Today: 20 March 2026
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Michał Rogucki

Malaysia steps in to calm Lynas fears after US minerals deals — what changes and what doesn’t

Malaysia steps in to calm Lynas fears after US minerals deals — what changes and what doesn’t

Malaysia’s trade ministry said U.S. trade and critical minerals agreements will not change technical conditions imposed on Lynas Malaysia’s rare-earth operations. The ministry confirmed Lynas’ 10-year licence renewal remains subject to waste management rules. Talks between state investor Khazanah and Chinese firms on rare-earth projects are still in early stages. No final deals have been reached.
5 March 2026
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Telstra warns A$7.3 billion spectrum renewal bill could hit mobile prices

Telstra warns A$7.3 billion spectrum renewal bill could hit mobile prices

Telstra has called on the Australian government to lower proposed mobile spectrum renewal fees, arguing the regulator’s A$7.34 billion valuation is about A$4.1 billion above fair value. The company warned higher costs could reduce investment or increase customer prices. ACMA is reviewing feedback after closing consultations in February. Telstra shares fell 0.58% to A$5.18 late Wednesday.
5 March 2026
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South32 CEO maps a sharper base-metals push as Mozal shutdown nears

South32 CEO maps a sharper base-metals push as Mozal shutdown nears

South32 CEO Graham Kerr said about 90% of the company’s production could soon be in base metals and exploration, as it prepares to mothball its Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique within weeks. Kerr will hand over to incoming CEO Matthew Daley later this year. The Mozal shutdown affects thousands of jobs and a third of Mozambique’s manufacturing. South32 shares traded ex-dividend on Thursday.
5 March 2026
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PLS Group’s new gender pay gap numbers show a setback after layoffs and an idled plant

PLS Group’s new gender pay gap numbers show a setback after layoffs and an idled plant

PLS Group reported its median gender pay gap in Australia widened to 15.2% in 2024–25 from 11.1% a year earlier, citing workforce changes after corporate job cuts and a plant shutdown. The company said the gap mainly reflected workforce mix, not pay for like roles. WGEA released employer gender pay gap data for 10,500 employers on March 3. PLS shares last traded at A$4.81, up from A$4.74.
5 March 2026
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Santos Beetaloo fracking plan faces hot springs warning as NT weighs approval

Santos Beetaloo fracking plan faces hot springs warning as NT weighs approval

Scientists and Indigenous custodians have called on the Northern Territory to reject Santos’ plan to drill and frack 12 test wells at Tanumbirini Station, citing risks to Hot Springs Valley. CSIRO research on the hot springs is due in late 2026. Santos says risks are low and it will use controls and monitoring, while the regulator reviews its environmental plan. Indigenous rangers warn of threats to waterways, wildlife, and cultural sites.
5 March 2026
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Kontoor Brands stock jumps after 2026 profit forecast lifts Wrangler and Lee owner, tariffs still a worry

Kontoor Brands stock jumps after 2026 profit forecast lifts Wrangler and Lee owner, tariffs still a worry

Kontoor Brands forecast 2026 adjusted EPS of $6.40–$6.50 and revenue of $3.40–$3.45 billion, factoring in over $100 million in tariff costs. Shares surged 21% Tuesday after the outlook, then slipped 1% early Wednesday. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 46% to $1.02 billion, boosted by the Helly Hansen acquisition. Wrangler revenue climbed 12% to $562 million; Lee rose 2% to $198 million.
4 March 2026
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Why Transocean’s CEO and top executives just sold shares — SEC filings explain the timing

Why Transocean’s CEO and top executives just sold shares — SEC filings explain the timing

Transocean CEO Keelan Adamson and three other executives disposed of shares this week to cover taxes after equity awards vested, according to SEC filings. Shares fell 2.3% to $6.11 in premarket trading Wednesday. The disclosures come as Transocean pursues a $5.8 billion all-stock takeover of Valaris. Each filing described the sales as tax-related, not discretionary selling.
4 March 2026
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Petrobras won’t rush Brazil fuel price changes after Iran conflict spikes oil, CEO says

Petrobras won’t rush Brazil fuel price changes after Iran conflict spikes oil, CEO says

Petrobras will monitor oil prices before deciding on gasoline and diesel adjustments in Brazil, CEO Magda Chambriard said, after Middle East conflict pushed Brent crude up 4.7% to $81.40 a barrel. Treasury Secretary Rogerio Ceron warned a prolonged oil shock could affect Brazil’s planned interest rate cuts. Banks raised oil forecasts as shipping risks grew near the Strait of Hormuz.
4 March 2026
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Venture Global shares jump after New York judge blocks Shell bid in LNG fight

Venture Global shares jump after New York judge blocks Shell bid in LNG fight

Venture Global shares rose over 8% Tuesday after a New York judge rejected Shell’s attempt to overturn an LNG arbitration award. The company reported a 191% jump in adjusted core profit to $2 billion for Q4, driven by higher Plaquemines plant output. Venture Global also signed a five-year LNG supply deal with Trafigura starting in 2026. U.S. LNG supply remains tight after Qatar’s outage.
4 March 2026
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Tesla’s EU carbon-credit pool just lost Stellantis, Toyota and Subaru for 2026, filings show

Tesla’s EU carbon-credit pool just lost Stellantis, Toyota and Subaru for 2026, filings show

Stellantis, Toyota, and Subaru have not joined Tesla’s 2026 EU carbon-credit pool, an EU filing showed, though all three participated in 2025. Stellantis said it may opt in later; Toyota called pooling decisions premature. The EU now allows carmakers to average CO2 targets over 2025–2027. Tesla’s regulatory credit revenue fell 28% to $1.99 billion in 2025.
4 March 2026
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Intel shakes up board again as chair Frank Yeary exits, Craig Barratt tapped

Intel shakes up board again as chair Frank Yeary exits, Craig Barratt tapped

Intel board chair Frank Yeary will retire after the May 13 annual meeting, with director Craig Barratt set to take over. The board will shrink to 11 members. The leadership change comes as CEO Lip-Bu Tan pushes a manufacturing-focused turnaround and contract chipmaking strategy. Analyst Jay Goldberg called Yeary’s exit overdue and said Barratt’s promotion could help drive cultural change.
4 March 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • US Stocks, Bonds, and Gold Slide Amid Iran Conflict and Rising Oil Prices
    March 20, 2026, 4:11 PM EDT. US stocks and bonds declined sharply as the Iran war intensified, pushing oil prices up and gold to its worst week in 40 years. The Russell 2000 index fell 2.7%, nearing correction territory (a 10% drop from peak). The Dow dropped 444 points (0.96%), S&P 500 fell 1.51%, Nasdaq slumped 2.01%, with the Nasdaq nearly in correction at down 9.65% since late October. The conflict raised energy prices, elevating inflation concerns and complicating central bank policies. Treasury yields surged, with the 10-year yield reaching 4.39%, the highest since July. Gold plunged 2% on Friday, marking a 10% weekly loss. Brent crude rose 3.26% to $112.19 per barrel. Market uncertainty persists over conflict duration and oil prices, with investors cautious about further downside.
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