencer has started work on a £340 million automated food distribution centre in Northamptonshire, its largest supply-chain investment, set to open in 2029 and serve over 200 stores. The company also agreed to buy a Lichfield fashion distribution site from ASOS for £67.5 million. Shares traded at 320.90 pence on Friday, up 0.13%. M&S will report full-year results on May 20.
May 15, 2026
Compass Group Just Won a Major U.S. Campus Deal. Investors Are Watching the Bigger Test
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Compass Group Just Won a Major U.S. Campus Deal. Investors Are Watching the Bigger Test

Compass Group’s North American unit was chosen as the University of Kentucky’s preferred enterprise-services partner, with dining and concessions to begin July 1. Shares in London fell 3.66% to $32.09 by 14:58 BST Friday. The deal comes days after Compass raised its 2026 profit outlook. University officials said current employees will retain their jobs, pay and benefits.
May 15, 2026
Aviva plc Q1 2026: Direct Line Lifts Premiums, but Retirement Weakness Tests the Rally

Aviva plc Q1 2026: Direct Line Lifts Premiums, but Retirement Weakness Tests the Rally

Aviva reported a 19% rise in first-quarter general insurance premiums to £3.4 billion after acquiring Direct Line, with its combined operating ratio improving to 94.1%. UK and Ireland general insurance premiums jumped 26%, but retirement sales fell to £1.1 billion and health sales dropped 31%. Aviva reaffirmed its 2026 targets as integration of Direct Line continued. Some analysts flagged weaker-than-expected premium growth and margin pressures.
May 15, 2026
BAE Systems Lands UK Apache Drone Spot as Project NYX Race Narrows
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BAE Systems Lands UK Apache Drone Spot as Project NYX Race Narrows

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems, Anduril Industries (UK), Tekever, and Thales UK £10 million to develop autonomous drones for use with British Army Apache helicopters, narrowing the field from seven firms in January. The NYX project aims for service entry by 2030, with drones providing reconnaissance and electronic warfare support while humans retain weapons control.
May 15, 2026
Sage Group plc’s AI Leadership Shake-Up Lands Days Before Results—Why Investors Are Watching
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Sage Group plc’s AI Leadership Shake-Up Lands Days Before Results—Why Investors Are Watching

Sage Group appointed Krish Vitaldevara as chief product officer and Anand Swaminathan as chief strategy officer, both based in San Jose, ahead of interim results due May 21. Shares rose 0.5% to 859.2 pence. North America led first-quarter growth, with revenue up 13% to £304 million. The hires come as Sage expands AI offerings and faces competition from Xero and Intuit.
May 15, 2026
NatWest Group Plc Stock Falls: What Fitch’s AA Upgrade And New Debt Filing Mean Now
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NatWest Group Plc Stock Falls: What Fitch’s AA Upgrade And New Debt Filing Mean Now

NatWest Markets updated debt programme documents after Fitch upgraded several NatWest subsidiaries to AA. Shares fell 2.24% to 557.6p in London, with volume above 7.1 million and a market value near £44.35 billion. The FCA approved new prospectuses for £25 billion and $20 billion note programmes. CEO Paul Thwaite received 53,366 shares as part of a fixed share allowance.
May 15, 2026
IAG Completes €500 Million Buyback, But Fuel Shock Keeps British Airways Owner Under Pressure
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IAG Completes €500 Million Buyback, But Fuel Shock Keeps British Airways Owner Under Pressure

International Consolidated Airlines Group completed a €500 million buyback, acquiring 2.53% of its shares for treasury ahead of a planned cancellation pending shareholder approval. IAG shares fell 2.58% to 374.50 pence, despite first-quarter operating profit jumping 77.3%. The company warned of lower annual profit and higher fuel costs amid ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
May 15, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group’s New Climate-Index Bet Puts FTSE Russell in the AI Data Race
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London Stock Exchange Group’s New Climate-Index Bet Puts FTSE Russell in the AI Data Race

FTSE Russell and Planetrics signed a memorandum of understanding to develop climate-scenario indices and analytics, with launches expected later in 2026. The agreement follows LSEG’s recent AI-data partnership with Google Cloud. Demand remains uncertain as sustainable funds face outflows and ESG products encounter political and regulatory pressure. FTSE Russell will oversee index governance; Planetrics will provide climate-risk models.
May 15, 2026
Legal & General Takeover Buzz Jolts FTSE 100 Stock As CEO Says No Sale Is On The Table
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Legal & General Takeover Buzz Jolts FTSE 100 Stock As CEO Says No Sale Is On The Table

