Today: 7 February 2026
Subscribe

Shan Ahmed Khan

As a journalist focused on finance and the stock market, he delivers fast, reliable, and easy-to-understand coverage of market news.

DroneShield shares in focus after JPMorgan flags 5% stake — what ASX:DRO traders watch next

DroneShield shares in focus after JPMorgan flags 5% stake — what ASX:DRO traders watch next

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 17:23 AEDT — Market closed DroneShield (DRO.AX) heads into Monday’s ASX open with a new ownership disclosure after a filing showed JPMorgan Chase & Co and its affiliates crossed the 5% threshold in the counter-drone company. The move matters now because DroneShield has turned into a fast, flow-driven trade, and changes around big holders can move the stock even when there is no new contract headline. In Australia, a “substantial holder” is an investor with 5% or more of voting shares, which triggers disclosure. It also lands as investors look for a cleaner read on who
11 January 2026
····
Westpac stock in focus: bushfire relief plan drops ahead of Monday trade

Westpac stock in focus: bushfire relief plan drops ahead of Monday trade

SYDNEY, Jan 11, 2026, 17:20 AEDT — Market closed Westpac Banking Corp announced plans to provide payment deferrals and additional assistance to customers hit by the Victoria bushfires, creating a fresh sentiment test ahead of its stock’s return to trading on Monday. The bank’s shares closed Friday at A$37.90, slipping 0.29%. Why it matters now: relief programs often reveal where pressure is mounting, with banks usually receiving the earliest real-time alerts via hardship calls and repayment pauses. Investors keep a close eye on any ripple effects in arrears — late payments — and the expenses tied to supporting struggling customers.
11 January 2026
···
Aristocrat Leisure (ASX:ALL) stock: $1.5 billion buyback extension in focus ahead of Monday trade

Aristocrat Leisure (ASX:ALL) stock: $1.5 billion buyback extension in focus ahead of Monday trade

Sydney, January 11, 2026, 17:24 AEDT — Market closed Aristocrat Leisure Ltd shares closed Friday 1.0% higher at A$57.22 following the company’s decision to extend its on-market share buyback. This development is expected to draw attention when Australian markets open Monday. (Stocks Down Under) For investors, the takeaway is straightforward: a bigger buyback pumps additional demand into the stock. When a company conducts an on-market buyback, it purchases its own shares on the exchange, gradually reducing the number of shares outstanding. The question resurfacing this year is familiar: how aggressively will companies prioritize cash returns while growth investments remain an
11 January 2026
·····
Woolworths stock ends higher into ASX break as delivery fees and February results come into view

Woolworths stock ends higher into ASX break as delivery fees and February results come into view

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 17:25 AEDT — Market closed Woolworths Group Ltd shares finished Friday up 1.8% at A$30.08. The S&P/ASX 200 barely moved, closing down 0.03% ahead of the weekend break. (Yahoo Finance) The late-week bounce puts the supermarket group near the A$30 mark heading into Monday’s open. Investors are focused less on a brief two-day trading halt and more on what comes next for margins and volumes. Fresh pricing changes in online shopping have also caught attention, with costs shifting fast. Woolworths confirmed it will tack on a A$2 fee for pick-up or delivery booked on Sundays and
11 January 2026
····
Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price holds near A$81 — three dates investors are circling this month

Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) share price holds near A$81 — three dates investors are circling this month

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 17:29 AEDT — Market closed Wesfarmers Ltd (WES.AX) closed Friday at A$81.06, marking a modest gain of 0.12%, after fluctuating between A$80.73 and A$81.71 during the session, per Yahoo Finance. That modest shift carries weight as major retailers brace for changes in interest-rate forecasts. The Reserve Bank of Australia will announce its upcoming policy decision on Feb. 3, following a two-day meeting. (Reserve Bank of Australia) Australia’s inflation data for the December quarter arrives Jan. 28. This figure matters because it shows price trends over three months, not just one. (Australian Bureau of Statistics) The broader
11 January 2026
·····
NAB shares slip into the weekend as traders brace for rates, data and the next update

NAB shares slip into the weekend as traders brace for rates, data and the next update

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 17:20 AEDT — Market closed National Australia Bank Ltd shares slipped to A$41.02 on Friday, down 0.2%, as Australia’s major banks all closed lower and the broader market barely budged. The S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.03%, with ANZ down 0.6%, Westpac off 0.3%, and Commonwealth Bank edging down 0.1%. “There’s no clear directional bias” ahead of key U.S. jobs data, said Capital.com analyst Kyle Rodda. Meanwhile, AMP’s deputy chief economist Diana Mousina pointed to legal risks tied to U.S. tariffs as a near-term factor causing market swings. (https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/australian-shares-creep-higher-for-third-straight-day) NAB stock heads into Monday’s open stuck in the
11 January 2026
·····
BHP stock back in play as Rio-Glencore talks raise the stakes for big miners

