London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:26 GMT — Market closed.
- Shell shares rose 0.2% in London on Friday, as talks around LNG Canada deals heated up over the weekend.
- Reuters reported Shell is considering selling a portion of its stake in the LNG Canada project, while Mitsubishi is also reviewing its options.
- On Friday, Shell announced a fresh tranche of share buybacks as part of its ongoing repurchase programme.
Shell Plc shares are set to draw attention when London markets open Monday, following a Reuters report that the oil giant is considering selling part of its stake in LNG Canada, a C$40 billion liquefied natural gas project in British Columbia. According to sources, Shell is gauging interest for up to 30% of the venture, while Mitsubishi is also mulling its 15% share. One source pegged the potential deal at roughly $15 billion, including expansion capital. Talks remain preliminary and there’s no certainty they will proceed, Reuters added, with Shell declining to comment. 1
The report arrives at a tricky moment, with markets closed for the weekend and investors left to debate if Shell is ramping up “capital recycling”—offloading mature assets to bankroll new ventures—or just making room for heavier spending down the line.
The move throws Shell’s tightrope walk into sharp relief: pushing LNG expansion forward, managing debt levels, and still handing out cash to shareholders—no hesitation even if commodity prices take a hit.
Shell’s shares on the London market ended Friday at 2,752.5 pence, edging up 0.2%. During the session, the stock fluctuated between 2,720 and 2,777 pence. 2
Shell purchased 655,057 shares in London and 523,698 in Amsterdam on Jan. 16, planning to cancel them. The company paid a volume-weighted average of 27.5782 pounds per share in London and 31.8917 euros in Amsterdam. These buys are part of a buyback program running through Jan. 30, with Merrill Lynch International handling the trades. 3
Oil prices finished the week on a stronger note, boosting large integrated energy stocks despite choppy moves driven by geopolitical and supply concerns. Brent closed at $64.13 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate ended at $59.44 on Friday. Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group, noted: “Buying today seems to be people not wanting to be caught short over the long weekend.” Priyanka Sachdeva of Phillip Nova described oil as “range-bound.” 4
That said, LNG Canada talks might not spark an immediate boost for the stock. A partial stake sale could take time, price targets might shift, and investors may view it as routine portfolio reshuffling rather than a bold strategic move—particularly if doubts arise over expansion costs and potential returns.
As markets reopen Monday, investors will be eyeing any new updates on the LNG Canada stake talks. Buyback news is also expected to keep rolling in ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline. Attention then shifts to Shell’s Q4 results and interim dividend announcement, slated for Feb. 5 at 07:00 GMT. 5
