News 1 May 2026

Sizzle Acquisition Corp. II Shares Flat with Trasteel Vote Still Pending
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Sizzle Acquisition Corp. II Shares Flat with Trasteel Vote Still Pending

Sizzle Acquisition Corp. II shares edged up half a cent to $10.32 in light trading Tuesday as Nasdaq reopened after Memorial Day. The SPAC’s price remained about 7 cents below its March-end redemption value, with no operating revenue reported for the quarter. Sizzle and Trasteel Holding S.A. signed a definitive merger deal in April, valuing the combined company at $1.3 billion if no redemptions occur.
May 26, 2026
Rightmove plc Shares Slip Before May 8 Update as Buybacks and £1.5 Billion Lawsuit Stay in Focus
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Rightmove plc Shares Slip Before May 8 Update as Buybacks and £1.5 Billion Lawsuit Stay in Focus

Rightmove shares fell 1.4% to 427.30 pence in London on Friday ahead of its May 8 trading update, the first since a £1.5 billion lawsuit from estate agents in April. The company reported 753.5 million voting shares after a recent buyback and cancellation. Investors await new guidance as UK house prices and mortgage approvals show signs of recovery. Rightmove’s AGM and a final dividend vote are set for May 8.
May 1, 2026
GSK Stock Gets Fresh Catalyst as UK Clears Lynavoy and Pipeline Pressure Builds
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GSK Stock Gets Fresh Catalyst as UK Clears Lynavoy and Pipeline Pressure Builds

Britain’s MHRA approved GSK’s Lynavoy for adults with primary biliary cholangitis, shortly after GSK licensed global rights to Alfasigma. The approval triggers a $20 million payment to GSK under the deal. Lynavoy, an oral drug for severe itch in PBC, met key goals in a phase 3 trial of 238 patients. GSK reported first-quarter sales of £7.63 billion and core operating profit of £2.65 billion.
May 1, 2026
London Stock Exchange Group Share Count Drops Again as LSEG’s £3 Billion Buyback Comes Into Focus
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London Stock Exchange Group Share Count Drops Again as LSEG’s £3 Billion Buyback Comes Into Focus

London Stock Exchange Group reported total voting rights of 493,222,493 as of April 30, down from the April 21 AGM figure, amid its ongoing share buyback. LSEG posted a 9.8% rise in first-quarter total income excluding recoveries and an 11.5% increase in gross profit. The company expects 2026 income growth at the upper end of its 6.5%-7.5% guidance. Cboe Global Markets announced a 20% workforce cut Friday.
May 1, 2026
National Grid plc’s £50 Million Grid Fix: New Sensors Target Britain’s Power Bottlenecks
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National Grid plc’s £50 Million Grid Fix: New Sensors Target Britain’s Power Bottlenecks

National Grid plc will deploy dynamic line rating technology on 585 km of transmission lines in England and Wales, aiming to boost capacity and save up to £50 million over five years. The rollout, covering the North East, Humber, and East Anglia, comes as grid balancing costs threaten to quadruple by 2030. Most installations are due by 2028, with some sensors to be mounted by drone on live lines.
May 1, 2026
British American Tobacco Faces New UK Test as Smoke-Free Law Tightens Vape Rules
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British American Tobacco Faces New UK Test as Smoke-Free Law Tightens Vape Rules

Britain’s new Tobacco and Vapes Act bans tobacco sales to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, and expands ministerial powers over vape packaging and advertising. British American Tobacco criticized the law for restricting promotion of smokeless alternatives and warned enforcement will be key. Most provisions take effect within six months of Royal Assent. Health officials called the law a public-health measure.
May 1, 2026
Diageo Stock Gets a Trump Tariff Break Days Before a Critical Trading Update
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Diageo Stock Gets a Trump Tariff Break Days Before a Critical Trading Update