BHP stock back in play as Rio-Glencore talks raise the stakes for big miners

Sydney, January 11, 2026, 16:54 AEDT — The market has closed. BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AX) kicks off the week with merger chatter resurfacing, following Rio Tinto’s confirmation of takeover talks with Glencore. This development could shake up the mining rankings and keep BHP squarely in the spotlight. Rio and Glencore described the talks as preliminary, with the plan centered on an all-share buyout of “some or all” of Glencore. This means payment would come in shares, not cash. Under UK takeover rules, Rio has until Feb. 5 to make a firm offer or walk away. Glencore’s shares jumped over 10%
11 January 2026
·······
Woodside Energy stock (ASX:WDS) ends higher as oil jumps — what to watch before Monday

Woodside Energy stock (ASX:WDS) ends higher as oil jumps — what to watch before Monday

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 16:55 AEDT — Market closed. Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS.AX) shares finished Friday up 2.8% at A$23.59, from a prior close of A$22.95. With the Australian market shut on Sunday, traders head into the new week watching crude first, company news second. (Investing.com) Why it matters now is simple: Woodside is priced like an oil-and-gas name, and crude has started moving again on politics. The next local session will have to digest that, plus position for Woodside’s late-January update. Oil climbed on Friday as supply fears flared. Brent settled up $1.35 at $63.34 a barrel and
11 January 2026
······
PLS Group Limited stock: What to watch before ASX reopens after Friday dip

PLS Group Limited stock: What to watch before ASX reopens after Friday dip

SYDNEY, Jan 11, 2026, 16:56 AEDT — Market closed. PLS Group Limited (ASX:PLS) shares ended Friday at A$4.65, down 3.1%, in the last session before the weekend break. (Intelligent Investor) That move comes as lithium pricing in China has been firming again, a pressure point for the whole complex. Platts assessed battery-grade lithium carbonate at 141,000 yuan a metric ton on a DDP (delivered duty paid) China basis on Jan. 9, while an S&P Global Energy CERA report forecast the global lithium chemicals market surplus would narrow in 2026 — though it still expects the market to remain in surplus.
11 January 2026
·····
Northern Star Resources stock: why Jan. 22 is the date traders are circling after the guidance cut

Northern Star Resources stock: why Jan. 22 is the date traders are circling after the guidance cut

Sydney, January 11, 2026, 16:56 AEDT — The market has closed. Northern Star Resources Ltd shares resumed trading Monday as investors weighed the impact of a softer December quarter at the ASX-listed gold miner. The stock ended Friday at A$24.72, up 0.49% for the day but still down 7.52% from the previous week’s close, according to Morningstar data. (Intelligent Investor) Northern Star reported on Jan. 2 that “isolated negative events” late in the quarter trimmed December gold sales to around 348,000 ounces (348 koz). This brought first-half FY26 sales to roughly 729 koz. The company cut its FY26 production forecast
11 January 2026
·····
Fortescue share price: what to watch before the ASX reopens after Rio-Glencore talks

Fortescue share price: what to watch before the ASX reopens after Rio-Glencore talks

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 16:54 AEDT — Market closed. Fortescue Ltd shares open Monday with renewed focus on the major miners after Rio Tinto’s bid for Glencore reignited merger speculation. The stock last closed at A$22.71 on Friday, slipping 0.18%. (MarketWatch) That’s significant for Fortescue, even though it’s not part of the discussions. In Australia, cash tends to flow through the sector as a group, with miners often pricing in the theme ahead of the actual results. The key issue at play is what investors are valuing: growth in copper, scale, and the flexibility to pursue deals. Fortescue remains largely
11 January 2026
······
CBA stock holds near A$153 as CPI and RBA loom — what could move Commonwealth Bank shares next

CBA stock holds near A$153 as CPI and RBA loom — what could move Commonwealth Bank shares next

Sydney, Jan 11, 2026, 16:55 AEDT — Market closed Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) closed Friday at A$153.22, slipping 0.08%. Heading into Monday, focus is shifting away from company updates toward the latest signals on interest rates. (Investing.com Australia) This matters since CBA trades like a rate-sensitive stock. Shifts in investor sentiment on interest rates can send bank shares up or down, even if the lender’s fundamentals stay the same. The bank faces its next big milestone on Feb. 11, with half-year results and an interim dividend announcement lined up on its financial calendar. Shares will go ex-dividend
11 January 2026
····
1 … 344 345 346 347 348 … 884

Stock Market Today

Nvidia stock jumps nearly 8% as Big Tech AI spending bets lift chipmakers and Dow tops 50,000

Nvidia stock jumps nearly 8% as Big Tech AI spending bets lift chipmakers and Dow tops 50,000

7 February 2026
Nvidia surged 7.8% Friday, leading a chip stock rally that pushed the Dow above 50,000 for the first time. The PHLX semiconductor index gained 5.7% as Advanced Micro Devices rose 8.3% and Broadcom 7.1%. Amazon fell 5.6% after projecting $200 billion in 2026 capital spending. Investors weighed a $600 billion AI infrastructure outlay against sharp losses in software shares.
Glencore share price steadies after Rio Tinto walks away — what to watch next week

Glencore share price steadies after Rio Tinto walks away — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Glencore shares closed up 0.6% at 478.1 pence Friday, rebounding after a 7% drop following the collapse of merger talks with Rio Tinto. The company is expected to announce the sale of its Kazzinc stake soon and has signed a non-binding agreement with Orion for a potential $9 billion deal in the DRC. Investors await Glencore’s full-year results on Feb. 18 for further guidance.
Go toTop