Accenture Stock Crash Puts AI Threat to Consulting Model Under Scrutiny
Accenture shares plunged 18% to $127.98, their steepest one-day drop on record, after the company cut
Macquarie Group Up 3% This Week; Eyes on Australia Inflation Data
Macquarie shares closed at A$249.82 Friday, down 1.17% for the day but up 3% for the week, outpacing Commonwealth Bank and the ASX 200. The Reserve Bank of Australia held rates at
Vodafone drops 7.6% this week as debt sale, consolidation draw attention
Vodafone shares closed Friday at 107 pence, down 1.6% for the day and 7.6% for the week, marking their weakest finish since early June. The company completed a $3.5 billion unsecured bond sale this week. Vodafone’s UK unit will take full control of VodafoneThree in a £4.3 billion deal expected to close in late 2026. Next trading update is due July 27.
Bunzl gives up gains from Elliott news as investors look to June 23 update
Bunzl shares closed Friday at 2,474p, down 2.5% for the week after Elliott Investment Management disclosed a near-5% stake and called for a major buyback. The company will issue a pre-close trading statement Tuesday, with investors focused on North American performance and management’s response to Elliott’s demands. Bunzl’s market cap stands at about £7.9 billion.
Aberdeen Group closes out lower ahead of FTSE 100 re-entry
Aberdeen closed Friday at 234 pence, up 0.7% for the day but down 3.4% for the week, with trading volume surging to 61 million shares. The company will join the FTSE 100 on Monday after index reshuffling at Friday’s close. Aberdeen reported £2.9 billion in net outflows for the quarter, while Interactive Investor saw record net inflows of £3 billion. Total assets under management fell to £547.7 billion at March’s end.
TG Jones flags risk of collapse under more supplier pressure before court date
TG Jones risks collapse by the end of June unless a court approves its restructuring plan, CEO Alex Willson said. Up to 150 of its 450 stores could close, threatening about 5,000 jobs. The company reported an £18.6 million loss in six months and owes millions to suppliers and in taxes. The High Court will review the rescue plan on June 29.
Prudential Up as Buybacks Remain Key for Investors
Prudential shares ended the week up 2.6% at 1,006.5p, outperforming the FTSE 100’s 1.0% drop. The company bought back 2.09 million shares last week, bringing total buybacks to nearly £432 million since January. Chair Douglas Flint purchased 12,500 shares on June 11. Hong Kong’s market reopening and China’s lending rate review are in focus for Monday.
ASX 200 edges higher this week as BHP falls and Hormuz risk lingers
BHP shares fell 5.6% to A$61.40 Friday after raising Jansen potash project costs, dragging the ASX 200 down 0.92% and the materials sector 4.03% lower. The index still ended the week up 0.3%. Financials rose 1.4% for the week; energy dropped over 7%. Australia’s May inflation data is due June 24, with labour figures out June 25.
Lloyds shares finish week up 2.7% as bank targets 300 AI hires
Lloyds Banking Group shares closed at 105.10 pence Friday, down 0.9% on the day but up 2.7% for the week. The bank plans to hire 300 tech specialists by September to expand its AI team to about 1,000 people. The Bank of England left its key rate unchanged at 3.75% in a 7-2 vote. Lloyds reported generative AI delivered £50 million in value in 2025, with over 50 new apps launched.
BP shares claw back 2.8%, still down 5.7% for the week as Hormuz fears hit market
BP shares closed Friday at 503.80 pence, up 2.8% for the day but down 5.7% for the week. Brent crude settled at $80.57 a barrel, nearly 8% lower than last week. Iran announced Saturday it had shut the Strait of Hormuz, though the U.S. said shipping continued. BP exports about 100,000 barrels a day through the strait.
ASX 200 edges higher this week as BHP falls and Hormuz risk lingers
BHP shares fell 5.6% to A$61.40 Friday after raising Jansen potash project costs, dragging the ASX 200 down 0.92% and the materials sector 4.03% lower. The index still ended the week up 0.3%. Financials rose 1.4% for the week; energy dropped over 7%. Australia’s May inflation data is due June 24, with labour figures out June 25.
Lloyds shares finish week up 2.7% as bank targets 300 AI hires
Lloyds Banking Group shares closed at 105.10 pence Friday, down 0.9% on the day but up 2.7% for the week. The bank plans to hire 300 tech specialists by September to expand its AI team to about 1,000 people. The Bank of England left its key rate unchanged at 3.75% in a 7-2 vote. Lloyds reported generative AI delivered £50 million in value in 2025, with over 50 new apps launched.
BP shares claw back 2.8%, still down 5.7% for the week as Hormuz fears hit market
BP shares closed Friday at 503.80 pence, up 2.8% for the day but down 5.7% for the week. Brent crude settled at $80.57 a barrel, nearly 8% lower than last week. Iran announced Saturday it had shut the Strait of Hormuz, though the U.S. said shipping continued. BP exports about 100,000 barrels a day through the strait.