Diageo shares rose up to 3% after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift tariffs on British whisky. The move comes days before Diageo’s third-quarter trading update, as the company faces weak U.S. sales and a lowered 2026 sales outlook. U.S. officials confirmed preferential duty access for U.K.-made whisky under a new economic deal. Industry groups called the tariff removal a significant boost for distillers.
May 1, 2026
Tesco PLC Buyback Rolls On as Aldi Price Fight Moves Into Express Stores
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Tesco PLC Buyback Rolls On as Aldi Price Fight Moves Into Express Stores

Tesco repurchased 415,107 shares for £2 million on April 30 as part of a £750 million buyback, reducing its share count to about 6.38 billion. The company extended its Aldi Price Match scheme to over 2,000 Express stores. NielsenIQ data showed Tesco’s UK market share at 28.5% and 3.1% sales growth over 12 weeks, while Lidl’s sales rose 8.7%. Tesco widened its 2026/27 profit guidance, citing economic uncertainty.
May 1, 2026
Standard Chartered PLC Profit Beat Comes With a $190 Million Iran War Catch
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Standard Chartered PLC Profit Beat Comes With a $190 Million Iran War Catch

Standard Chartered posted a 17% rise in first-quarter pretax profit to $2.45 billion, beating analyst forecasts, driven by record wealth and global banking income. The bank booked a $190 million charge linked to Middle East conflict and saw credit impairment increase to $296 million. Shares jumped 4.07% on the results. Wealth Solutions income climbed 32%, with $18 billion in net new money.
May 1, 2026
RELX PLC Stock Inches Higher, But AI Threat Keeps LexisNexis in the Spotlight
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RELX PLC Stock Inches Higher, But AI Threat Keeps LexisNexis in the Spotlight

RELX shares rose 0.22% to 2,688p in London on Friday but remain 36% below last year’s peak after an AI-driven selloff. Investors are watching whether cheaper legal AI tools from rivals like Anthropic will erode RELX’s market position. The company reported continued growth from AI-enabled analytics and is seeking to acquire French legal AI platform Doctrine. RELX’s Legal division faces the most pressure from new AI competition.
May 1, 2026
United Utilities Raises £800 Million in Share Sale — Why UK Water Stocks Just Moved
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United Utilities Raises £800 Million in Share Sale — Why UK Water Stocks Just Moved

United Utilities raised £800 million by issuing new shares at 1,312 pence, equal to 8.9% of its share capital. The stock fell 3.2% Friday after hitting a record high Thursday. Proceeds will help fund a £2.5 billion expansion of its 2025–2030 investment plan, with Ofwat decisions expected later this year. ATLAS Infrastructure and The Future Fund committed £400 million as cornerstone investors.
May 1, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group Profit Beat Faces Test as Shares Slip and War Risks Cloud Outlook
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Lloyds Banking Group Profit Beat Faces Test as Shares Slip and War Risks Cloud Outlook

Lloyds shares fell 1.4% to 98.27p Friday despite a 33% jump in first-quarter profit to £2.025 billion and raised 2026 income targets. The bank booked a £151 million impairment charge tied to weaker UK growth and fallout from the Middle East conflict. Net interest income rose to £3.483 billion. NatWest also reported higher profit but took a £283 million charge, citing similar risks.
May 1, 2026
BP PLC’s Venezuela Gas Deal Puts Big Oil’s Caracas Return in Play
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BP PLC’s Venezuela Gas Deal Puts Big Oil’s Caracas Return in Play

BP signed a memorandum of understanding with Venezuela to develop the Cocuina-Manakin gas field and explore the offshore Loran area, marking its return to the country. The deal follows similar agreements by Eni, Repsol, and Shell as Venezuela seeks to revive foreign energy investment. BP aims to supply gas to Trinidad for LNG export. The company reported Q1 underlying replacement cost profit of $3.198 billion and net debt of $25.3 billion.
May 1, 2026
HSBC Stock Watch: Dividend Decision Looms as Q1 Results Near
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HSBC Stock Watch: Dividend Decision Looms as Q1 Results Near

