UK & AU Stock Market Today: Live Updates 28.04.2026
LIVEMarkets rolling coverageStarted: April 28, 2026, 12:00 AM EDTUpdated: April 28, 2026, 6:58 AM EDT ASE
Evolution Mining Stock Rebounds as EVN Cash Pile Faces Gold Price Test
Evolution Mining shares closed at A$13.08 on April 27, up 2.51%, before gold prices fell 0.6% overnight. The company reported A$406 million in March-quarter cash flow and ended the period with A$42
PLS Group Limited’s A$38.1 Million Lithium Trial Tests Australia’s Battery-Materials Ambition
PLS Group Limited has started commissioning a lithium-processing demonstration plant at Pilgangoora, backed by up to A$38.1 million in Australian government funding.
ANZ Group Holdings Faces New Cost Fight as Regional Banks Push $153 Million Branch Plan
Australia’s Regional Banking Investment Alliance has urged the government to require major banks, including ANZ, to fund face-to-face regional branch services through
Northern Star Buyback: Why the KCGM Turnaround Is Back in Focus
Northern Star Resources repurchased 923,598 shares for about A$20.6 million in the first two days of its A$500 million buy-back, filings showed.
Fortescue Ltd China Iron Ore Deal Nears as CMRG Tests ASX:FMG Pricing Power
Fortescue Ltd is nearing a supply deal with China’s state-backed iron ore buyer, Bloomberg reported, as Beijing seeks greater control over pricing.
Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Records as Oil Shock Tests Big Tech Rally
The S&P 500 closed at a record 7,173.91 on Monday, rising 0.12%, while the Dow slipped 0.13%. Brent crude jumped 2.8% to $108.23 a barrel as U.S.-Iran talks stalled and Hormuz shipments stayed limited. Nvidia surged 4% to an all-time high. Verizon gained after strong results; Domino’s fell on weak earnings and a cut outlook.
CSL Shares Bounce After Buyback Tops 6 Million, But Pentagon Flu Vaccine Shock Lingers
CSL Limited has repurchased over 6 million shares for about A$1.024 billion as of Monday, amid a sharp stock decline and ongoing
Commonwealth Bank of Australia AI Job Cuts Put CBA’s Big Bet Under Pressure
Commonwealth Bank will cut 119 jobs, including 43 at Bankwest, as it expands use of artificial intelligence, according to the Finance Sector
BHP Group Ltd’s Electric Train Push Hits Union Roadblock as Pilbara Race Tightens
BHP’s plan to begin testing two battery-electric locomotives in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has been delayed by rail safety and union consultation
Woodside Energy Stock Slips Before Q1 Report as CEO Pay Revolt Tests New Boss
Woodside Energy shares closed down 1.47% at A$32.13 on Monday, ahead of its first-quarter report due April 29. Nearly 35% of shareholders
Rachel Reeves Cash ISA Shake-Up: Skipton’s 4.55% Deal Lands As Savers Face 2027 Tax Hit
Skipton Building Society launched an 18-month fixed-rate cash ISA at 4.55% AER, ahead of new rules that will cut the annual cash ISA allowance for under-65s to £12,000 from April 2027. The government will also raise the tax rate on savings income by 2 percentage points that year. Skipton’s account requires a £500 minimum and does not allow withdrawals during the term. Average one-year fixed ISA rates hit 4.01% in April.
Computacenter Plc Stock Hits Fresh High After JPMorgan Upgrade on AI Demand
JPMorgan raised its Computacenter price target to 4,000p from 3,500p and kept an “overweight” rating after the company projected stronger 2026 results, citing AI and data-centre demand. Computacenter shares hit a new 52-week high Monday before closing at 3,796p, down 0.73%. The company expects full-year profit “comfortably ahead” of market forecasts.
Melrose Industries PLC Shares Drop Before Q1 Update as Buyback Test Looms
Melrose shares fell 2.14% to 489.70 pence in London on Monday, despite ongoing buybacks totaling about £1.56 million last week. The drop comes ahead of the company’s Q1 trading update and annual meeting on April 29. Investors remain cautious after a sharp selloff in February tied to weaker 2026 revenue guidance and sector supply-chain risks.
Aviva plc Extends Menopause Support to 675,000 More Customers as Health Cover Competition Tightens
Aviva will extend specialist menopause support to over 675,000 additional private medical insurance customers and families via its Digital GP service. The insurer bought 931,432 shares for cancellation on April 24 as part of its buyback programme. Aviva shares traded at 626.80 pence, down 0.32%, at 17:25 BST Monday. The company’s AGM is set for May 6, with a trading update and dividend payment scheduled for May 14.
