Today: 7 February 2026
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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.

BAE Systems share price jumps 6% as Trump floats $1.5 trillion defence budget and lifts Europe arms stocksLondon,

BAE Systems share price jumps 6% as Trump floats $1.5 trillion defence budget and lifts Europe arms stocksLondon,

January 8, 2026, 08:48 GMT Shares in Britain’s BAE Systems jumped on Thursday as European arms makers hit a fresh record after U.S. President Donald Trump called for higher U.S. defence spending and put a $1.5 trillion figure on next year’s military budget. Europe’s aerospace and defence index was up about 2% by 0816 GMT, with Chemring, Leonardo and Rheinmetall also higher. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/defence-stocks-europe-all-time-high-after-trump-calls-higher-us-defence-budget-2026-01-08/ The move matters now because defence stocks have started trading like a live feed of geopolitics and budget politics. Defence stocks in London rose 1.7% on Wednesday even as the FTSE 100 fell 0.7%, after U.S. strikes
8 January 2026
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Marks & Spencer shares rise after Christmas update as food sales grow and outlook holds

Marks & Spencer shares rise after Christmas update as food sales grow and outlook holds

London, January 8, 2026, 08:42 GMT — Regular session Marks & Spencer Group plc (MKS.L) shares rose 2.8% to 337.8 pence by 0842 GMT, reversing earlier-week weakness as investors digested the retailer’s Christmas-quarter update. The stock is still well below its 52-week high of 417.5 pence and above the 315.5 pence low. London South East In a statement, M&S said food sales rose 6.6% in the 13 weeks to Dec. 27, with like-for-like sales — a measure that strips out new store openings — up 5.6%. Its Fashion, Home & Beauty business fell 2.5%, with like-for-like sales down 2.9%, and
8 January 2026
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ABF shares plunge as Primark Europe slump triggers profit warning — what investors watch next

ABF shares plunge as Primark Europe slump triggers profit warning — what investors watch next

London, Jan 8, 2026, 08:42 GMT — Regular session Shares in Associated British Foods plc (ABF.L) fell sharply on Thursday after the Primark owner warned annual profit would drop, hit by weak clothing demand in continental Europe and softer sales in parts of its U.S. food business. The stock fell as much as 11.7% to 1,901 pence in early London trade and is down about 5% over the past year. City AM ABF said it now expects adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share to come in below last year, reversing its earlier forecast for growth in 2026. “We
8 January 2026
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Tesco shares slide as Christmas update disappoints despite profit outlook lift

Tesco shares slide as Christmas update disappoints despite profit outlook lift

London, January 8, 2026, 08:40 (GMT) — Regular session Tesco PLC (TSCO.L) shares slid on Thursday after the grocer nudged its profit outlook higher but reported a slower pace of sales growth over Christmas and a deeper drop at its Booker wholesale arm. The stock was down 21.3 pence, or 4.7%, at 431.3 pence in early deals. The Christmas statement lands at an awkward moment for UK food retailers. They are trying to hold margins while keeping prices sharp enough to fend off discounters, with shoppers still split between “treat” spending and belt-tightening. There is also a wider read-through. Industry
8 January 2026
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Rolls-Royce stock pops in London after fresh buyback disclosure as defence shares surge

Rolls-Royce stock pops in London after fresh buyback disclosure as defence shares surge

London, Jan 8, 2026, 08:41 GMT — Regular session Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.L) shares rose 1.95% to 1,283.5 pence in early trade on Thursday, after the company disclosed another round of share repurchases under its £200 million interim buyback. The stock traded between 1,268.0 and 1,283.5 pence and was last up 24.5 pence versus Wednesday’s 1,259.0 pence close. London South East The move landed as European aerospace and defence stocks hit fresh highs after U.S. President Donald Trump called for higher U.S. defence spending. A regional aerospace and defence index was up about 2% around 0816 GMT, with Britain’s BAE Systems
8 January 2026
Rio Tinto stock slips in early London trade as copper demand outlook clashes with iron ore risks

Rio Tinto stock slips in early London trade as copper demand outlook clashes with iron ore risks

London, January 8, 2026, 08:42 (GMT) — Regular session Rio Tinto shares eased on Thursday, down 0.9% at 6,204 pence, after setting a 52-week high the previous day. The stock opened at 6,260p and has traded between 6,194p and 6,260p so far. London South East The timing matters because miners are being pulled in two directions: long-term copper demand looks stronger, but the near-term iron ore picture is still fragile. S&P Global said a surge in artificial intelligence and defence spending could lift copper demand 50% by 2040, taking annual demand to 42 million metric tons from 28 million in
8 January 2026
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BAE Systems stock jumps 6% as Europe defence shares hit record on Trump budget call

BAE Systems stock jumps 6% as Europe defence shares hit record on Trump budget call

London, Jan 8, 2026, 08:40 GMT — Regular session BAE Systems shares climbed in early London trading on Thursday as European defence stocks hit a fresh record after U.S. President Donald Trump called for a bigger U.S. military budget. BAE was up with peers including Chemring, Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Rheinmetall. Reuters BAE Systems (BAES.L) traded around 2,042 pence, up about 6% from Wednesday’s close of 1,926 pence, and near the top of the day’s 2,029-2,055 pence range, according to price data. Investing.com The sector move matters because defence spending expectations have become the market’s main input for the group’s
8 January 2026
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National Grid stock hits a 52-week high then slips — what investors watch next

