Barclays (LSE: BARC) Earnings Beat Prompts Analysts to Lift Price Target 13%
July 28, 2026, 4:48 AM EDT. Barclays (LSE: BARC) reported Q2 and H1 2026 results showing profit before tax up 17% to £6.1bn, with earnings per share up 24% to 30.7p. Investment banking and equities trading booked sharp gains, which helped the bank lift its 2026 income goal to £31.5bn. Barclays upped its H1 dividend to 5.9p, almost double last year, and announced a £1bn buyback. Analysts put the 12-month target at 572p, about 13% above current prices. A price-to-earnings ratio below 10 puts the stock at a discount to U.S. banks. Revenue diversity across lending, trading, and wealth management supports the bullish view in a choppy macro backdrop.
By mid-2027, analysts expect Barclays’ sha…
Croda International (CRDA) up 3% after Q2 growth report
July 28, 2026, 4:47 AM EDT. Croda International shares rose 3% to 3,013p after the company posted faster growth for the second quarter. The speciality chemicals group, traded as CRDA in London, kept its full-year outlook steady as market conditions picked up. The latest results got a positive reaction from investors. Croda saw higher sales across main segments, helping push the stock higher against industry competition.
Croda climbs as second-quarter growth acce…
Origin Energy says 900,000 customers hit in data breach; firm got warnings weeks before disclosure
July 28, 2026, 4:39 AM EDT.Origin Energy said a cyber attack may have exposed data on 900,000 current and former customers, including names, addresses, birth dates, phone numbers, account details, and parts of credit or bank card numbers. Origin manages 4.8 million accounts. The company got early warning of suspicious activity about three weeks before telling the public, but confirmed the hack only on 22 July. CEO Frank Calabria told customers to watch for scams and said investigators are still looking at the case. Origin said it has not seen any ransom demands or signs of the data online. The company is boosting security.
About 900,000 Origin Energy customers affe…
Travelodge London Overbooking Sends Guest to Cheaper Hotel After 1 a.m.
July 28, 2026, 4:38 AM EDT. A guest at Travelodge London King’s Cross was told late at night that their room wasn’t available due to overbooking tied to a football match, so staff moved them to a cheaper Shoreditch location after 1 a.m. The guest, who has heart disease and dementia, was left tired and upset. Travelodge blamed “unexpected maintenance” at first, but later admitted mishandling the guest’s complaint internally. The hotel gave a £179 refund and £200 extra only after media got involved. Travelodge faces questions about how it manages overbooking and deals with customer complaints.
We booked a Travelodge but were forced to …
Barclays Lifts Banker Bonus Pool Nearly 30% After Q2 Profit Jump, Drawing Tax Hike Calls
July 28, 2026, 4:37 AM EDT.Barclays bumped its banker bonus pool by almost 30%, after second-quarter pre-tax profits rose 31% to £3.3 billion, and half-year profits went up 17% to £6.1 billion. This year’s £1.3 billion bonus pool, including annual and deferred awards, beats last year’s £1 billion and is set to rise through the second half of 2024. Barclays also announced a £1 billion share buy-back and £800 million in dividends. Strong numbers sharpened calls for a UK bank tax hike, with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) pushing for higher bank surcharges to help fund government spending and cut cost-of-living pressure. The TUC said climbing bank profits show lenders can afford to pay more tax to ease energy bills and back households and businesses.
Barclays increases bonus pool by nearly 30…
Unilever to Combine Foods Business with McCormick, Upgrades Outlook After Q2
July 28, 2026, 4:36 AM EDT. Unilever PLC LSE:ULVR said it will merge its foods division with McCormick & Company and wants a secondary listing for McCormick shares in London. Unilever is narrowing focus on beauty, personal care and home products. Second-quarter underlying sales were up as price hikes and demand for home care and beauty brands lifted results. For the first half, Unilever reported both higher sales and volumes, and raised guidance for the back half of the year.
Key facts: LSE:ULVR to merge foods with Mc…
Unilever Jumps 6% After Posting Decade-High Sales Growth
July 28, 2026, 4:35 AM EDT. Unilever PLC LSE:ULVR rallied over 6% after posting its best quarterly sales growth in ten years. The consumer goods group lifted its full-year outlook and sounded confident about market trends. Shares got a push on the London Stock Exchange as investors responded to the upbeat revenue and higher guidance, with the numbers standing out despite tough economic conditions.
