Today: 18 May 2026

Oil prices spike past $84 as Iran war shuts Hormuz, rattles global stocks

Oil prices spike past $84 as Iran war shuts Hormuz, rattles global stocks

Oil prices jumped over 3% Wednesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting tanker traffic and stranding about 200 vessels. European gas prices soared more than 50% Monday, prompting an emergency EU meeting, while South Korea’s KOSPI index plunged 12.06%, its steepest drop ever. Global stocks fell sharply as investors sought safe havens. Shipping costs and war-risk premiums surged in the Gulf region.
4 March 2026
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IAG share price today: British Airways owner slips as Middle East flight disruption drags airlines

IAG share price today: British Airways owner slips as Middle East flight disruption drags airlines

IAG shares fell about 1.8% to 372p in early London trading after senior executives at Iberia and Vueling sold company stock. British Airways said it remains unable to fly from several Middle East cities, but a Muscat–London flight is scheduled for March 5. Airline stocks continue to react to oil price spikes and travel disruptions linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
4 March 2026
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LSEG stock dips in London after buyback update — what investors watch next

LSEG stock dips in London after buyback update — what investors watch next

London Stock Exchange Group shares fell 1.9% to 8,390 pence by 0901 GMT after the company bought back 607,615 shares for about £52 million on March 3 and said it will cancel them. The move will reduce total voting rights to 504.7 million. The buyback is part of a £750 million programme running until May 29. Traders are watching for the FTSE UK index quarterly review results due after the close.
4 March 2026
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Tesco share price jumps as UK grocery inflation ticks up; TSCO eyes April results

Tesco share price jumps as UK grocery inflation ticks up; TSCO eyes April results

Tesco shares rose 2% to 481.5 pence in early London trading Wednesday, outperforming a flat FTSE 100. New Worldpanel data showed UK grocery inflation ticked up to 4.3% as Tesco extended its market share to 28.7%. About 1.1 million Tesco shares changed hands by 0852 GMT. Investors are watching the Bank of England’s March 19 rate decision and Tesco’s April 16 results.
4 March 2026
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Glencore share price today: GLEN steadies as Jefferies backs miners amid Iran war jitters

Glencore share price today: GLEN steadies as Jefferies backs miners amid Iran war jitters

Glencore shares rose 0.1% to 527.0 pence in early London trading Wednesday after a sharp market pullback. Analysts cited the Iran conflict and surging energy prices as drivers for commodity stocks, with Jefferies noting potential supply risks for metals. The FTSE 100 fell 2.8% Tuesday as traders trimmed bets on a Bank of England rate cut. Investors remain focused on energy prices and UK monetary policy signals.
4 March 2026
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Diageo share price today: DGE stock slips after HSBC downgrade — what investors watch next

Diageo share price today: DGE stock slips after HSBC downgrade — what investors watch next

Diageo shares slipped 0.1% to 1,563.5 pence in early London trading Wednesday, near a 52-week low after last week’s dividend cut and guidance downgrade. HSBC downgraded the stock to “hold,” citing ongoing U.S. weakness, while TD Cowen trimmed its price target. Shares have fallen 27% in the past year. Next updates are expected at the April ex-dividend date and May 6 trading statement.
4 March 2026
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HSBC share price slips again as oil shock keeps UK banks in focus

HSBC share price slips again as oil shock keeps UK banks in focus

HSBC shares fell 1.0% to 1,249.6 pence in early London trading Wednesday, after dropping 5.2% Tuesday amid concerns over Middle East tensions and rising oil prices. UK bank stocks have tracked a global selloff this week as traders scale back expectations for near-term Bank of England rate cuts. HSBC shares will trade ex-dividend on March 12 in London, Hong Kong, and Bermuda.
4 March 2026
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Xero share price jumps as ASX tumbles — what to watch before the next trade

Xero share price jumps as ASX tumbles — what to watch before the next trade

Xero shares rose 2% to A$80.46 on Wednesday, bucking a 1.94% drop in the S&P/ASX 200. New company data showed U.S. small-business sales growth slowed to 0.9% in the December quarter, while late payments improved. Xero rolled out a new developer fee model and barred API data use for AI training. Investors await Xero’s full-year results on May 14 amid rate and oil market uncertainty.
4 March 2026
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BP share price set for volatile London open as oil jumps on Hormuz shutdown

BP share price set for volatile London open as oil jumps on Hormuz shutdown

Brent crude rose 3.3% to $84.07 as US-Israel-Iran tensions disrupted supply, putting BP in focus before Wednesday’s London open. Iraq has cut oil output by 1.5 million barrels per day and warned reductions could widen if exports remain blocked. BP shares closed up 1.1% Tuesday, outperforming the FTSE 100’s 2.8% drop. Investors traded a record 12.7 million energy contracts on ICE as price risk surged.
4 March 2026
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Whitehaven Coal share price rises despite ASX slide as buyback keeps ticking over

Whitehaven Coal share price rises despite ASX slide as buyback keeps ticking over

Whitehaven Coal closed up 1.8% at A$8.34 on Wednesday, outperforming a 1.9% drop in the ASX 200. The company disclosed a buy-back of 65,440 shares on Tuesday, paying between A$8.05 and A$8.25 each. Whitehaven has repurchased 698,009 shares so far under its A$32 million buy-back program. Traders are watching for China policy headlines on March 5 and further buy-back updates.
4 March 2026
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Qantas share price falls as oil firms on Iran war; buyback start date in focus

Qantas share price falls as oil firms on Iran war; buyback start date in focus

Qantas shares dropped 2.7% to A$8.99 on Wednesday amid renewed pressure on airline stocks as oil prices climbed. CEO Vanessa Hudson cited “pretty good” fuel hedging, with 81% hedged for the second half, but called the crude spike significant as Gulf hubs remained shut for a fourth day. Brent crude rose 1.4% to $82.57 a barrel. Qantas plans to start a share buyback on March 16.
4 March 2026
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Iran’s Strait of Hormuz warning jolts oil and shipping — which countries could get hit first

Iran’s Strait of Hormuz warning jolts oil and shipping — which countries could get hit first

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz and warned ships could be hit, sending oil and gas prices higher as tanker traffic slowed sharply. Brent crude rose 4.7% to $81.40 a barrel Tuesday. U.S. President Trump said the Navy stands ready to escort tankers. Gulf producers are diverting shipments, with Saudi Aramco telling buyers to load at the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
4 March 2026
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Telstra share price dips as ASX slides — RBA hike odds and March dividend in focus

Telstra share price dips as ASX slides — RBA hike odds and March dividend in focus

Telstra shares closed at A$5.16, down 1% on Wednesday, as the ASX 200 fell 1.94% amid Middle East tensions and rate-hike speculation. Trading volume for Telstra was about 6.7 million shares, well below recent days. The company’s dividend reinvestment pricing window runs through March 6, with a cash payout due March 27. Markets now see a 30% chance of a Reserve Bank rate hike in March, fully pricing one for May.
4 March 2026
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Coles share price today: COL.AX slips but beats ASX tumble as dividend date nears

Coles share price today: COL.AX slips but beats ASX tumble as dividend date nears

Coles Group shares closed down 0.5% at A$21.25, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 1.94% drop to 8,901.20. Australia’s economy grew 0.8% in the December quarter, while oil prices surged over 10% after Middle East disruptions, raising rate hike bets for May. Coles’ interim dividend of 41.0 cents goes ex-dividend March 10. Woolworths fell 0.96% to A$35.94.
4 March 2026
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