London, Feb 7, 2026, 08:02 GMT — Market’s closed.
- Shares of RELX slipped 4.6% to close at 2,145p on Friday, capping off a turbulent week for the stock.
- Feb. 12 brings full-year results, with investors looking for clues on pricing power and any AI-linked risks.
- Shares remained under pressure Friday, but the buyback rolled on.
RELX wrapped up Friday at 2,145 pence, off 4.62%, capping a weaker week as London markets headed into the weekend break.
Investors now have their eyes on just one thing next week: Feb. 12, when RELX reports its full-year numbers through Dec. 31. Shares have been swept up in a broader retreat across information, data and legal analytics stocks, with the market weighing how quickly AI advances might challenge established players.
RELX announced fresh buybacks on Friday, snapping up 465,361 shares on the London Stock Exchange to keep in treasury. Shrinking the share count can give a lift to earnings per share, but the move leaves the company’s broader business outlook untouched.
Selling pressure has followed a heated global discussion about what the AI arms race is costing—and whether it’s reshaping software and data markets quicker than anyone bargained for. “It’s a de-risking trade,” Andrew Wells, SanJac Alpha’s chief investment officer, told Reuters. He sees areas of the AI build-out as “got too pricey.” Reuters
RELX shares snapped higher Thursday, climbing roughly 2.9% as London’s tech sector regained some composure following the selloff earlier in the week. But by Friday’s close, the stock had lost momentum and edged lower again.
Peers are feeling the heat, too. Wolters Kluwer and Thomson Reuters have landed in similar trades, with investors picking apart short-term earnings strength versus the longer-term AI threat.
Now, RELX faces a near-term hurdle: can it prove it’s holding the line on pricing and renewals for its subscription-driven units? Investors also want to see if the company can put a number on any potential gains from deploying AI within its own products, instead of getting blindsided by disruption.
The risk is clear enough. Should management point to fiercer competition, softer volumes, or signal plans for heavier spending, shares may come under renewed pressure. A shaky week for the sector hasn’t helped the mood.
When trading starts Monday, AI news is expected to keep setting the tone for the broader market. This week’s key event: RELX’s results on Feb. 12 and whatever 2026 trading outlook management decides to share.
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