Today: 7 February 2026
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Commonwealth Bank tops Bloomberg debt tables as CBA shares dip — what investors watch next

Commonwealth Bank tops Bloomberg debt tables as CBA shares dip — what investors watch next

SYDNEY, Jan 5, 2026, 19:40 AEDT — After-hours Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) said on Monday it topped Bloomberg’s 2025 Australian Bonds and Loans league tables, pointing to a strong year for its debt capital markets franchise. The stock finished the session down 0.34% at A$160.58. Commbank The update matters because investors are looking for evidence the big banks can keep fee income resilient as loan growth normalises and funding costs remain sensitive to interest-rate expectations. Debt markets activity is watched closely because it can signal how readily companies are willing to borrow and invest. Commbank For CBA in particular,
5 January 2026
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Barclays shares edge higher after buyback update as earnings loom

Barclays shares edge higher after buyback update as earnings loom

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:46 GMT — Regular session Barclays PLC (BARC.L) said it bought back 1,875,020 ordinary shares for cancellation in its latest share repurchase, a stock exchange notice showed. Shares were up 0.6% at 482.50 pence in early London trade, near their 52-week high. The bank said it paid a volume-weighted average price of 479.9947 pence — an average that weights each trade by size — and has repurchased 52,946,522 shares under the programme since it was announced in October. The update matters as investors look for steady capital returns from UK lenders after a strong run in
5 January 2026
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BHP shares rise as iron ore firms; China talks and Jan 20 update in focus

BHP shares rise as iron ore firms; China talks and Jan 20 update in focus

SYDNEY, Jan 5, 2026, 19:38 AEDT — After-hours BHP Group shares ended Monday up 1.6% at A$46.48, lifted by firmer iron ore prices and a rally in big miners even as Australia’s benchmark index finished little changed. Investing The move matters now because China’s iron ore markets reopened after the New Year holiday, and early price gains can set the tone for miners at the start of the year. Iron ore is the key ingredient in steel, and price swings feed quickly into sentiment for bulk commodity exporters. Investors are also watching BHP’s commercial footing in China after Australian media
5 January 2026
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Standard Chartered shares rise after UBS, JPMAM hires—buyback update adds support

Standard Chartered shares rise after UBS, JPMAM hires—buyback update adds support

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:35 ET — Regular session Standard Chartered said it has expanded its Global Chief Investment Office team with two senior appointments as it invests in its affluent banking business. MarketScreener The bank’s London-listed shares were up about 0.7% at 1,857 pence. The stock has been trading near its 52-week high, leaving investors quick to react to any signals on momentum and capital returns. Investing The timing matters because Standard Chartered has been leaning harder on wealth advisory and markets-related fee income, areas investors typically view as steadier than interest-rate driven banking income. Staffing moves in the
5 January 2026
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DroneShield share price slips as ASX closes; Q1 contract cash and Feb 24 report in focus

DroneShield share price slips as ASX closes; Q1 contract cash and Feb 24 report in focus

SYDNEY, Jan 5, 2026, 19:38 AEDT — Market closed DroneShield Ltd shares ended 0.6% lower on Monday at A$3.31, underperforming a flat broader market as investors headed into the new week looking for fresh confirmation that recent contract wins convert into cash. Investing The counter-drone group has been one of the ASX’s more volatile defence-technology names, and the focus is narrowing from headline contract values to delivery schedules, payments and disclosure discipline. Counter-drone, also known as counter-UAS (uncrewed aerial systems), refers to technology designed to detect, identify and disrupt drones. That shift matters now because DroneShield has pointed to a
5 January 2026
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HSBC stock today: Shares hover near a 52-week high as mortgage rate cuts land — what’s next

HSBC stock today: Shares hover near a 52-week high as mortgage rate cuts land — what’s next

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:36 GMT — Regular session HSBC Holdings Plc shares edged higher in early London trading on Monday after the lender moved to cut mortgage rates across a wide range of products. London-listed HSBC (HSBA.L) was up 4.8 pence at 1,197 pence, while its New York line was last at $80.45. The rate move matters because mortgage pricing is one of the first places banks feel the shift when interest rates start to head lower. Cheaper deals can pull in new business, but they can also squeeze net interest margin — the gap between what a bank
5 January 2026
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Rio Tinto share price rises toward a 52-week high as iron ore futures start 2026 firmer

Rio Tinto share price rises toward a 52-week high as iron ore futures start 2026 firmer

LONDON, January 5, 2026, 08:33 GMT — Regular session Rio Tinto (RIO.L) shares rose 1.8% to 6,093 pence by 0833 GMT, after touching 6,106.7 pence, a new 52-week high, trading data showed. Google The move matters because Rio is one of the FTSE 100’s biggest constituents and is widely treated as a read-through for Chinese demand, which drives pricing for iron ore and other industrial metals. The first full trading week of 2026 is opening with metal demand signals back in the spotlight after holiday-thinned trading. Google European mining stocks were among the early leaders, with the basic resources sector
5 January 2026
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Glencore stock jumps near 52-week high as copper rallies; January production report in focus

