Lakers’ surprise 10-day signing: Kobe Bufkin gets the call as LeBron’s sons stay in focus

Lakers’ surprise 10-day signing: Kobe Bufkin gets the call as LeBron’s sons stay in focus

Los Angeles, January 13, 2026, 22:30 PST Key points The Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Kobe Bufkin to a 10-day contract on Tuesday, the team announced. (X (formerly Twitter)) The move matters because a 10-day contract is the shortest standard NBA deal, and it signals how tight the Lakers’ roster options are right now. Hoops Rumors reported the contract will pay Bufkin $131,970 and carry the same cap hit for Los Angeles, which is operating at its first-apron hard cap — a payroll ceiling teams cannot cross once triggered under the NBA’s latest labor deal. (hoopsrumors.com) Shams Charania of ESPN
14 January 2026
South32 Ltd stock freezes at A$3.96 — what investors watch before its next update

South32 Ltd stock freezes at A$3.96 — what investors watch before its next update

SYDNEY, Jan 14, 2026, 17:31 AEDT — The market has closed. South32 Ltd (S32.AX) finished Wednesday steady at A$3.96, after drifting down from an intraday high of A$4.03. Around 18.6 million shares traded hands. The stock has gained roughly 12% year-to-date and touched a January peak of A$4.04 just the day before, according to price data. (Investing.com) The stock stalled as traders absorbed new data from China, a crucial market for steel and raw materials. Customs figures revealed China shipped a record 11.3 million metric tons of steel in December and imported an unprecedented 1.26 billion tons of iron ore
NAB share price slips after a two-day run as rate jitters return — what to watch next

NAB share price slips after a two-day run as rate jitters return — what to watch next

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 17:23 AEDT — Market closed. National Australia Bank Limited (NAB.AX) slipped 1.13% on Wednesday, closing at A$41.91 and erasing some gains from the previous two sessions. The share price fluctuated between A$41.33 and A$42.83, with trading volume hitting roughly 1.46 million shares. (Investing.com) The shift unfolds amid renewed market debate over interest-rate expectations, a crucial variable for Australian bank profits. A Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey revealed consumer sentiment slipped in January. Westpac’s head of Australian macro-forecasting, Matthew Hassan, singled out “a sharp turn in interest rate expectations” as the primary factor. (Reuters) That’s crucial today since banks
PLS Group stock closes near a 52-week high as China tax tweak jolts lithium prices

PLS Group stock closes near a 52-week high as China tax tweak jolts lithium prices

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 17:20 AEDT — Market closed PLS Group Limited shares edged up on Wednesday, staying close to a 52-week peak amid a surge in lithium prices in China. The stock finished 0.2% higher at A$4.87, after hitting an intraday high of A$4.94, though volume lagged its recent average, data indicated. (Investing.com) The timing is crucial. Lithium has driven major shifts in Australian producers, and the recent China-led rally has drawn investors back in after a lengthy period when prices posed the main risk. With the ASX closed, attention now shifts to whether that bid holds once volumes
ANZ shares dip after surprise savings-rate hike — what to watch before the next ASX session

ANZ shares dip after surprise savings-rate hike — what to watch before the next ASX session

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 17:17 AEDT — Market closed ANZ Group Holdings shares slipped 0.27% to close at A$36.38 on Wednesday after the bank raised rates on its ANZ Plus Growth Saver account in an out-of-cycle adjustment, separate from any Reserve Bank of Australia announcement. Canstar reported the top ongoing rate climbed by 10 basis points to 4.25%, reversing a previous cut made in October. “ANZ’s move will be welcome news for its savers,” said Sally Tindall, Canstar’s data insights director. (Canstar) This tweak is crucial since savings rates affect a bank’s funding costs. If those costs climb, profits may
Fortescue share price closes higher after China’s record iron ore imports — what to watch next

Fortescue share price closes higher after China’s record iron ore imports — what to watch next

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 17:32 AEDT — The market has closed. Fortescue Ltd (FMG.AX) shares edged up 0.35%, closing at A$22.65 Wednesday. The stock fluctuated between A$22.42 and A$22.88 during the session, with investors gearing up for new China-related developments ahead. (Investing.com) China’s steel exports hit a record 11.3 million metric tons in December, driven by shippers rushing to beat a 2026 export-licence rule. At the same time, iron ore imports jumped 8.2% from November, reaching 119.65 million tons—a monthly peak, according to customs data. Stronger steel margins—meaning higher mill profits—drew in more ore. But the supply side is set
Woodside Energy stock climbs after Scarborough milestone — what investors watch next for WDS

