Today: 30 June 2026

FedEx joins Advent in $9.2 billion InPost buyout to take parcel locker group private

FedEx joins Advent in $9.2 billion InPost buyout to take parcel locker group private

Advent International and FedEx are heading up a consortium that’s struck a deal to buy InPost for €15.60 per share in cash. That puts the parcel locker company’s value around €7.8 billion. InPost, which operates upwards of 61,000 automated lockers and has more than 33,000 pickup and dropoff locations scattered across nine European countries, will keep CEO Rafał Brzoska at the helm. FedEx is moving into “out-of-home delivery” — that’s parcels bound for lockers and pickup points, not home addresses — as logistics players keep hunting for cheaper last-mile options across Europe. The company said InPost will stay a standalone, “independent competitor” after the deal closes, with plans for arm’s-length commercial agreements that connect FedEx’s network to InPost’s lockers and B2C services.
9 February 2026
Uber’s new ride-booking kiosks and Adyen expansion spotlight fintech’s 2026 embedded-finance push

Uber’s new ride-booking kiosks and Adyen expansion spotlight fintech’s 2026 embedded-finance push

Adyen and Uber are deepening their collaboration, announcing on Monday an expansion that now covers more markets and introduces support for physical kiosks—these let travelers book Uber rides even if they don’t have the Uber app. Adyen, which has handled Uber’s payment infrastructure since 2012 in over 70 countries, said the update includes payment processing in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and various Caribbean regions. The new arrangement also brings local acquiring to Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia, plus fresh payment options like Brazil’s Pix, Afterpay, and WeChat Pay. The first Uber kiosk under this partnership is up and running at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal C in New York. Uber is planning additional rollouts at hotels, ports, and other international airports. Large platforms are chasing growth by showing up wherever their customers might be—even in an arrivals hall where nobody’s got local data on their phone. Payments, meanwhile, keeps shifting from a behind-the-scenes utility to something central, right up front in the product.
South Korea’s watchdog flags tougher crypto rules after Bithumb’s $40 billion bitcoin giveaway

South Korea’s watchdog flags tougher crypto rules after Bithumb’s $40 billion bitcoin giveaway

South Korea’s top financial regulator on Monday pointed to Bithumb’s accidental $40 billion bitcoin giveaway as a stark example of why the country needs stricter crypto regulations. “We are particularly worried about the issue of information systems,” said Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/south-korea-watchdog-says-40-billion-giveaway-shows-new-rules-needed-tackle-2026-02-09/ The warning comes as South Korea pushes to bring “virtual assets”—that’s regulator-speak for cryptocurrencies—further under the same regulations that apply to banks and brokerages. Authorities are also considering the timing and framework for introducing spot bitcoin exchange-traded products, a move that would let investors get exposure to bitcoin’s cash price through the stock market.
9 February 2026
Pepper Money shares surge after Challenger-led $1.16 billion takeover approach

Pepper Money shares surge after Challenger-led $1.16 billion takeover approach

Pepper Money disclosed it’s received a confidential, non-binding, and conditional buyout approach from Challenger and top shareholder Pepper Group, aiming to acquire all of the non-bank lender through a scheme of arrangement. The proposal values Pepper Money at $2.60 a share in cash, with the figure set to be adjusted for the company’s final 2025 dividend and any special payout. https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20260209/pdf/06w2xl642f3455.pdf Pepper Money’s takeover approach lands the company with a A$1.16 billion valuation, according to Reuters, marking a hefty 47.7% premium over its last closing price. That sent shares surging, with a record intraday leap north of 33%. “Puts the business back where its origination model is better suited, in private hands,” said Mark Gardner, MPC Markets’ founder and CEO. Gardner described the jump in Challenger shares as “a classic acquirer reaction.” https://www.reuters.com/business/australias-pepper-money-soars-815-million-bid-challenger-major-shareholder-2026-02-09/
9 February 2026
NatWest’s £2.7bn Evelyn Partners buy shakes up UK wealth banking — and investors flinch

NatWest’s £2.7bn Evelyn Partners buy shakes up UK wealth banking — and investors flinch

NatWest Group said it will buy UK wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7 billion, including debt, and launch a £750 million share buyback, pushing deeper into fee-based financial advice as lenders brace for softer interest income. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-09/natwest-to-buy-uk-wealth-manager-evelyn-in-2-7-billion-deal The move matters now because UK banks are hunting steadier income as rate cuts squeeze net interest margins — the spread banks earn between what they charge borrowers and pay savers. Wealth management brings recurring fees and is typically less capital-hungry than traditional lending.
9 February 2026
British American Tobacco share price slips on buyback update as results week nears

British American Tobacco share price slips on buyback update as results week nears

London, Feb 9, 2026, 08:18 GMT — Regular session British American Tobacco slipped 0.5% to 4,588 pence out of the gate in London on Monday, putting it roughly 6% off its 52-week top. The move came after the company issued a regulatory update tied to its buyback programme. Down 21 pence from Friday’s finish, the stock shifted in a narrow 4,585–4,600 pence band just after the open.
9 February 2026
Shell stock watch: Oil drops 1% and buyback scrutiny builds before the bell

Shell stock watch: Oil drops 1% and buyback scrutiny builds before the bell

New York, February 9, 2026, 03:01 EST — The market is now closed. Shell’s U.S. shares wrapped up Friday at $75.29, gaining 63 cents, or roughly 0.8%. Come Monday, the stock faces pressure as crude slides—Brent lost 1% early, touching $67.38 a barrel after the U.S. and Iran agreed to extend nuclear talks. “With more talks on the horizon the immediate fear of supply disruptions in the Middle East has eased quite a bit,” said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore.
Rio Tinto share price: Glencore talks are off — here’s what traders watch next

Rio Tinto share price: Glencore talks are off — here’s what traders watch next

London, Feb 9, 2026, 07:52 GMT — Premarket Rio Tinto plc shares are drawing renewed attention before the London open after the miner ended merger discussions with Glencore, abandoning a renewed push for a combined mining giant worth north of $200 billion. Shares finished the previous session at 6,843 pence, sitting roughly 5% under the 52-week peak of 7,228 pence.

Stock Market Today

  • ASX Ends Flat as Traders Await RBA Minutes
    June 29, 2026, 10:16 PM EDT. The Australian share market finished flat on the final trading day of the financial year. Investors kept to the sidelines ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's minutes, with traders looking for clues on the next policy steps amid economic uncertainty. Activity was muted, with mixed moves across sectors as the market took a cautious stance before the RBA's update on inflation and growth.
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