UK GDP Beats Forecasts: November Growth Hits 0.3% as Car Output Rebounds

UK GDP Beats Forecasts: November Growth Hits 0.3% as Car Output Rebounds

London, January 15, 2026, 09:46 GMT Britain’s economy expanded by 0.3% in November compared to October, official data revealed on Thursday, driven in part by a bounce back in car manufacturing. GDP, which tracks the total output of goods and services, had dipped 0.1% in October, while September’s figure was revised slightly higher to a 0.1% increase. Looking at the three months through November, GDP edged up 0.1%, with services climbing 0.2% and construction sliding 1.1%. November alone saw services rise 0.3%, production jump 1.1%, and construction drop 1.3%. (Office for National Statistics) The stronger-than-expected data caught attention amid ongoing
Lloyds hit with data watchdog questions as Barclays, NatWest buybacks keep UK bank shares in focus

Lloyds hit with data watchdog questions as Barclays, NatWest buybacks keep UK bank shares in focus

London, January 15, 2026, 09:41 GMT The Guardian reported that Britain’s data watchdog is probing Lloyds Banking Group over its use of staff banking data amid union pay negotiations, sparking new concerns about how major lenders manage customer information. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/13/lloyds-banking-group-staff-data-pay-talks-ico-accounts Lloyds shares climbed about 0.8% to roughly 102p, hovering near a 52-week high. Over the past year, the stock has surged around 88%. This rally tightens the margin for any reputational or regulatory setbacks as the bank gears up to unveil a new executive pay policy for shareholders. https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/l/lloyds-banking-group-plc-ordinary-10p Barclays climbed roughly 1%, pushing its gains to around 82% over
Reckitt Benckiser shares slip after RBC downgrade as buybacks and dividend vote loom

Reckitt Benckiser shares slip after RBC downgrade as buybacks and dividend vote loom

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:37 GMT — Regular session Shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc slipped Thursday, dropping 0.2% to 6,170 pence by mid-morning in London, following a downgrade from RBC Capital Markets. The broker flagged valuation concerns after the company sold its Essential Home unit. (London South East) The call comes at a tricky time for investors. Reckitt is seeking shareholder approval for a sizable one-off cash return and a share consolidation, even as the market awaits firmer guidance on profitability in 2026. It’s crucial now since those two paths are diverging. A special dividend would deliver cash fast,
Tesco stock rises after buyback filing as UK spending signals stay shaky

Tesco stock rises after buyback filing as UK spending signals stay shaky

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:32 GMT — Regular session. Tesco PLC shares edged up 0.9% to 425.1 pence in early London trading Thursday. The stock gained 3.8 pence during the session, fluctuating between 422.9 and 426.2 pence. (Investing.com) The grocer purchased 476,674 shares on Jan. 14, paying an average of 419.57 pence each, as part of its £1.45 billion share buyback plan. Tesco confirmed these shares will be cancelled, reducing the total number of shares outstanding. (Investegate) Timing is key as investors wrestle with how fast UK consumers are pulling back following a rocky close to 2025. Barclays reported a
IAG stock edges up as Vueling lays out €5 billion Boeing 737 MAX shift and 2035 growth push

IAG stock edges up as Vueling lays out €5 billion Boeing 737 MAX shift and 2035 growth push

London, 15 Jan 2026, 09:30 GMT — Regular session Shares of International Consolidated Airlines Group edged higher by around 0.5% to roughly 406.5 pence at 0930 GMT, rebounding slightly after a near 7% drop over the last five sessions. (MarketScreener) This move is crucial as investors look to gauge how much cash the British Airways owner will require to refresh its fleet while pushing growth in short-haul leisure markets. Changes in delivery timelines or costs tend to hit airline valuations fast. With IAG’s next earnings report on the horizon, attention will turn to how management addresses capital expenditure, capacity strategies,
3i Group share price jumps as UK GDP beats forecasts and investors look to Jan 29 update

3i Group share price jumps as UK GDP beats forecasts and investors look to Jan 29 update

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:26 GMT — Regular session 3i Group (III.L) shares jumped 3.8% to 3,150 pence in early Thursday trading, outperforming the slightly stronger broader market. (3i.com) The move came after UK data revealed the economy expanded more quickly than anticipated in November, easing some immediate recession worries and shifting attention to possible Bank of England rate cuts. “Firms are telling us they’re still cautious about investing and recruiting,” said Stuart Morrison, research manager at the British Chambers of Commerce. (Reuters) Official data revealed a 0.3% GDP increase in November following a 0.1% drop in October. Services and
Experian PLC stock slips again: what to watch before the Jan. 21 trading update

Experian PLC stock slips again: what to watch before the Jan. 21 trading update

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:21 GMT — Regular session Experian (EXPN.L) slipped 0.12% to 3,321 pence in early Thursday trading, marking another day of decline after dropping 0.36% on Wednesday and 1.82% on Tuesday. (MarketScreener) The drift is significant as the credit data and analytics firm prepares to release its third-quarter trading update on Jan. 21. The exchange rate for its first interim dividend will be set earlier, on Jan. 16. (Experian) For many investors, that update serves as a key checkpoint. It reveals if lenders continue to invest in credit decisioning and fraud checks amid changing interest rates. British
SSE stock steadies near highs after Berwick Bank wins 20-year UK wind price deal