3i Group plc Shares Slide Again as Action Growth Fears Put May Results in Focus
3i Group shares closed down 1.43% at 2,590 pence on Monday, more than 42% below their October 2025 high, ahead of results due May 14. The stock trades about 15% below analysts’ median net asset value estimate, as investors focus on growth at Action, its key Dutch retail holding. Action reported slower like-for-like sales growth but plans at least 400 new stores this year.
Diageo Shares Slip Before May 6 Update: Dave Lewis’ Turnaround Has Little Room for Error
Diageo shares fell 0.57% to 1,462.6 pence in London ahead of a May 6 trading update. The company expects fiscal 2026 organic net sales to drop 2–3% and operating profit to be flat or slightly higher. First-half net sales fell 4% to $10.46 billion, with net debt at $21.7 billion and a cut to the interim dividend. A Kenyan court cleared Diageo’s $2.3 billion sale of East African Breweries to Asahi.
Haleon stock in focus as Google exec hire and £500 million buyback put Sensodyne maker before Q1 test
Haleon named ex-Google executive Richard Manso as U.S. chief marketing officer ahead of its April 29 trading statement. The Sensodyne maker is conducting a £500 million share buyback, purchasing 8.44 million shares last week. Haleon shares closed down 1.38% at 350 pence Monday, lagging the FTSE 100. Manso will report to U.S. CEO Nathalie Gerschtein.
Compass Group PLC’s AI Kitchen Deal Could Cut Waste. The Bigger Test Comes in May
Compass Group North America reported an 11% drop in kitchen food waste for 2025. The company will roll out Mill Industries’ AI-powered food-waste system in its kitchens from 2027. Compass shares closed down 1.7% at $29.57 in London ahead of half-year results due May 11.
Prudential PLC Buyback Puts Its $1.2 Billion Shareholder-Return Plan Back in Focus
Prudential bought back 287,211 ordinary shares in London on April 24 as part of its $1.2 billion 2026 buyback programme, according to a regulatory filing Monday. The shares, purchased at an average price of £11.2041 each through J.P. Morgan Securities, will be cancelled. Prudential will have 2,522,120,122 shares in issue after the cancellation. The company expects to announce its 2025 second interim dividend on April 28.
National Grid plc Stock Slips as Britain’s Clean-Power Push Puts Grid Giant Back in Focus
National Grid shares closed down 0.11% at 1,293.60p in London on Monday, with 6.2 million shares traded. Investors are assessing the company’s role as the UK accelerates renewables and grid upgrades. National Grid reports full-year results on May 14 after flagging a roughly 1p hit to underlying earnings per share. The stock remains up over 20% year-on-year.
ITV PLC Share Price Rises as Sky Deal Watch Puts Broadcaster Back in Focus
ITV PLC shares rose 0.81% to 80.90 pence in London on Monday, valuing the broadcaster at about £3.03 billion, as investors awaited updates on talks with Sky. The FTSE 100 fell 0.6%. ITV’s annual meeting is set for May 7, with a trading update on May 14. The company remains in discussions with Sky over a possible sale of its Media & Entertainment unit.
IAG’s €500 Million Buyback Faces A Jet-Fuel Test As British Airways Fares Rise
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA bought 13.76 million shares last week and confirmed the cancellation of 115.53 million treasury shares, reducing its share capital to €461.17 million. The company said it will raise ticket prices as jet fuel costs have surged to $150–$200 a barrel. IAG’s London shares closed at 373.90 pence, down 0.66%. Airlines across Europe are also raising fares and warning of higher losses.
Experian PLC Buyback: Why the FTSE 100 Credit Data Group Is in Focus Before Results
Experian bought 70,003 shares for cancellation on April 24, spending about £1.93 million at an average price of 2,763.29 pence each. The move is part of a board-approved buyback plan of up to $1 billion by June 2027. Full-year results are due May 20. Shares last traded at 2,743.5 pence, well below last year’s peak.
Why Ceres Power Shares Jumped Again as AI Data Centres Scramble for Power
Ceres Power shares jumped 10% to 555.50 pence in London Monday, leading FTSE 250 risers and bringing gains to 81% over the past month. The move follows the launch of its Endura solid oxide platform aimed at data centres facing grid delays. Ceres reported 2025 revenue down 37% to £32.6 million but booked its first royalties and £45 million in contracted 2026 revenue. The company licenses its technology to partners including Doosan and Shell.
FTSE 100 Falls Again as Oil Shock Puts UK Stock Market on Edge Today
The FTSE 100 fell 0.6% to 10,321.09, marking its sixth straight loss, as energy and consumer stocks dropped. Shell slid 1.7% after announcing a $16.4 billion deal to buy Canada’s ARC Resources. Sainsbury lost 3.3% following a Goldman Sachs downgrade, while Marks & Spencer dropped 4.7%. Brent crude rose 3% to $108.46 a barrel as U.S.-Iran talks stalled.
