Today: 7 February 2026
Subscribe

Shan Ahmed Khan

As a journalist focused on finance and the stock market, he delivers fast, reliable, and easy-to-understand coverage of market news.

AB InBev snaps up Live Nation UK beer deal, putting Budweiser and Stella Artois in the festival spotlight

AB InBev snaps up Live Nation UK beer deal, putting Budweiser and Stella Artois in the festival spotlight

AB InBev has signed an exclusive partnership with Live Nation UK, making its beer and cider brands the sole options at over 20 festivals and all Academy Music Group venues. Budweiser, Corona, San Miguel, and Stella Artois will feature at events including Reading & Leeds and London’s O2 Academy Brixton. AB InBev shares traded at 58.88 euros, up 28% year-on-year, but analysts cited debt and execution risks.
26 January 2026
··
Reckitt share price slides in London: what RKT investors are watching ahead of the special dividend vote

Reckitt share price slides in London: what RKT investors are watching ahead of the special dividend vote

Reckitt shares dropped 3.8% to 5,788 pence in early London trading Monday, ahead of a shareholder vote on a £1.6 billion capital return plan set for Jan. 27. The proposal includes a 235p special dividend and a 24-for-25 share consolidation, with the record date on Jan. 30 and payment due Feb. 20. The moves follow the sale of Reckitt’s Essential Home business.
26 January 2026
····
National Grid share price ticks up in early London trade as North Sea wind push puts grids back in focus

National Grid share price ticks up in early London trade as North Sea wind push puts grids back in focus

National Grid shares rose 0.4% to 1,196.5 pence in early London trading, outpacing the FTSE 100. Investor attention shifted to policy moves on North Sea wind and cross-border cables ahead of a clean-energy pact at the Hamburg summit. The company reaffirmed its medium-term earnings target after a first-half profit beat. Full-year results are due May 14.
26 January 2026
····
Unilever share price today: ULVR slips in early London trade as Fed and Feb 12 results loom

Unilever share price today: ULVR slips in early London trade as Fed and Feb 12 results loom

Unilever shares slipped 0.1% to 4,860 pence in early London trading Monday, ahead of its Feb. 12 results and updated guidance. The stock moved in a narrow range as investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision later this week. Unilever expects 2025 underlying sales growth of 3–5% and will classify ice cream as discontinued in upcoming results. European stocks edged higher, with the STOXX 600 up 0.06%.
26 January 2026
···
Lloyds Banking Group share price lifts as profit-target talk grows ahead of results

Lloyds Banking Group share price lifts as profit-target talk grows ahead of results

Lloyds Banking Group shares rose 0.6% to 102.30 pence in early London trading Monday ahead of its full-year results due Thursday. Trading volume reached 92.6 million shares by 0855 GMT. Investors are watching for guidance on profit targets, net interest margin, and possible capital returns as UK banks signal higher earnings ambitions. CEO Charlie Nunn and CFO William Chalmers will brief investors at 0930 GMT.
26 January 2026
·····
SSE stock price edges up in London as Europe doubles down on 100GW North Sea wind plan

SSE stock price edges up in London as Europe doubles down on 100GW North Sea wind plan

SSE shares rose 0.2% to 2,326 pence by 0902 GMT after securing a 20-year contract for 1.4 GW of offshore wind in the UK’s latest CfD auction. The company’s Berwick Bank project will receive £89.49 per megawatt hour, inflation-adjusted. SSE’s market cap stood near £27.9 billion. Britain and other European countries plan to sign a pact Monday for 100 GW of joint offshore wind projects.
26 January 2026
···
Ashtead shares slip in London: AHT investors eye Fed week and the March buyback clock

Ashtead shares slip in London: AHT investors eye Fed week and the March buyback clock

Ashtead Group shares fell 1.1% to 5,168 pence in early London trading Monday, extending recent volatility. Investors are watching for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate decision Wednesday and updates on Ashtead’s planned U.S. listing and March 2 buyback launch. The company earns most revenue in North America and is sensitive to U.S. economic shifts.
26 January 2026
·····
NatWest share price edges up as talk of higher profit targets puts UK banks back in focus

NatWest share price edges up as talk of higher profit targets puts UK banks back in focus

NatWest Group shares rose 0.2% to 647.6 pence in early London trading after reports the bank may raise its 2027 profit target to as much as 17%. The lender is scheduled to release full-year results on Feb. 13. HSBC and Barclays are also expected to update their targets, but declined comment. Bank earnings are in focus this week.
26 January 2026
·······
Bigger tax refunds in 2026? IRS opens filing season as Trump tax breaks hit returns

Bigger tax refunds in 2026? IRS opens filing season as Trump tax breaks hit returns

The IRS began accepting 2025 federal tax returns Monday, requiring a new Schedule 1-A for several deductions under Trump’s tax law. Refunds may rise sharply, with the average projected at $3,800, as employers used outdated withholding tables. New deductions include extra amounts for seniors, reported tips, and overtime. The IRS urges e-filing and direct deposit to speed refunds.
26 January 2026
British American Tobacco share price ticks up after buyback update — what to watch before Feb 12 results

British American Tobacco share price ticks up after buyback update — what to watch before Feb 12 results

British American Tobacco shares rose 0.4% to 4,344 pence in early London trading Monday after the company disclosed it bought back 101,395 shares on Jan. 23 at prices between 4,295 and 4,339 pence. BAT extended its buyback program by up to £1.3 billion for 2026 and will cancel the repurchased shares. The board declared an interim dividend of 240.24 pence per share, with the final payment set for Feb. 4, 2026.
26 January 2026
·····
1 … 158 159 160 161 162 … 885

Stock Market Today

Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

Vodafone shares steady up after Q3 wobble — Germany, buyback and next results now set the tone

7 February 2026
Vodafone shares rose 1.47% to 110.60p Friday, recovering part of Thursday’s 4.68% drop after a Q3 update. Group revenue climbed 6.5% to €10.5 billion, but Germany’s 0.7% service revenue growth missed some forecasts. Vodafone launched a new €500 million buyback tranche, bringing total buybacks since May to €3.5 billion. Investors remain focused on Germany’s pace and cash flow execution.
NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

NatWest Group stock: buyback filing and Rightmove mortgage deal set up a busy week

7 February 2026
NatWest shares closed up 1.45% at 659.4 pence Friday, buoyed by a buyback of 797,428 shares and a new digital mortgage deal with Rightmove. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% but signaled possible cuts, with markets pricing in two reductions for 2026. NatWest plans to expand its Accelerator community to 50,000 members by 2026. Annual results are due Feb. 13.
Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

Unilever share price holds at 5,250p as results week looms — what investors watch next

7 February 2026
Unilever shares closed flat at 5,250p in London Friday, underperforming the FTSE 100’s 0.6% gain. The company issued 4.2 million new shares for employee plans, bringing total shares to over 2.18 billion. Investors await Q4 and full-year results on Feb. 12, with analyst consensus pointing to 3.9% Q4 sales growth. Unilever’s U.S. ADR rose 0.8% to $72.12.
BP share price near 52-week high ahead of Feb 10 earnings as buyback runs on

BP share price near 52-week high ahead of Feb 10 earnings as buyback runs on

7 February 2026
BP shares closed up 1.9% at 478 pence Friday, just below a 52-week high, as the company continued buybacks ahead of next week’s results. BP repurchased 2.789 million shares on February 6. Oil prices firmed on geopolitical risk, with Brent at $68.05 a barrel, but sector outlook remains uncertain. Investors await BP’s earnings and dividend decision due Tuesday.
Go toTop