London, Feb 6, 2026, 08:01 GMT — Regular session
- London Stock Exchange Group shares fell about 4% in early trade after Thursday’s 5.8% jump
- LSEG disclosed fresh buyback purchases, with shares set for cancellation
- Investors are watching for any shift in tone on AI risk ahead of Feb. 26 full-year results
Shares in London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG.L) fell about 4% in the opening minutes of trade on Friday, trimming part of the previous session’s rebound as investors stayed jumpy over artificial intelligence disruption risk. By 0802 GMT, the stock was at 7,282 pence, down from a prior close of 7,586, after trading between roughly 7,183 and 7,304 pence. (Google)
The stock has become a proxy for the wider shakeout in “data and workflow” names after new AI tools from Anthropic triggered questions about how durable subscription-style businesses are when generative AI can automate parts of research, analysis and document work. “An awakening to the disruptive power of AI,” said James St. Aubin, chief investment officer at Ocean Park Asset Management. (Reuters)
The jitters land with LSEG’s 2025 full-year results due on Feb. 26, a set piece for investors hunting for reassurance on growth in its data and analytics products and how it plans to spend on AI without denting margins. LSEG has said it intended to run buybacks into that results date. (LSEG)
On Thursday, LSEG rose 5.8% as London-listed tech and analytics stocks rebounded from a rout earlier in the week, even as the broader FTSE 100 index closed lower. Trading volume in LSEG was heavier than usual, with about 2.3 million shares changing hands versus a 50-day average near 1.5 million, according to market data. (Reuters)
Before the open on Friday, LSEG said it bought back 256,419 shares on Feb. 5 at an average price of 7,533.05 pence as part of its programme, with the shares intended for cancellation. The company also updated its total voting rights after the buyback. (Investegate)
Some investors are trying to pick a bottom in AI-exposed software and data names, but the tone is still cautious. “This has been Software-mageddon,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. “I don’t think this wholesale replacement of the existing software infrastructure for the AI solution in these situations is realistic,” said Walter Todd, chief investment officer at Greenwood Capital. (Reuters)
But the risk case is straightforward: if customers decide AI tools can replace parts of premium data and workflow products, pricing power could weaken, and a valuation built on sticky subscriptions becomes harder to defend. On top of that, a rough spell in global markets can hit trading and capital markets activity, which tends to show up fast in the numbers.
Traders will look for any follow-through from the tech-led selloff that has driven the week’s swings, and for fresh broker notes on “AI winners versus losers” in European data stocks. For LSEG, the next hard catalyst is Feb. 26, when it reports full-year results and investors press management on demand, churn and how the AI spend is paying back.