BAE Systems Shares Drop 3.4% This Week on Hormuz Risk
BAE Systems closed Friday at 1,846.5 pence, up 0.35% for the day but down 3.4% for the week. The company secured a $535 million U.S. Army contract for howitzers and committed €50 million to European defence-tech funds. Shares dropped 4.74% Monday after reports of a possible U.S.-Iran peace deal, then rebounded 2.2% Tuesday. BAE began 2026 with a record £83.6 billion order backlog.
Rio Tinto falls 5.4% for week as metals lose ground, Mongolia flow comes back
Rio Tinto closed down 2.6% at 7,394 pence Friday, extending its weekly loss to 5.4% as metals and mining stocks led declines on the FTSE 100. Shipments from the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine resumed after a two-day protest blockade. BHP shares fell 5.6% in Australia after warning of a $2.3 billion charge and rising costs at its Jansen potash project.
Unilever shares slide for the week on cost worries tied to Hormuz risk
Unilever shares closed at 4,363.5 pence Friday, down 0.9% for the day and 0.5% for the week. The company announced plans to expand factory automation with over 40 digital twins but gave no group-wide savings target. Unilever faces €750–€900 million in cost inflation and plans gradual price increases. Tensions at the Strait of Hormuz may impact commodity costs next week.
Transurban Gains After A$825 Million Financing, Still Down 3.5% for the Week
Transurban closed Friday at A$15.06, up 0.9% for the day but 3.5% below its June 12 high, after securing a new A$825 million four-year bank-debt tranche. May group traffic rose just 0.1% year-on-year, with Brisbane down 3.2% and Sydney flat. The company completed the M7-M12 Integration Project in western Sydney. Investors await June’s A25 sale closing and Australian inflation data.
PLS Group Drops Almost 10% as A$175M P2000 Spend Weighs on Lithium Rally
Pilbara Minerals shares fell 4.7% to A$5.88 Friday, capping a 9.8% weekly slide as the company committed A$175 million in pre-final investment spending on its P2000 expansion. The stock hit a session low of A$5.77 on volume of 37.1 million shares. Lithium prices in China remain weak, and Australian lithium stocks broadly pulled back. PLS aims for a final investment decision on P2000 in late 2026.
Pro Medicus jumps 5.4% ahead of S&P/ASX 50 exit
Pro Medicus closed Friday at A$172.80, up 3.1%, with trading volume surging to 1.33 million shares—4.5 times normal—after news it will exit the S&P/ASX 50 on Monday. Shares rose 5.4% for the week despite index changes. The company reported first-half revenue up 28.4% to A$124.8 million and signed new contracts worth A$44 million this month.
Cochlear shares rally 14% in a week as rebound faces Monday test
Cochlear shares closed at A$118.14 Friday, up 3.37% and capping a 13.9% weekly gain, despite still trading 63% below their 52-week high. More than 2.1 million shares changed hands ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 rebalance, though no new earnings guidance has been issued since April’s profit warning. Underlying FY26 profit guidance remains A$290–A$330 million. Next full-year results are due August 18.
Regis Resources jumps 18.6% for the week as McPhillamys reserve comes back
Regis Resources closed Friday at A$6.94, down 1.98%, but remains up 18.6% since June 12. The company released a new study for its stalled McPhillamys gold project, estimating 1.89 million ounces in reserves and a post-tax NPV of A$1.13 billion. Gold prices fell for a third week. Regis’ planned merger with Vault Minerals is still pending approvals.
Northern Star Resources Stock Gains 8.4% as Elliott Campaign Offsets Gold Weakness
Northern Star Resources closed Friday at A$20.87, down 2.9% for the day but up 8.4% from June 12. Shares outperformed sector peers as gold fell for a third week, pressured by higher U.S. rate expectations. Elliott Investment Management continues to push for a strategic review and possible sale, while the company repurchased 230,801 shares on June 12. Next quarterly report is due July 29.
ANZ Shares Gain 2.5% as Bank Expands Saturday Branch Trading
ANZ closed at A$35.03 Friday, up 2.5% for the week as the bank announced 27 branches will open Saturdays starting June 27 for home-loan and specialist services. Trading volume hit 8.38 million shares, above average. The S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.9% Friday, dragged by BHP. Investors await key Australian inflation and employment data this week.
Evolution Mining Rises 6.7% for the Week with ASX in Focus After Gold Selloff
Evolution Mining shares fell 5.1% to A$12.54 Friday but closed the week up 6.7%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 0.3% gain. Gold stocks dropped as the sector tracked weaker metal prices and a stronger U.S. dollar. Evolution’s next quarterly report is due July 15. Traders are watching inflation data from Australia and the U.S. this week.