Legal & General shares dipped 0.27% to 263.10p in London Friday after surging 6.16% Thursday on takeover speculation, despite CEO António Simões denying any sale talks. The company’s market value stood at about £14.56 billion. L&G reported 2025 core operating profit up 6% to £1.62 billion and £11.8 billion in global pension risk transfer volumes. Competition has increased after Brookfield and Athora completed major UK insurance acquisitions.
May 15, 2026
Hiscox Ltd Shares Leap as Lloyd’s Syndicate Update Keeps Buyback Story in Play
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Hiscox Ltd Shares Leap as Lloyd’s Syndicate Update Keeps Buyback Story in Play

Hiscox Ltd shares rose 11.47% to 1,831p in London on Friday, bucking a 1.61% drop in the FTSE All-Share. The insurer kept 2024 and 2025 profit estimates unchanged for its main Lloyd’s syndicate, while cutting 2024 guidance for Syndicate 6104, in which it has no stake. All 24 AGM resolutions passed, including a share buyback. First-quarter written premiums rose 10.2% to $1.72 billion.
May 15, 2026
3i Group plc Shares Bounce After Action Sales Shock — The £750 Million Question Now
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3i Group plc Shares Bounce After Action Sales Shock — The £750 Million Question Now

3i Group shares rose 5.1% to 2,218p in London on Friday, recovering some ground after a 12.76% drop Thursday linked to slower like-for-like sales at Action. 3i reported a £5.30 billion full-year return, raised its dividend, and announced a £750 million buyback. Directors James Hatchley and Peter McKellar bought shares after the results. Action’s net sales climbed to €4.01 billion, but same-store sales growth slowed to 2.4%.
May 15, 2026
BP PLC Weighs Egypt Gas Asset Sale as New CEO’s Debt Push Gets Real
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BP PLC Weighs Egypt Gas Asset Sale as New CEO’s Debt Push Gets Real

BP is considering selling some natural gas assets in Egypt, sources told Reuters, as new CEO Meg O’Neill pursues debt reduction and a sharper focus on high-return projects. BP’s gas output in Egypt dropped 40% last year, while the company’s net debt rose to $25.3 billion despite a first-quarter profit of $3.2 billion. No final decision has been made on the Egypt assets, BP said.
May 15, 2026
Rio Tinto PLC Makes BP Legal Hire as Shares Slide From 52-Week High
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Rio Tinto PLC Makes BP Legal Hire as Shares Slide From 52-Week High

Rio Tinto has appointed BP executive Trudi Charles as chief legal officer, replacing Isabelle Deschamps effective August 1. The move comes as Rio’s London shares fell to 7,831 pence, down from a recent high, amid volatile markets and shifting focus to copper projects. Charles has over 20 years at BP. Rio is also considering increasing its stake in Argentina’s Los Azules copper project.
May 15, 2026
Intertek Takeover: EQT’s £9.4 Billion Bid Moves Closer After Board U-Turn
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Intertek Takeover: EQT’s £9.4 Billion Bid Moves Closer After Board U-Turn

Intertek’s board said it is prepared to recommend EQT’s £60-a-share cash proposal, valuing the UK testing group at £9.4 billion, and has opened its books for due diligence. The UK Takeover Panel extended EQT’s deadline to make a firm offer to June 11. Intertek paused its strategic review and cited investor pressure for the move. Shares closed at £56.75, below the offer price, reflecting remaining deal uncertainty.
May 15, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Uzbekistan's National Investment Fund Launches First IPO on London Stock Exchange
    May 25, 2026, 10:21 AM EDT. The National Investment Fund of Uzbekistan completed its first international initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange, raising over $600 million. The fund holds stakes in 13 state-owned companies across energy, banking, telecommunications, and aviation sectors. Experts highlight this listing as a sign of meeting international standards of transparency, corporate governance, and investor relations. Shares were also offered on the Tashkent Stock Exchange, signaling growing institutional investor interest in Uzbekistan's reform-driven market, according to Marius Dan, head of an investment firm's Tashkent office.