News 26 February 2026

Why Mastercard stock is moving: MetaMask’s U.S. crypto card launch and an insider filing
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Why Mastercard stock is moving: MetaMask’s U.S. crypto card launch and an insider filing

Mastercard shares fell 5.6% to $509.39 Thursday, dragging Visa and American Express lower, as investors questioned the impact of AI-driven “agent” payments and crypto rails. Consensys launched the MetaMask Card nationwide, linking crypto wallets to Mastercard’s network. Executive Hai Ling sold nearly 9,000 shares under a pre-set plan. Mastercard’s annual report highlighted new AI payment products and said 40% of its transactions are tokenized.
February 26, 2026
Haleon share price rebounds after guidance jolt as investors weigh buyback and U.S. demand
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Haleon share price rebounds after guidance jolt as investors weigh buyback and U.S. demand

Haleon shares rose 1.9% to 385.1p early Thursday, recovering some of Wednesday’s 6.85% drop after the company forecast 2026 organic revenue growth of 3%-5% and announced a £500 million share buyback. The Sensodyne maker reported 2025 organic revenue up 3% and adjusted operating profit up 10.5% to £2.53 billion. The next trading update is due April 29.
February 26, 2026
Rio Tinto share price slips after Barclays downgrade as iron ore talks stay in focus
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Rio Tinto share price slips after Barclays downgrade as iron ore talks stay in focus

Rio Tinto shares fell 1.3% to 7,364 pence in early London trading Thursday, retreating from Wednesday’s 52-week high. Barclays downgraded the stock to “Equal Weight” and cut its price target to 6,600 pence, citing iron ore risks and a narrow valuation gap with BHP. Chief executive Simon Trott highlighted a 60% payout ratio after reporting $10.87 billion in 2025 earnings. Rio shares go ex-dividend March 5.
February 26, 2026
RELX share price today: REL.L slips in early trade as buyback filings stack up
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RELX share price today: REL.L slips in early trade as buyback filings stack up

RELX shares fell 0.6% to 2,401p in early London trading Thursday after a 6.3% jump the previous day. The company disclosed two new rounds of share buybacks via UBS, purchasing 650,000 shares this week and 19.23 million since January 2. Investors are watching the pace of buybacks and upcoming company updates, with £450 million earmarked for repurchases through March 20. Annual results showed 2025 revenue of £9.59 billion.
February 26, 2026
BP share price could swing at the open as Iran talks and an OPEC+ decision put oil back in focus
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BP share price could swing at the open as Iran talks and an OPEC+ decision put oil back in focus

BP shares closed at 470.25 pence in London, down 0.2%, while U.S.-listed shares rose 0.6% after hours. Brent crude traded near $71 as markets watched U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and awaited the March 1 OPEC+ meeting. Rising U.S. crude inventories limited oil price gains. BP’s buyback pause and focus on debt reduction continue to weigh on its stock.
February 26, 2026
Lynas Rare Earths share price rises after profit jump, but rally cools at close
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Lynas Rare Earths share price rises after profit jump, but rally cools at close

Lynas Rare Earths reported half-year net profit after tax of A$80.2 million, up from A$5.9 million a year earlier, but below consensus forecasts. Shares closed 1.2% higher at A$17.24 after early gains faded. Power issues at the Kalgoorlie plant affected production and costs. Traders are watching rare-earth prices and the stability of Kalgoorlie’s power supply.
February 26, 2026
NAB share price today: National Australia Bank hits fresh 52-week high, closes lower on rate and regulator focus
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NAB share price today: National Australia Bank hits fresh 52-week high, closes lower on rate and regulator focus

NAB shares hit a 52-week high Thursday before closing down 0.12% at A$49.04 as investors weighed sticky inflation and the prospect of another RBA rate hike. The consumer price index rose 3.8% in January, unchanged from December, pushing rate hike odds for May to about 80%. Regulators reported record civil penalties, including A$15.5 million against NAB over hardship failures.
February 26, 2026
Westpac share price dips from highs as inflation shock and valuation calls bite
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Westpac share price dips from highs as inflation shock and valuation calls bite

Westpac shares closed down 0.5% at A$42.72 Thursday after hitting a recent high, as hotter-than-expected January inflation lifted rate hike bets. Core inflation reached a 16-month peak, prompting traders to watch for Reserve Bank of Australia policy signals at the mid-March meeting. Analysts flagged stretched bank valuations and margin pressure. Westpac’s next major update is due May 5.
February 26, 2026
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) share price slips as AI jobs plan meets rate-hike bets
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) share price slips as AI jobs plan meets rate-hike bets

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares closed down 0.79% at A$177.27 on Thursday, though still up 10% for the year. CEO Matt Comyn confirmed 300 job cuts and said the bank expects one more Reserve Bank rate hike in May. CBA launched a A$90 million AI workforce program and will pay a fully franked interim dividend of A$2.35 per share on March 30. The RBA’s next policy decision is set for March 17.
February 26, 2026
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