Unilever surges after posting strongest sa…
ASX 200 Gains as Oil Drops; Unilever, Oxford BioDynamics Out Front
July 28, 2026, 4:34 AM EDT. The ASX 200 moved higher as oil retreated and RBA Governor Philip Bullock said the central bank would stay cautious on rate hikes, which eased some investor nerves. Consumer and tech stocks led gains. Commodity names fell back as demand slowed. Unilever jumped 5% after it raised its full-year outlook on its best volume growth in ten years. Oxford BioDynamics surged 29% after its first paid commercial contract for EpiSwitch Orion, its cloud genomics platform. Markets reacted fast to the RBA comments and earnings. Investors stayed focused on inflation, rates, and new biotech deals.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 28.07.202…
Parabellum Resources (ASX:PBL) lodges new governance statement with ASX
July 28, 2026, 4:33 AM EDT. Parabellum Resources Ltd. (ASX:PBL) filed an updated corporate governance statement with the ASX. The company made changes to meet disclosure requirements under ASX listing rules for transparency. Parabellum said it updated its statement to keep its governance reporting current. The mineral explorer said the move is part of efforts to strengthen shareholder communication.
Parabellum Resources Updates ASX Corporate…
ChatGPT Labels Raspberry Pi (LSE:RPI) Top Crash Risk on FTSE 250
July 28, 2026, 4:32 AM EDT. ChatGPT has flagged Raspberry Pi (LSE:RPI) as the FTSE 250 name most at risk if markets crash, citing worries about geopolitical shocks and tech bubbles. The bot highlights Raspberry Pi’s high valuation and big institutional ownership, which could mean bigger swings if panic selling hits. Institutional investors tend to offload stocks quickly during declines, and thinner liquidity for Raspberry Pi may make the stock move more. ChatGPT says the firm’s broad customer base and practical, affordable gear could help compared with other tech names caught in the AI hype. Still, experts say investors need to weigh these risks before buying.
I asked ChatGPT which FTSE 250 stock is mo…
ASX 200 Rises After Oil Falls, RBA Speech in Focus
July 28, 2026, 4:18 AM EDT. The ASX 200 moved higher Tuesday after oil prices slipped and Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock delivered a closely followed speech. Early losses reversed in the afternoon as investors bet interest rates could stay steady or even come down. Traders watched the RBA signals for any clues on policy. Cheaper oil helped ease inflation worries, lifting equities. Shares got a boost as markets liked the mix of lower input costs and ongoing central bank guidance.
Aussie sharemarket rallies on rate hope
ASX 200 Rises as RBA's Bullock Tones Down Rate Hike Talk; Consumer, Tech Outperform
July 28, 2026, 4:17 AM EDT. The ASX 200 moved higher after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Bullock signaled a less aggressive path on rate hikes, easing nerves on the trading floor. Consumer and technology sectors picked up, with buyers rotating into growth names on renewed confidence. Commodity stocks lagged as gold, copper, and lithium prices slipped on weaker demand and some profit-taking. Bullock’s comments pointed to caution on future policy moves, putting the brakes on expectations for more hikes. Traders reacted fast, shifting exposure while resource names took a hit.
Evening Wrap: ASX 200 rises as RBA Governo…
Unilever (ULVR) Jumps 5% as Company Raises Forecast on Best Volume Growth in 10 Years
July 28, 2026, 4:16 AM EDT. Unilever shares jumped 5% after the company raised its full-year forecast, pointing to its strongest volume growth quarter in over a decade. Underlying sales grew 4.8% in the first half on a 4.2% pickup in volume and slight price gains. Q2 sales climbed 5.8%, beating market forecasts. Key brands, making up 78% of turnover, led the gains, with emerging markets also strong. The operating margin edged higher, helped by productivity measures. Unilever now sees 4%-6% full-year sales growth and about 3% volume growth, with more margin gains expected. Unilever’s stock rise suggests investors are backing the turnaround in volumes and the new outlook.