Glencore stock jumps near 52-week high as copper rallies; January production report in focus

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:32 GMT — Regular session Glencore (GLEN.L) shares rose about 2.6% in early London trade on Monday, taking the stock to 419.3 pence from a previous close of 408.8 pence. Investing The move puts one of the FTSE 100’s biggest commodity names back in focus at the start of the first full trading week of 2026, when repositioning can amplify swings in cyclical stocks. For Glencore, the key question is whether the metals tape keeps improving. The group’s earnings are closely tied to industrial commodity prices, with copper a core driver. Copper futures were up 3.1%
5 January 2026
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BAE Systems shares jump nearly 5% as Venezuela shock lifts European defense stocks

BAE Systems shares jump nearly 5% as Venezuela shock lifts European defense stocks

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:43 GMT — Regular session BAE Systems (BAES.L) shares rose nearly 5% on Monday, tracking a rally in European defense stocks after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The stock was up 4.85% at 1,839 pence. Lse The STOXX Europe aerospace and defense index — a basket of the sector’s stocks — rose 2.7% to its highest in two months, Reuters reported. For investors, BAE often trades as a read-through on government procurement when geopolitics heats up. Reuters The move lands as markets reassess geopolitical risk at the start of the first full trading
5 January 2026
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BP stock dips in London as oil slides on Venezuela upheaval; what to watch next

BP stock dips in London as oil slides on Venezuela upheaval; what to watch next

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:34 GMT — Regular session BP (BP.L) shares eased on Monday as oil prices slipped, trimming early gains at the start of the week in London. The stock was down 0.26% at 436.75 pence, after touching 444.10p, London Stock Exchange data showed. Lse The move matters because BP’s cash generation is highly sensitive to crude prices, which set the tone for the sector’s earnings and shareholder payouts. With Brent near $60 a barrel, traders are recalibrating expectations for 2026 buybacks — share repurchases that reduce the number of shares outstanding — ahead of the company’s next
5 January 2026
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Lloyds stock slips as HSBC mortgage rate cuts rekindle UK price-war talk

Lloyds stock slips as HSBC mortgage rate cuts rekindle UK price-war talk

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:45 GMT — Regular session Shares of Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) fell in early London trading on Monday, sliding 1.1% to 98.2 pence by 0830 GMT, after opening at 99.9 pence.  Investing The move matters because Lloyds is Britain’s biggest mortgage lender and its earnings are sensitive to shifts in mortgage pricing. Tighter spreads can pinch net interest margin — the gap between what a bank earns on loans and pays on deposits.  Reuters Brokers said HSBC’s move to cut mortgage rates from Jan. 5 risks pulling rivals into a more aggressive battle for new business,
5 January 2026
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Rolls-Royce stock rises in London after first buyback trades hit the tape

Rolls-Royce stock rises in London after first buyback trades hit the tape

LONDON, Jan 5, 2026, 08:30 GMT — Regular session Rolls-Royce Holdings shares rose on Monday after the aero-engine maker disclosed its first share repurchases under a £200 million buyback programme. By 08:30 GMT, the stock was up 2.09% at 1,222.05 pence.  Investing The timing matters because the buyback is one of the few company-specific catalysts at the start of the year, and it lands with the stock already close to a 52-week high. Investors are looking ahead to full-year results in late February for any fresh guidance and capital returns signals.  Investing A share buyback is when a company buys
5 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

7 February 2026
Vodafone shares rose 1.47% to 110.60p Friday, recovering part of Thursday’s 4.68% drop after a Q3 update. Group revenue climbed 6.5% to €10.5 billion, but Germany’s 0.7% service revenue growth missed some forecasts. Vodafone launched a new €500 million buyback tranche, bringing total buybacks since May to €3.5 billion. Investors remain focused on Germany’s pace and cash flow execution.
NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

7 February 2026
NatWest shares closed up 1.45% at 659.4 pence Friday, buoyed by a buyback of 797,428 shares and a new digital mortgage deal with Rightmove. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but signaled possible cuts, with markets pricing in two reductions for 2026. NatWest plans to expand its Accelerator community to 50,000 members by 2026. Annual results are due Feb. 13.
Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

7 February 2026
Unilever shares closed flat at 5,250p in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.6% gain. The company issued 4.2 million new shares for employee plans, bringing total shares to over 2.18 billion. Investors await Q4 and full-year results on Feb. 12, with analyst consensus pointing to 3.9% Q4 sales growth. Unilever’s U.S. ADR rose 0.8% to $72.12.
BP share price near 52-week high ahead of Feb 10 earnings as buyback runs on

BP share price near 52-week high ahead of Feb 10 earnings as buyback runs on

7 February 2026
BP shares closed up 1.9% at 478 pence Friday, just below a 52-week high, as the company continued buybacks ahead of next week’s results. BP repurchased 2.789 million shares on February 6. Oil prices firmed on geopolitical risk, with Brent at $68.05 a barrel, but sector outlook remains uncertain. Investors await BP’s earnings and dividend decision due Tuesday.
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