Stock Market 18 May 2026 - 19 May 2026

BAT Shares Settle in London After Rally as Investors Look Ahead
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BAT Shares Settle in London After Rally as Investors Look Ahead

British American Tobacco shares fell 0.6% to 4,896p in London on Tuesday afternoon, underperforming the FTSE 100, which edged up 0.1%. The drop followed a sharp rally, with BAT stock up 16.8% over four weeks. The company announced a new technology hub in Bengaluru and confirmed it had bought back 592,630 shares for cancellation. Investors also weighed ongoing buybacks and growth in smokeless products.
May 19, 2026
3i Rises on £750m Buyback; Action Sale Fears Remain
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3i Rises on £750m Buyback; Action Sale Fears Remain

3i Group shares jumped 5.33% to 2,193 pence Tuesday after a buyback filing, rebounding from Monday’s sharp fall. The company bought 701,317 shares for £15.04 million last week, its first move under a £750 million buyback plan. Shares remain well below last year’s high, pressured by slower sales growth at Action, which makes up about three-quarters of 3i’s portfolio.
May 19, 2026
Compass Group Shares Fall After Profit Outlook Raised
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Compass Group Shares Fall After Profit Outlook Raised

Compass Group shares fell 1.46% to $32.25 in London on Tuesday, underperforming the FTSE 100, after a recent profit forecast upgrade. The company reported first-half revenue of $25 billion, up 9% underlying, and raised its 2026 operating profit growth target to above 11%. Investors remain cautious over office demand and inflation. Compass switched its London share trading currency to U.S. dollars in April.
May 19, 2026
IAG Launches Buyback as Fuel Costs Loom
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IAG Launches Buyback as Fuel Costs Loom

International Consolidated Airlines Group shares held steady at 385.5 pence in midday London trading Tuesday after launching a new €500 million buyback, with 5.61 million shares traded by 12:53 BST. The buyback, which began May 18 and may run until September 30, follows a completed €500 million programme last week. IAG reported Q1 revenue up 1.9% to €7.18 billion and operating profit up 77.3% to €351 million. Fuel costs remain a concern.
May 19, 2026
Diploma Shares Rally After Profit Upgrade
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Diploma Shares Rally After Profit Upgrade

Diploma PLC shares rose 4.75% to 6,940p after the company raised its 2026 outlook, citing strong demand in aerospace, defence, datacentres, and energy. First-half revenue climbed 17% to £851.1 million, with adjusted operating profit up 33% to £208.9 million. Diploma now targets 12% organic revenue growth and over 30% adjusted operating profit growth for the year.
May 19, 2026
RELX shares climb again as buyback, AI stay in view
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RELX shares climb again as buyback, AI stay in view

RELX shares climbed 1.3% to 2,535.5p in London on Tuesday, continuing a rebound after the company disclosed buying 3.44 million shares for treasury last week. The stock remains well below its 2023 high of 4,183p. Monday’s close was up 3.34% at £25.04, with trading volume below the 50-day average. The FTSE 100 rose 0.68% to 10,393.81 in Tuesday trading.
May 19, 2026
Rio Tinto Drops Even as FTSE Pushes Higher
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Rio Tinto Drops Even as FTSE Pushes Higher

Rio Tinto shares fell 2.1% to 7,561 pence in London morning trade Tuesday, underperforming a rising FTSE 100. The decline followed a one-year high last week and came as iron ore prices slipped 0.21% to $110.54 a tonne. Other miners, including Glencore and Antofagasta, also traded lower. No major company-specific news was reported.
May 19, 2026
Unilever Shares Edge Up After Jefferies Warning, CEO Pay and Buybacks Back in Focus
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Unilever Shares Edge Up After Jefferies Warning, CEO Pay and Buybacks Back in Focus

Unilever shares rose 1.4% to 4,316 pence in early London trading Tuesday, outpacing the FTSE 100. The move followed a regulatory filing showing CEO Fernando Fernandez and CFO Srinivas Phatak received share awards worth about £4.9 million and £2.75 million, respectively. Jefferies cut its target price on the stock, citing activist pressure and ongoing portfolio changes.
May 19, 2026
Elders Drops 23% in Sydney Despite Higher Profit as Investors React to Costs
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Elders Drops 23% in Sydney Despite Higher Profit as Investors React to Costs

Elders Limited shares plunged 22.92% to A$5.55 on Monday, despite a 33% rise in first-half underlying EBIT to A$76.6 million. Investors punished the company for higher technology and corporate costs, with underlying earnings per share down 4% and return on capital falling to 10.7%. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.45% to a seven-week low. Regular ASX trading resumes Tuesday at 9:59 a.m. AEST.
May 19, 2026
South32 Drops in Early Trading Ahead of ASX After $100m Copper Plan Raises Cost Worries
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South32 Drops in Early Trading Ahead of ASX After $100m Copper Plan Raises Cost Worries

South32 closed at A$4.03, down 4.28% on Monday, as the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.45% and materials stocks slumped. Sierra Gorda, 45% owned by South32, announced a $100 million, five-year copper exploration plan in Chile. Investors weighed the new copper push against ongoing cost concerns at South32’s Hermosa project in Arizona. The company also cut its fiscal 2026 production guidance.
May 19, 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Why Rio Tinto Is the Only FTSE 100 Stock I Own Now
    June 2, 2026, 12:53 PM EDT. The FTSE 100 index rose 18.3% over the past year, yet the author holds only one FTSE 100 share: Rio Tinto Group (LSE:RIO). This choice reflects a focused portfolio strategy limited to eight active stocks. While other noteworthy UK companies like Rolls-Royce, Lloyds, and Rightmove offer potential, Rio Tinto stands out due to its vital role in the emerging artificial intelligence (AI) sector. AI advancement relies heavily on data centers requiring metals like copper and aluminium, which Rio Tinto mines. Its Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia positions it strategically to benefit from the AI-driven demand for these metals. The author positions Rio Tinto as a key long-term growth opportunity, highlighting the mining giant's indirect yet critical contribution to the AI revolution.