HSBC will report first-quarter earnings on May 5, with investors watching for a possible first interim dividend for 2026. The board will decide on the payout, which, if approved, would be paid June 26 to shareholders on record May 15. Shares traded at 1,343.40 pence, down 0.4% Friday. The update follows a strong share rally and restructuring under CEO Georges Elhedery.
May 1, 2026
WH Smith Profit Warning Meets £100 ‘Shy Girl’ Resale Frenzy as UK Book Retail Faces Fresh Squeeze
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WH Smith Profit Warning Meets £100 ‘Shy Girl’ Resale Frenzy as UK Book Retail Faces Fresh Squeeze

Copies of Mia Ballard’s withdrawn novel Shy Girl are being resold online for over £100 after Hachette halted distribution amid AI authorship allegations. WH Smith, which relies heavily on travel retail, cut its profit guidance and suspended its dividend, citing travel disruption and falling passenger spending. First-half trading profit dropped to £32 million from £47 million. Like-for-like revenue growth slowed to 2% in early second-half trading.
May 1, 2026
Rolls-Royce Stock Holds Its Nerve as Profit Target Survives Middle East Disruption
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Rolls-Royce Stock Holds Its Nerve as Profit Target Survives Middle East Disruption

Rolls-Royce reaffirmed its 2026 profit and cash-flow targets after a strong first quarter, despite Middle East disruption affecting long-haul flying. Shares rose 7.6% Thursday before easing Friday. Large engine flying hours climbed 5% year-on-year, and engine deliveries increased 18%. LATAM Airlines selected the Trent 1000 XE for three Boeing 787s, as Rolls-Royce seeks to regain ground from GE Aerospace.
May 1, 2026
Barclays PLC Stock: Why the £500 Million Buyback Is Back in Focus After a Bad-Loan Hit
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Barclays PLC Stock: Why the £500 Million Buyback Is Back in Focus After a Bad-Loan Hit

Barclays listed 5.67 million new shares in London, bringing its total voting shares to 13.63 billion as of April 30. The bank posted Q1 income up 6% to £8.2 billion and profit before tax of £2.81 billion, but credit impairment charges rose to £823 million, including a £228 million hit in its investment bank. Barclays plans a £500 million share buyback after its current £1 billion programme ends.
May 1, 2026
NatWest Group Shares Slide After £2 Billion Profit Beat Meets Iran War Charge
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NatWest Group Shares Slide After £2 Billion Profit Beat Meets Iran War Charge

NatWest shares fell 3.5% Friday after the bank reported a £140 million charge linked to the Iran war, despite a 12% rise in first-quarter pretax profit to £2.03 billion and higher income guidance. Investors focused on weaker-than-expected non-interest income and a cautious UK economic outlook. Customer loans rose to £400 billion, with deposits at £445 billion. The stock dropped from 585.2p at Thursday’s close to 564.6p by midday.
May 1, 2026
Shell Plc’s $15 Billion LNG Canada Stake Fight Puts Its Canada Bet in Focus
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Shell Plc’s $15 Billion LNG Canada Stake Fight Puts Its Canada Bet in Focus

Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, and KKR are bidding for a stake in Shell’s LNG Canada project, with the deal valued between $10 billion and $15 billion, Reuters reported. Shell owns 40% of the Kitimat project and recently agreed to buy ARC Resources for $16.4 billion. Shell said it bought over 1.4 million shares for cancellation on April 30. The company’s $3.5 billion buyback program ends May 1.
May 1, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • LSE Student Union Ends Case Against Israel Society Over Pro-IDF Merchandise
    May 26, 2026, 11:33 AM EDT. London School of Economics (LSE) Student Union has dropped its case against the Israel Society concerning pro-Israel Defence Forces (IDF) merchandise. Student leaders acted after receiving legal advice confirming that support for the IDF falls under free speech protections. The decision highlights ongoing tensions on university campuses around political expression and student activism. The case underscores legal nuances in balancing free speech with community standards in academic settings.