Aristocrat Leisure shares edge up 2.6% as buyback remains in spotlight
Aristocrat shares closed Friday at A$54.95, up 2.6%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 0.92% drop. The company reported buying 172,923 shares for A$9.29 million on June 18, with its buyback program now totaling A$1.34 billion. First-half NPATA rose 16.3% to A$794 million, but Interactive profit fell 10.6%. Traders await May inflation data Wednesday and Aristocrat’s July 1 investor briefing.
Accenture Stock Crash Puts AI Threat to Consulting Model Under Scrutiny
Accenture shares plunged 18% to $127.98, their steepest one-day drop on record, after the company cut its annual revenue growth forecast and reported a decline in new bookings. Third-quarter revenue rose 6% to $18.72 billion, but consulting growth slowed and Middle East business took a $400 million hit from the Iran conflict. The warning dragged down peers including IBM and Cognizant.
Wesfarmers wrap up the week at A$85.76 ahead of inflation figures
Wesfarmers closed Friday at A$85.76, down 0.02% on the day and 0.8% for the week, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200. Shares remain 7.2% above their June 9 close after a strategy update focused on digital and productivity gains. The stock now trades at about 31.8 times earnings. Investors are watching for May CPI data next week as inflation pressures persist.
Goodman Group Shares Slip 2.5% After Brickworks A$2.65 Billion Deal
Goodman Group shares fell 2.5% to A$31.50 Friday, erasing earlier gains. Goodman and its Australian industrial partnership will acquire Brickworks property interests for about A$2.65 billion, with Goodman contributing A$350 million. The deal is set to close in late June. The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.92% Friday but gained 0.3% for the week.
Westpac Stays Flat With APRA Inquiry and Inflation On Radar
Westpac closed Friday at A$35.01, down 0.43% for the day and up just 0.03% for the week, lagging other major banks. APRA has questioned Westpac’s business-banking head Paul Fowler and over 20 staff in supervisory interviews, with no breach or new capital action reported. Westpac pays its 77-cent interim dividend Friday. May inflation and jobs data are due this week.
Woodside Energy Drops 7% for the Week as Oil Falls
Woodside shares closed at A$29.03 Friday, up 1.43% for the day but down 7% for the week as Brent crude fell 8% with oil flows resuming through the Strait of Hormuz. The company denied takeover talks with Exxon Mobil. Woodside triggered its pre-emption right to buy PetroChina’s 10.67% stake in Browse, potentially raising its ownership to 41.27%. Investors are watching oil prices and geopolitical risks ahead of the July 29 quarterly report.
Student loan program set for July 1 rollout, auto-pay cuts rates by 1 point
The U.S. Education Department will cut interest rates by one percentage point for eligible federal Direct Loan borrowers using auto pay through June 2028. Over 7 million SAVE plan borrowers will get 90-day notices to pick a new repayment plan or be reassigned. New federal loans issued from July 1 will face stricter repayment and borrowing limits. Auto-pay enrollment has dropped to about 40% from 83% in 2019.
NAB Shares Rise 3.4% Before Inflation Data in Australia
National Australia Bank closed Friday at A$37.74, up 1.1% for the day and 3.4% for the week, outperforming other major banks as the ASX 200 fell 0.9%. NAB shares remain nearly 24% below their 52-week high. The Reserve Bank of Australia held its cash rate at 4.35% on June 16, citing persistent inflation. Key inflation and labor data are due next week.
Macquarie Group Up 3% This Week; Eyes on Australia Inflation Data
Macquarie shares closed at A$249.82 Friday, down 1.17% for the day but up 3% for the week, outpacing Commonwealth Bank and the ASX 200. The Reserve Bank of Australia held rates at 4.35% as investors await May inflation and jobs data. Macquarie’s full-year net profit jumped 30% to A$4.85 billion, boosted by commodity trading and asset sales. The company will pay a A$4.20 final dividend on July 2.
CBA up 1.8% as tech moves run into inflation test
CBA closed Friday at A$162.40, up 1.8% for the week, as the S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3%. Victoria Ledda will become group CIO and Rodrigo Castillo group CTO from July 1, pending regulatory approval. The Reserve Bank kept rates at 4.35% and signaled another hike is possible. Investors await May inflation data due Wednesday.
CSL surges 7.6% with healthcare stocks in focus ahead of Monday session
CSL shares surged 7.6% Friday to A$116.32, their biggest one-day gain since February 2022, despite no new company update. The stock remains down 37.7% in 2026 and 55.1% for the financial year. Healthcare stocks outperformed as the ASX 200 fell 0.9%. CSL cut its 2026 revenue forecast in May and flagged up to US$5 billion in new impairments over two years.
BHP Braces as Jansen Cost Surge Puts Capital Moves in Spotlight
BHP shares fell 5.6% Friday to A$61.40, their sharpest drop since April 2025, after the company raised the Jansen Stage 2 cost estimate by US$2 billion to US$6.9 billion and flagged a US$2.3 billion impairment. The selloff dragged the Australian mining index down 4%. BHP delayed Jansen’s first output to late fiscal 2031. Over 100 Port Hedland workers are seeking approval to strike.