Australia Stock Market Today: ASX Falls for Fifth Day as Oil Shock Turns Focus to RBA
A freight train fault between Bury St Edmunds and Kennett blocked parts of Suffolk’s rail network Monday morning, halting Greater Anglia services until the line reopened at 09:36, National Rail said. Disruption continued into the evening due to separate overhead wire issues at Colchester. Network Rail also launched a level-crossing safety campaign after a survey found most adults underestimate train stopping distances.
Tesco PLC Shares Drop as £750m Buyback Runs Into a UK Retail Squeeze
Tesco shares dropped 2.17% to £4.80 on Monday after the company disclosed new share buybacks amid a record decline in UK retail sales volumes. The CBI’s April survey showed retail sales fell at the fastest rate since 1983. Tesco bought 406,808 shares on April 24 as part of its £750 million buyback program. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.56%.
IQE’s £81 Million Funding Deal: MACOM Investment Ends Sale Review and Targets AI Chip-Wafer Demand
IQE said Monday it will raise £81 million from MACOM and existing investors, ending its strategic review and keeping the company independent. MACOM will invest £45 million, taking shares at a 58% discount and secured convertible notes. The deal requires shareholder and national security approval. IQE shares closed up 3.8% in London before the announcement.
ITM Power PLC Shares Slide 7% As NATO-Fuel Rally Runs Into First Test
ITM Power shares dropped 7.4% to 143.30p in London Monday, with over 13 million shares traded after a sharp April rally. The fall followed news of a strategic deal with Rheinmetall for NATO e-fuel plants and recent UK government funding pledges. Retail investors remained active, with buy trades making up 76% of Interactive Investor activity. ITM shares had more than doubled since April 10 before Monday’s pullback.
Reckitt Benckiser Stock Faces ‘Show Me’ Test After Q1 Sales Miss, UBS and Berenberg Split
Reckitt Benckiser shares fell 1.09% to 4,721p in late London trading Monday after a first-quarter sales miss and margin concerns. UBS maintained a Buy rating and 7,400p target, while Berenberg cut its target to 5,179p and held at Hold. Core like-for-like net revenue rose 1.3%, missing expectations. Emerging markets grew 7.6%, but Europe and North America declined.
Ryanair Berlin Base Closure: Why Cheap Flights From Germany Are Back in the Spotlight
Ryanair will close its Berlin Brandenburg Airport base on Oct. 24, 2026, halving flights to and from Berlin and relocating seven aircraft to other European airports. The airline cited high airport charges and Germany’s tax regime, while Berlin airport officials said they were surprised and not planning fee hikes. Ryanair expects Berlin passenger numbers to drop from 4.5 million to 2.2 million in 2027. Up to 500 jobs may be affected, according to union Verdi.
Centrica Directors Buy Shares as British Gas Owner Shifts Cash Toward Big Energy Bets
Centrica disclosed Monday that directors Frank Mastiaux and Sue Whalley bought a combined 1,676 shares at £2.084 each, a regulatory filing showed. The purchases came as Centrica’s 2025 adjusted EBITDA dropped to £1.417 billion from £2.305 billion, with free cash flow turning negative. Centrica shares traded at 208.8p, up 0.34% at 15:36 BST. The filing was made under Article 19 market-abuse rules.
Sage Stock Edges Up as Buyback and AI Push Set Up a May Test
Sage shares rose 0.2% to 904.60p in late London trading after disclosing a 421,226-share buyback worth about £3.8 million. The purchase is part of a £300 million programme running through June. Interim results are due May 21, with investors watching growth, margins, and AI spending. Sage recently launched its HCM product for North America, featuring an AI payroll tool.
British American Tobacco Stock Slips as UK Smoking Ban Nears Law and BAT Keeps Buyback Running
British American Tobacco faces a UK regulatory test as Britain’s lifetime smoking ban is set to become law, barring anyone born after January 1, 2009, from ever buying cigarettes. BAT shares fell 1.26% to 4,248 pence on Monday. The company bought back 260,511 shares last week and plans to cancel them. Smokeless products made up 18.2% of BAT’s revenue in February, with 34.1 million consumers reported.
Entain Stock Tumbles as Major Investor Wind-Down Puts 6.5% Stake in Focus
Entain shares dropped as much as 7% in London after reports that major shareholder Eminence Capital will close and return funds to investors. Eminence holds about 6.5% of Entain, raising concerns over potential stock sales. Over 3.4 million Entain shares traded Monday, with the price falling to 557.60 pence by late morning. Bloomberg cited poor returns and rising costs as reasons for Eminence’s closure.