London, Jan 10, 2026, 09:16 GMT — Market closed
Airtel Africa shares finished slightly up on Friday, with the telecom giant’s recent share buyback in focus. The stock closed at 365.2 pence, marking a 0.27% rise after fluctuating between 359.0 and 367.2 pence. It remains shy of its 52-week peak of 375.4 pence. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
Airtel Africa repurchased 40,000 shares on Jan. 8, paying between 365.8 pence and 374.4 pence per share, according to a filing. The shares will be cancelled. Since launching the first tranche of its $100 million buyback program last December, Airtel Africa has bought back 41.1 million shares in total. (Investegate)
The buyback has dominated company news ahead of the upcoming earnings. Airtel Africa is set to release its third-quarter results on Jan. 30, with full-year numbers expected on May 8, per its financial calendar. (Airtel Africa)
The wider market lent support as well. London’s FTSE 100 hit a record close on Friday, lifted by a U.S. jobs report that sustained hopes for rate cuts and a strong surge in Glencore shares. (Reuters)
Airtel Africa is active in 14 African countries, and investors tend to see it as a blend of mobile data expansion and its payments division, Airtel Money. Competitors like MTN Group, Vodacom, and Safaricom have all ramped up their mobile money services as the market shifts past traditional voice. The upcoming Airtel Money listing is closely watched. In November, Harding Loevner portfolio manager Sergey Dubin told Reuters that Airtel’s growth “wasn’t showing up in U.S. dollar financials” amid local currency declines. (Reuters)
But the buyback is happening in small, daily portions, leaving it vulnerable to currency drops or sudden regulatory changes in key markets that could easily overwhelm the support from cancelled shares. Investors are also keeping a close watch on typical regional challenges—things like pricing regulations and the possibility that funds get trapped under strict FX controls.
As the London market kicks back on Monday, all eyes will be on whether the stock can stay above the 360-pence mark ahead of Airtel Africa’s January 30 earnings report. Traders will also be keen for any fresh updates on the Airtel Money listing timetable, which could shake things up.
