$SAN

City AM reports that UK financial services firms are tightening transgender-related single-sex bathroom rules after an Equality and Human Rights Commission code of practice on a Supreme Court ruling on sex. Admiral, Coventry Building Society, and Santander updated HR policies to restrict single-sex facilities to biological sex and/or add gender-neutral options. NatWest, Standard Chartered, and Prudential were cited by Sex Matters; some did not comment.

S&P Dow Jones Indices said Reddit (NYSE: RDDT) will be added to the S&P 500 effective before Aug. 18, 2026, replacing AvalonBay Communities (NYSE: AVB). Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) is acquiring AVB; the combined firm will be renamed Vivmark Residential (NYSE: VMRK) and stay in the S&P 500. Sun Communities (NYSE: SUI) will join the S&P MidCap 400 before Aug. 20, 2026, replacing Webster Financial (NYSE: WBS), which is being acquired by Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN).

The article compiles multiple market notes. Banco Santander’s board approved a share buyback for about 25% of first-half 2026 ordinary profit, roughly €1.825m, after regulatory approval. It also cites Indra’s stake in SpaceRISE ending talks for the IRIS2 satellite constellation, and Técnicas Reunidas H1 2026 results: order book €13,938m, revenue €3,061m, underlying EBIT €149m.

Banco Santander approved a share buyback under its shareholder remuneration policy. The programme targets about 25% of H1 2026 underlying profit, or about EUR 1.825 billion, to be executed after its current buyback ends. It allows up to 1,468.9 million shares at market price, with an indicative duration of 98 trading days.

Banco Santander approved a share repurchase programme under its 2026 shareholder remuneration policy. The board targets total shareholder remuneration of about 50% of Group underlying profit, split between dividends and buybacks. The buyback amount is about EUR 1,825 million (c. 25% of underlying profit H1 2026), with a max 1,468,931,950 shares. Execution starts after its current buyback ends, expected 21 Aug 2026.

Santander will cut rates on 230 residential and buy-to-let mortgage products by up to 25 bps on Tuesday, following similar moves by NatWest, Nationwide, Barclays and others. Examples include a 90% LTV 2-year fixed dropping 25 bps to 4.89% (with £999 fee) and a 95% LTV 10-year fixed to 5.7%. Buy-to-let rates fall 5 to 13 bps.

The European Commission approved an expanded indication for Sanofi’s MenQuadfi, allowing use in infants from six weeks of age and extending beyond the prior 12 months and older group. Simply Wall St links the update to Sanofi’s half-year 2026 results showing €22,106 million sales, higher impairment charges, and a €1,009 million buyback, and discusses valuation versus risks.

Chile’s S&P IPSA index paused on Friday, falling 0.17% to 11,256.28 after a week up 2.18%. The prior week’s gains were tied to cooling inflation (4.3% to 3.5%), approval of a reconstruction package, and earnings. Friday weakness reflected Cencosud’s Q2 loss and CMPC’s profit collapse, plus caution ahead of Middle East news; copper eased.

Santander UK provided about £42.7m debt financing for Econergy’s 80MW/240MWh Immingham BESS, with a ten-year EDF revenue floor and commercial optimisation. Contracted revenues over the term are expected at about £45–50m. Santander also funded Brockwell Energy’s 60MW/120MWh Inchbean Farm BESS in East Ayrshire, using Fluence Smartstack.

Banco Santander said the Federal Reserve Board granted final regulatory approval for its acquisition of Webster Financial Corp. after prior approvals from the U.S. OCC on June 12, 2026 and the ECB on July 21, 2026. The deal, announced in February for $12.3 billion in cash and stock, is expected to close Aug. 20, 2026. Santander targets ~18% RoTE by 2028 and 7% to 8% EPS accretion.