London, Feb 23, 2026, 08:05 GMT — Regular session
- RELX slipped roughly 0.6% at the open in London, following a Friday close of 2,322p.
- Fresh uncertainty around U.S. tariffs put global risk sentiment on the defensive.
- Eyes are on RELX’s buyback speed, with the spotlight also on its trading update and AGM set for April 23.
RELX shares slipped 0.6% to 2,309 pence by 0804 GMT, down from Friday’s 2,322 close. Early session moves saw the stock swing between 2,293 and 2,332 pence.
Stocks slipped early, with market jitters flaring as unclear U.S. tariff moves stirred up uncertainty to start the week. Both Wall Street futures and the dollar lost ground in Asia, traders holding back while they looked for policy direction out of Washington.
Timing is key for RELX. Shares in big data and software firms like this one have been shifting not just on results, but on broader market sentiment. Investors have used the stock as something of a gauge—either leaning into steady cash flows or steering clear of anything caught up in the AI debate.
Sterling edged higher versus the dollar on news of the tariff decision, adding complexity for multinationals. Currency fluctuations feed straight through to the sterling value of international sales and profits when results hit in pounds.
RELX is working to reshape the narrative on generative AI following a steep drop in its shares earlier this month. On Feb. 12, the company issued a statement predicting that AI-powered products will fuel growth “for many years to come.” CFO Nick Luff emphasized RELX’s data and “proprietary algorithms,” saying these deliver “the right judgments” for professionals dealing with high-stakes decisions. For 2025, RELX posted a 9% increase in operating profit and raised its annual dividend to 67.5 pence. Still, management acknowledged the stock faced pressure as investors worried about AI’s potential threat to analytics business models. Reuters
The filing indicates RELX is turning to buybacks to bolster its case for the shares. The group disclosed an irrevocable, non-discretionary buyback plan—so the broker, UBS, handles the execution within set boundaries—covering the period from Feb. 12 to March 20, with £450 million allocated. That figure sits within the larger £2.25 billion the company wants to spend on buybacks in 2026.
Macro themes aren’t letting up—those are still driving action for now. Reuters’ Morning Bid points to tariff jitters throwing another wrench into global markets. Investors have their eyes on Nvidia’s numbers this week too, watching closely for any read-through to the broader AI story.
The risk still lingers. Tariff uncertainty turning into a wider trade spat, or customers opting for fresh AI tools over existing paid info services, could knock out the valuation floor fast. Shares are still trading far under last year’s peaks, despite recovering from this month’s slide.
Next up for investors: RELX plans a trading update and annual general meeting on April 23, its financial calendar shows.
RELX has put forward a 48.0p final dividend for 2025. If shareholders sign off, it’s set for payout on June 18, with May 7 marking the ex-dividend date—shares purchased from that day won’t come with rights to this dividend.
