London, Jan 25, 2026, 08:03 GMT — The market has closed.
- BP shares closed Friday 1.6% higher, at 443.65p.
- A fresh filing revealed BP continued repurchasing shares right up to the close.
- Oil closed up, driven by supply concerns linked to Iran, a major factor for the sector.
BP shares (BP.L) ended Friday 1.6% higher at 443.65 pence. With crude prices picking up again and buybacks continuing, investors are left weighing Monday’s opening moves. (source: Hl)
The timing is key since BP often moves in line with daily oil price shifts, and with its next earnings report approaching, even minor changes in crude, trading margins, or cash returns can quickly shift investor sentiment.
A filing with the London Stock Exchange on Friday revealed BP snapped up 2,980,065 shares as part of its buyback scheme — where a company repurchases its own stock. The oil giant said it intends to place these shares into treasury, meaning they will be held by BP itself rather than circulating publicly. (source: Lse)
Oil lent support as Brent closed at $65.88 a barrel on Friday, climbing 2.8%. The boost came after the U.S. ramped up sanctions targeting Iran’s oil shipments and President Trump mentioned an “armada” en route to the region. (source: Reuters)
The day before, oil dropped roughly 2% as traders peeled back some of the geopolitical risk premium. “There is a deflation of risk premium,” said Ole Hansen, chief commodity analyst at Saxo Bank. Tony Sycamore at IG noted prices should stay near $60 a barrel now that tensions have eased. (source: Reuters)
Weather is playing a role as well. A U.S. winter storm is already cutting into crude and natural gas production, Reuters reported Saturday, adding a fresh short-term factor to supply and refined product prices. “There is the potential for a surge in distillate demand,” said Tom Kloza, a veteran oil analyst, pointing to diesel and heating fuels. (source: Reuters)
BP investors face a simple takeaway for now: stronger crude prices could boost upstream cash flow, and ongoing buybacks may help soften any pullbacks if risk appetite falters.
The bigger drag comes from earnings. Earlier this month, BP flagged $4 billion to $5 billion in impairments, mostly tied to its energy transition businesses. It also warned of hits from weaker oil trading and softer commodity prices. (source: Reuters)
BP is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results at 7 a.m. on Feb. 10, according to the company’s investor site. Investors will focus on any updates regarding shareholder returns, net debt levels, and management’s outlook on trading conditions heading into 2026. (source: Bp)
But there’s a clear risk here. Should Middle East tensions ease up, or if supply bounces back sooner than anticipated, crude prices could quickly retreat — and oil majors usually don’t hold their ground in those situations.