SSE stock steadies near highs after Berwick Bank wins 20-year UK wind price deal

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:26 GMT — Regular session SSE shares nudged higher on Thursday, staying close to recent peaks after the UK utility locked in a long-term price agreement for a portion of its Berwick Bank offshore wind project. By 0926 GMT, the stock had gained 0.2% to 2,299 pence. (Investing.com) The award matters because it sets a government-backed price for a significant portion of output just as developers grapple with rising construction costs and tougher financing conditions. The market sees these subsidy rounds as a key test of whether large offshore wind projects can secure investment without overburdening
Haleon stock today: shares slip as JD Health China deal lands and Deutsche Bank turns bearish

Haleon stock today: shares slip as JD Health China deal lands and Deutsche Bank turns bearish

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:14 GMT — Regular session Haleon (HLN.L) slipped 0.5% to 364.5 pence by 0914 GMT, erasing part of Wednesday’s 1% rise. (MarketScreener) The move was modest, coming as investors sifted through new China headlines and a tougher stance from brokers on the stock. China stands out for Haleon as one of the rare major markets where scaling digital channels can swiftly shift growth dynamics. Online pharmacies and health platforms there also intensify pricing pressure, directly influencing the margin discussions surrounding consumer health companies. The lead-up to the next earnings cycle feels uneasy. Haleon has pledged to
Fresnillo stock slides nearly 4% as silver cools — Citi target and Probe deal steps in focus

Fresnillo stock slides nearly 4% as silver cools — Citi target and Probe deal steps in focus

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:12 GMT — Regular session Fresnillo (FRES.L) shares dipped on Thursday as silver prices slipped from their record highs, weighing on the London-listed miner. By 09:12 GMT, the stock had dropped 3.8% to 3,624 pence, down from Wednesday’s close of 3,766 pence. (Investing.com) Bullion pulled back after a strong rally. Spot silver dropped 3.4% to $89.63 an ounce, after hitting a record high of $93.57 earlier on Thursday. Gold slipped to $4,608.77 following a fresh peak the day before. Silver had cracked $90 for the first time on Wednesday. “Gold is down a bit … but
Ashtead share price ticks up after buyback filing as NYSE shift nears

Ashtead share price ticks up after buyback filing as NYSE shift nears

London, January 15, 2026, 08:58 GMT — Regular session Ashtead Group plc shares nudged up 0.2% to 5,280 pence (£52.80) in early London trade Thursday after the equipment rental company revealed another round of share buybacks. The firm purchased 70,900 shares for its treasury on Jan. 14, paying an average of 5,327.7247 pence each, with J.P. Morgan Securities serving as broker. (London South East) This update matters now since buybacks remain one of the few immediate tools management can use as investors await larger milestones, like a planned U.S. relisting. When a company buys back its own shares, it reduces
Diageo stock dips as China asset-sale talk lingers — what to watch next

Diageo stock dips as China asset-sale talk lingers — what to watch next

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:15 GMT — Regular session Diageo shares fell 0.9% to 1,677 pence by 0915 GMT, erasing some of the previous session’s gains amid investor caution over potential asset sales in China. (MarketScreener) The stock moved after reports emerged that the Johnnie Walker and Guinness maker is weighing options for its China assets, possibly including a sale, as part of efforts to streamline operations and address debt as well as U.S. tariff pressures. Diageo has brought in Goldman Sachs and UBS to help with the review but declined to comment. (Reuters) China hasn’t lived up to the

Stock Market Today

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Seagate shares rose 5.9% to $429.32 Friday after Citigroup raised its price target to $480 and reiterated a buy rating. The gain ended a two-day slide but left the stock 6.6% below its Feb. 3 high. CEO Dave Mosley sold 20,000 shares on Feb. 2 under a pre-arranged plan, SEC filings show. U.S. jobs and inflation data next week are seen as key tests for tech stocks.
Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

7 February 2026
Cummins shares jumped 6.8% to $577.73 Friday, recovering from a nearly 9% post-earnings drop the day before. The company reported Q4 revenue up 1% to $8.54 billion, took a $218 million charge tied to its hydrogen business, and guided for 2026 EBITDA of 17–18% of sales. Demand for data center generators offset weakness in North American truck markets. Analyst reaction was mixed; Truist raised its price target.
Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

7 February 2026
Corning shares surged 8.3% to $122.16 Friday, their highest close since the dot-com era, after Meta agreed to buy up to $6 billion in fiber-optic cables. The stock is up 40% since late 2025, fueled by strong first-quarter guidance and AI data-center demand. Insiders sold shares following the rally, SEC filings show. Investors await next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data for rate signals.
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