Unilever raises full-year outlook after be…
Oxford BioDynamics (AIM: OBD) surges 29% on first paid EpiSwitch Orion deal
July 28, 2026, 4:09 AM EDT. Oxford BioDynamics (AIM: OBD) stock jumped 29% after the company landed its first paid contract for its EpiSwitch Orion cloud genomics platform. The commercial agreement is part of the UK-backed OPTIMISE programme in psoriatic arthritis, and covers biomarker discovery and data analysis. EpiSwitch Orion is designed to help clinics choose biologic therapies and cut down on trial-and-error, addressing a gap in patient care. It’s the first time an outside group will use Orion on a commercial basis, a milestone for the company.
Oxford BioDynamics shares surge after land…
ASA International (LON:ASAI) jumps to 264p, experts say rally could continue
July 28, 2026, 4:08 AM EDT. ASA International (LON:ASAI) has climbed from 70p in December 2024 to 264p, marking a 377% profit over 20 months for UK Investor Premium subscribers. The global microfinance group, backed in 2007 by a $20 million loan from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, targets financial inclusion and economic development. Analysts say there could still be more upside, with the shares seen as an attractive buy and some calling for a possible double from here. ASA International’s performance tracks with its work in microfinance across emerging markets.
ASA International – these shares, at 264p,…
Gaming Realms Sees H1 Core Earnings Up Even With UK Tax Rise
July 28, 2026, 4:07 AM EDT. Gaming Realms PLC said core earnings rose in the first half, pointing to more growth from its licensing business. The higher earnings came even as UK gambling taxes went up, raising costs for many gaming firms. Gaming Realms trades on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:GMR), OTCQX (PSDMF), and Frankfurt (FRA:RNE1). The company kept up growth in licensing content to other firms even as costs rose.
Gaming Realms core earnings rise despite U…
FTSE 100 Seen Lower After US and Asia Tech Slide
July 28, 2026, 4:06 AM EDT. The FTSE 100 is on track to open in the red Tuesday after semiconductor shares fell sharply in the US and Asia. This move follows a Monday gain, which came as hopes around US-Iran tensions picked up and improved sentiment. But the fresh wave of tech weakness is hitting confidence again. Semiconductors, closely watched as a tech barometer, have proved volatile on concerns over the global outlook. Investors remain focused on geopolitical news and chip sector signals for what comes next.
FTSE 100 to fall; chip slump in Asia, US
RBA Governor Bullock Points to Possible August Hike With Inflation Still High
July 28, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock said the bank could lift the cash rate again at its August 11 meeting, following three rate increases already in 2024. Bullock said inflation remains above the 2-3% band at 3.6% and that it’s still not clear if earlier hikes have slowed things enough, since those impacts lag. She also said getting inflation down might mean unemployment will have to rise, as the economy struggles with slow productivity growth-now at 0.8%, down from 1.8% in the last 20 years. With new inflation numbers coming, Bullock repeated that the cash rate can’t fix deep productivity issues that are weighing on wage gains and living standards. Banks are split: three expect the rate to stay flat through year-end, but Westpac thinks there are two more hikes before cuts next year.
RBA governor issues unusually candid warni…
SSP Group Sticks With Guidance as Gulf Trading Hit by Middle East Conflict
July 28, 2026, 4:04 AM EDT. SSP Group said like-for-like sales rose 4% in Q3, keeping its full-year outlook even as Gulf trading took a hit from the Middle East conflict. The company posted 4% annual sales growth at constant currency, with the UK and Ireland up 11%. North America was also up 4%. Continental Europe sales were flat as SSP focused on margins. Sales in Asia Pacific & EEME fell 2% as the conflict kept passenger numbers down. Shares gained 1% after the update. SSP repeated its earnings per share view of 13.6p to 14.8p and said free cash flow will stay above £100 million, targeting a 20% return on capital in 2026.
SSP holds full-year guidance as Middle Eas…
Athena Resources (ASX: AHN) seeks ASX listing for 2.125 million new shares
July 28, 2026, 4:03 AM EDT. Athena Resources Limited (ASX: AHN) said it has asked the ASX to quote 2,125,000 new fully paid ordinary shares. The company didn’t spell out exactly why it is issuing the new shares. Adding these shares will boost Athena’s total on issue and could affect shareholder value. Traders will be watching to see what this means for the stock and market cap.