National Grid stock hits a 52-week high then slips — what investors watch next

London, Jan 8, 2026, 08:10 GMT — Regular session National Grid shares dipped 0.3% to 1,181 pence in early London trade on Thursday, after an earlier push took the stock to 1,194.5 pence — its highest level in the past 52 weeks. The shares ended Wednesday at 1,184.5 pence. Google The move comes as investors juggle a mix of geopolitical headlines and interest-rate expectations that can swing demand for dividend-heavy utilities. “Geopolitical headlines are in the driver’s seat,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, as markets looked ahead to Friday’s U.S. jobs report. Reuters In Britain, traders have
8 January 2026
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Shell stock in focus after Q4 update flags chemicals loss and weaker trading

Shell stock in focus after Q4 update flags chemicals loss and weaker trading

NEW YORK, Jan 8, 2026, 03:08 EST — Market closed Shell Plc said its Chemicals and Products segment is expected to post adjusted earnings below break-even in the fourth quarter, as weaker chemicals margins and lower trading weigh, keeping the stock in focus ahead of the next session. Reuters The timing matters. Investors use these quarterly outlook notes as a quick read on cash generation, trading performance and whether shareholder returns look secure before the full results land. In New York, Shell’s ADRs (SHEL) closed down 1.9% at $71.54 on Wednesday. In London, Shell shares fell 3.3% to 26.56 pounds.
8 January 2026
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BP slips again after Norway wealth fund trims stake, with oil headlines back in play

BP slips again after Norway wealth fund trims stake, with oil headlines back in play

London, Jan 8, 2026, 08:10 GMT — Regular session BP shares fell about 1% in early trading on Thursday, extending the prior session’s drop after Norway’s sovereign wealth fund disclosed it had pared back its holding. The stock was at 414.05 pence, versus a previous close of 418.20. Investing.com The trimming matters because BP has been trying to steady investor confidence while oil-price swings keep driving the sector day to day. Big holders moving stock can add to pressure at the margin, especially when the macro tape is already noisy. Norges Bank Investment Management, which runs the Norwegian fund, cut
8 January 2026
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ST Engineering (S63) stock rises as TransCore rolls out Delaware tolling system; earnings next

ST Engineering (S63) stock rises as TransCore rolls out Delaware tolling system; earnings next

Singapore, January 8, 2026, 15:50 SGT — Regular session Shares of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd rose on Thursday, lifting the Singapore defence and engineering group closer to recent highs after a U.S. unit flagged progress on a tolling project. TransCore said the Delaware Department of Transportation had gone live with the latest generation of its Integrity back-office system — software that handles toll transactions and E‑ZPass account management — and that the rollout met the project schedule. “This upgrade improves the customer experience,” DelDOT secretary Shanté Hastings said in the statement. ST Engineering ST Engineering was up 0.9% at S$8.98
8 January 2026
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CapitaLand Investment stock climbs after S$260 million Singapore automated logistics bet

CapitaLand Investment stock climbs after S$260 million Singapore automated logistics bet

Singapore, Jan 8, 2026, 15:50 SGT — Regular session Shares of CapitaLand Investment Limited climbed 2.16% to S$2.84 as of 3:39 p.m. in Singapore on Thursday, extending a steady week for the real asset manager after it flagged new logistics moves. SG Investors CLI is leaning harder into warehouses and automation at a time when investors have been picky about property names. The company said it would take a minority stake in smart logistics operator Ally Logistic Property and that its CapitaLand Southeast Asia Logistics Fund will commit about S$260 million to build its first automated logistics facility in Singapore.
8 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Apple stock price ends week higher as Dow hits 50,000; jobs and CPI loom next

Apple stock price ends week higher as Dow hits 50,000; jobs and CPI loom next

7 February 2026
Apple closed up 0.8% at $278.12 Friday, then slipped 0.3% after hours. The S&P 500 jumped 1.97% and the Nasdaq rose 2.18% as chipmakers rallied, while Amazon fell 5.6% on higher capex guidance. Investors await U.S. jobs data Feb. 11 and CPI Feb. 13. Apple’s next dividend is $0.26 per share, payable Feb. 12.
Broadcom Stock Gets a Google AI Spend Lift as Jefferies Sees 60% Upside

Broadcom Stock Gets a Google AI Spend Lift as Jefferies Sees 60% Upside

7 February 2026
Google raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to $175 billion–$185 billion, with most spending expected on data-center chips. Broadcom shares rose about 2% after the announcement, while Nvidia and AMD slipped. Jefferies reiterated a buy rating on Broadcom, maintaining a $500 price target, implying a 62% upside from Wednesday’s close.
No $2,000 IRS stimulus check is coming in February 2026 — but Trump’s tariff-check talk keeps the rumors alive

No $2,000 IRS stimulus check is coming in February 2026 — but Trump’s tariff-check talk keeps the rumors alive

7 February 2026
The IRS has not announced new federal stimulus payments for February 2026, and Congress has not approved fresh checks. Trump told NBC he is considering $2,000 tariff rebate checks but has not committed, saying any payout would likely come later in 2026. The IRS warns taxpayers to ignore texts and emails about “stimulus payments” and verify notices through official channels.
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