Today: 20 March 2026
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Michał Rogucki

HSBC Holdings Plc Executive Share Sale Puts Rally, Buyback Pause in Focus

HSBC Holdings Plc Executive Share Sale Puts Rally, Buyback Pause in Focus

HSBC Asia and Middle East co-CEO Surendra Rosha sold 308,400 shares for HK$43.2 million in Hong Kong on March 3, a filing showed. HSBC stock rose HK$1.30 to HK$135.20 in Hong Kong Friday. The bank reported 2025 pretax profit down 7% to $29.9 billion but beat consensus by $1 billion. HSBC will delay new buybacks until its core capital ratio recovers from the Hang Seng Bank take-private.
6 March 2026
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Shell Plc Signs Venezuela Oil and Gas Deals, Putting Dragon Gas Project Back in Play

Shell Plc Signs Venezuela Oil and Gas Deals, Putting Dragon Gas Project Back in Play

Shell signed oil and gas agreements with Venezuela to develop the offshore Dragon field, aiming for first gas exports to Trinidad by Q3 2027, according to Trinidad's Energy Minister. The deal follows new U.S. licenses easing sanctions and includes technical partnerships with VEPICA, KBR, and Baker Hughes. Dragon holds about 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas. Atlantic LNG in Trinidad shipped 9 million metric tons in 2025, below its 12 million capacity.
6 March 2026
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British American Tobacco p.l.c. Faces Fresh UK Shareholder Lawsuit Over North Korea Sanctions Fallout

British American Tobacco p.l.c. Faces Fresh UK Shareholder Lawsuit Over North Korea Sanctions Fallout

British American Tobacco faces a London High Court lawsuit from over 100 shareholders alleging it failed to disclose breaches of U.S. sanctions tied to its North Korea business. The suit follows BAT’s $635.2 million U.S. settlement in 2023 over tobacco sales to North Korea. BAT said it cannot comment due to a prior U.S. agreement. The claim’s value has not been disclosed.
6 March 2026
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Unilever PLC’s India Unit Exits Nutritionalab as Premium Growth Push Gains Pace

Unilever PLC’s India Unit Exits Nutritionalab as Premium Growth Push Gains Pace

Hindustan Unilever has sold its entire 19.8% stake in Nutritionalab for about 3.07 billion rupees, according to a March 4 filing. The sale follows board approval last month to exit Nutritionalab and acquire the remaining 49% of OZiva. HUL’s quarterly profit dropped 15% after price cuts and competition. Parent Unilever expects 2026 sales growth at the lower end of its target range.
6 March 2026
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MinRes lifts the hood on Onslow Iron: the numbers behind Mineral Resources’ Ken’s Bore push

MinRes lifts the hood on Onslow Iron: the numbers behind Mineral Resources’ Ken’s Bore push

Mineral Resources said its Ken’s Bore site on the Onslow Iron project is running three crushers with installed capacity of 40.9 million tonnes per year. Ore from the Upper Cane deposit travels 16 km to the crushers before being shipped from the Port of Ashburton. MinRes shares traded at A$56.06, up 0.63%. The company reported net debt of A$4.9 billion and shipped 8.7 million tonnes from Onslow in the last quarter.
6 March 2026
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Qantas Airways reroutes Perth-London via Singapore, adds London flight as Middle East conflict hits travel

Qantas Airways reroutes Perth-London via Singapore, adds London flight as Middle East conflict hits travel

Qantas is rerouting its Perth-London flights via Singapore and adding an extra Sydney-London A380 service as Middle East conflict disrupts usual air corridors. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad have cut schedules, with Doha still closed. Qantas says no other flights are affected but warns of higher call volumes and offers flexible options for some partner bookings. The changes come amid record profits and rising fuel costs.
6 March 2026
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South32’s 90% Base-Metals Bet Takes Shape as CEO Graham Kerr Pushes North America Pivot

South32’s 90% Base-Metals Bet Takes Shape as CEO Graham Kerr Pushes North America Pivot

