Stock Market 28 July 2026 - 29 July 2026

HSBC is offloading A$36 billion in Australian loans to funds managed by Blackstone, setting a new record for a global home-loan portfolio sale. Pepper Money will oversee loans amounting to 1.59 times its assets under management as of March, signaling notable growth. Once HSBC and Westpac's portfolios are merged, the total will reach A$57.4 billion, representing more than 2.5 times Pepper's current AUM. HSBC forecasts a loss on the sale of less than US$100m, with no impact on its CET1 capital, and aims to close the deal by mid-2027.

BP intends to divest its North Sea business as the energy sector undergoes transformation. Petrol prices in the UK approached annual peaks at 159.5p per litre, influenced by escalating tensions between Iran and the US. Diesel prices hit 178.2p. Sainsbury's shares climbed 4% after the £120m divestment of Argos, indicating a strategic shift towards its core food business. Korea's stock market recorded an all-time jump, propelled by AI firms, underlining intense investor enthusiasm in tech sectors.

Kelt Exploration Ltd. (TSE:KEL) shares climbed above their 200-day moving average of C$8.99, peaking at C$9.83. The company's market capitalisation stands at C$1.98 billion and it trades at a P/E ratio of 44.59. Royal Bank Of Canada and Scotia analysts raised price targets to C$11.00 and C$13.00 respectively and assigned 'outperform' ratings. Insider sales trimmed holdings by more than 7%, with insiders now owning 15.87% of outstanding shares.