Woodside Energy stock climbs after Scarborough milestone — what investors watch next for WDS

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 17:15 AEDT — Market closed Woodside Energy Group Ltd shares rebounded 2.6% to finish at A$23.92 on Wednesday, reversing a 1.7% drop from Tuesday. The bounce came after investors reacted to a significant milestone in the Scarborough project. (marketscreener.com) Woodside announced the Scarborough floating production unit (FPU) has reached the Scarborough field, roughly 375 km off Karratha, after a tow of more than 4,000 nautical miles from China. The facility, weighing about 70,000 tonnes, will handle offshore gas processing. The Scarborough Energy Project is now over 91% complete, the company said. Acting CEO Liz Westcott noted
Mineral Resources stock hits fresh 52-week high as China iron ore data lands — what to watch next

Mineral Resources stock hits fresh 52-week high as China iron ore data lands — what to watch next

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 17:22 AEDT — After-hours Mineral Resources ended Wednesday up 1.4% at A$61.34, hitting a fresh 52-week high after a strong two-day run for the Australian miner and mining services provider. (Google) The move matters now because MinRes is tightly geared to bulk commodities and battery metals, where China demand signals can swing sentiment fast. Traders are also looking ahead to the company’s next quarterly update later this month. (Mineral Resources) China is the key customer for seaborne iron ore, and fresh customs data on Wednesday showed the world’s top steel producer imported a record 1.26 billion
Northern Star stock rises as gold flirts with record highs; the Jan 22 update looms

Northern Star stock rises as gold flirts with record highs; the Jan 22 update looms

SYDNEY, Jan 14, 2026, 16:50 AEDT — After-hours Northern Star Resources Ltd shares closed Wednesday 1.4% higher at A$26.73, building on gains fueled by the recent jump in gold prices. With the ASX closed, the key question for the next session is whether that tailwind can continue driving miners forward, especially as their output and costs remain under scrutiny following a rocky start to the year. Northern Star’s focus next week is clear: the December-quarter results and any revisions to cost forecasts. After the production downgrade, investors are zeroed in on the financial impact. Australian shares closed a touch higher,
CSL Limited stock ends flat-ish near A$173 as February results loom

CSL Limited stock ends flat-ish near A$173 as February results loom

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 16:50 AEDT — After-hours. CSL Ltd (CSL.AX) closed Wednesday just 0.1% higher at A$173.49, after swinging between A$172.14 and A$174.69 during the session. Trading volume hit roughly 1.11 million shares. The stock has dropped roughly 37% over the last year, lingering just above its 52-week low of A$168. (Investing.com) The subdued finish is significant since CSL remains a key market driver. Investors are weighing if the recent sell-off has been overdone. The upcoming half-year report next month will provide a fresh update on the plasma business and vaccines unit performance. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.1%
Lynas Rare Earths stock jumps after CEO retirement plan as rare-earth supply talks heat up

Lynas Rare Earths stock jumps after CEO retirement plan as rare-earth supply talks heat up

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 16:50 (AEDT) — After-hours Shares of Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (LYC.AX) climbed 3.3% on Wednesday, settling at A$15.56 after soaring to an intraday peak of A$16.00. This marked the third straight session of gains, pushing the stock roughly 5% higher since Monday’s close. (Investing.com) The move is significant since Lynas belongs to the exclusive group of rare earth producers outside China, just as governments scramble to secure supplies of these metals essential for high-strength magnets in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defence systems. The announcement comes amid a leadership transition. Investors expect a CEO departure and
BHP stock ends higher as China’s iron ore surge meets merger talk — what’s next for ASX:BHP

BHP stock ends higher as China’s iron ore surge meets merger talk — what’s next for ASX:BHP

Sydney, Jan 14, 2026, 16:50 AEDT — Market closed. BHP Group Ltd shares ended Wednesday’s session in Sydney up 1.13%, closing at A$48.12 after hitting a high of A$48.24. The stock now trades just 0.8% shy of its 52-week peak at A$48.49, having gained roughly 3.5% over the last two sessions. (Investing.com) This move counts because BHP sets the tone for Australia’s major miners. It also offers a direct gauge of investor sentiment on China’s steel cycle ahead of the key 2026 production updates. China’s latest trade figures gave markets a boost. December iron ore imports surged to 119.65 million

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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