South32 expects about 90% of its production to be in base metals within 18 months, outgoing CEO Graham Kerr told Financial Mail. Stephen Pearce became chair on March 1, and Matthew Daley is set to succeed Kerr as CEO later this year. The company posted first-half underlying earnings of $435 million, beating estimates. South32 will place its Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique into care and maintenance by March.
6 March 2026
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Wesfarmers fertiliser shock: CSBP flags delays as Iran war hits supply lines

Wesfarmers fertiliser shock: CSBP flags delays as Iran war hits supply lines

CSBP warned customers of possible delays to ammonium phosphate and urea shipments as the Iran war disrupts Persian Gulf supply routes. March fertiliser collections will proceed, but April and later contracts cannot be brought forward. Analysts say Strait of Hormuz disruptions are driving up global fertiliser prices. Australia imported 64% of its urea from the Gulf in 2025, with domestic stocks lasting only until mid-April without new imports.
6 March 2026
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Fortescue Ltd Directors Buy Shares After Profit Jump and Dividend Hike

Fortescue Ltd Directors Buy Shares After Profit Jump and Dividend Hike

Fortescue Ltd directors bought about A$114,664 in shares on Feb. 26, a day after reporting a 23% rise in half-year net profit to US$1.914 billion and raising its interim dividend. Lead independent director Larry Marshall purchased 4,930 shares for A$102,687.20. The moves come as China widens restrictions on some BHP cargoes and Fortescue pursues projects in Peru and Gabon not expected to produce until the next decade.
6 March 2026
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AMD teams up with University of Toronto on new AI research lab as chip race heats up

AMD teams up with University of Toronto on new AI research lab as chip race heats up

AMD and the University of Toronto opened a new AI and computing research lab, planning to support 100 projects over three years and add new AI servers. AMD shares rose nearly 6% in premarket trading as investors watched its AI chip efforts. The lab joins AMD’s R&D network, which includes MIT and UC Berkeley. Executives also reported recent share sales linked to equity awards.
5 March 2026
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Qatar outage puts Venture Global LNG cargoes in focus — but spare capacity is thin

Qatar outage puts Venture Global LNG cargoes in focus — but spare capacity is thin

Venture Global is redirecting spot LNG cargoes after Qatar halted shipments, tightening global supply. U.S. and Australian LNG plants are near full capacity, limiting replacement options. LNG prices and shipping rates have surged, with Asian spot prices up 68% for April. Venture Global supplied over half of U.S. LNG cargoes to the Middle East last year, according to Poten & Partners.
5 March 2026
California antitrust probe throws fresh doubt on Paramount’s $110 billion Warner Bros Discovery deal

California antitrust probe throws fresh doubt on Paramount’s $110 billion Warner Bros Discovery deal

California Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed an open investigation into Paramount Skydance’s planned $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount agreed to pay $31 per share in cash, with a ticking fee if the deal closes after Sept. 30, 2026. Fitch downgraded Paramount’s credit rating to junk, citing leverage risks. Warner Bros. Discovery shares fell about 1% to $27.95 in early trading.
5 March 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Nevada Temporarily Bans Prediction Market Firm Kalshi Over Gaming License Dispute
    March 20, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT. Kalshi, a prediction markets platform offering event-based contracts on sports, elections, and entertainment, was temporarily banned in Nevada by a 14-day restraining order from the First Judicial District Court. The ruling prohibits Kalshi from operating its derivatives exchange without a gaming license, marking the first state-level forced cessation for the company. The ban follows earlier Nevada cease-and-desist actions and precedes a likely extension through the legal case, said gaming attorney Daniel Wallach. The dispute comes amid mounting regulatory scrutiny nationally, including criminal charges from Arizona and ongoing battles in multiple states. Kalshi contends its sports contracts are financial swaps, not gambling, a view supported by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which claims jurisdiction over these markets. This case highlights tensions between state gambling laws and federally regulated prediction markets.
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