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.

National Grid stock hits a fresh 52-week high — here’s what matters before Monday

National Grid stock hits a fresh 52-week high — here’s what matters before Monday

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:55 GMT — The market has closed. National Grid (NG.L) shares climbed 1.74% to close at 1,201.5 pence on Friday, hitting a fresh 52-week peak. The stock saw heavier-than-usual volume, outpacing the broader FTSE 100, which slipped. (MarketWatch) London markets are closed for the weekend, leaving the utility poised to open next week at a key round-number level that traders monitor, near the peak of its recent trading range. That’s crucial now, as rate bets have been driving performance in defensive, dividend-paying stocks. Utilities often act as “bond proxies,” a term for shares that shine when
17 January 2026
····
Unilever stock dips into the weekend: what ULVR investors watch next week

Unilever stock dips into the weekend: what ULVR investors watch next week

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:38 GMT — Market closed Unilever’s shares edged lower ahead of the weekend, finishing Friday down 0.4% at 4,761.5 pence. The stock fluctuated between 4,750.5 and 4,799.0 pence on a turnover of roughly 3.3 million shares. (shareprices.com) With markets closed, focus moves beyond Friday’s modest move to Unilever’s next update on demand and pricing. Investors want to know if growth stems from higher sales volumes or just increased prices. That’s important now since consumer-staples stocks have served as a safe haven during the rally earlier this year. With the broader market near its highs and earnings
17 January 2026
····
3i Group share price swings on Action France sales signal — what to watch before Monday

3i Group share price swings on Action France sales signal — what to watch before Monday

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:34 GMT — Market closed. 3i Group (III.L) shares ended Friday at 3,361 pence, up 20 pence, or 0.6%, from Thursday’s close after trading between 3,316 and 3,395 pence. With London markets shut for the weekend, traders will test Monday whether the bounce has legs. (Investing.com) The spark came on Thursday. UBS data pointed to a pick-up in sales in France at Action, 3i’s largest portfolio company, and the stock jumped about 10% as the FTSE 100 closed at a record after stronger UK growth data. Axel Rudolph, senior financial analyst at IG, called the GDP
17 January 2026
·····
Barclays share price rises into weekend — buyback update and rate risks to watch next week

Barclays share price rises into weekend — buyback update and rate risks to watch next week

London, January 17, 2026, 08:41 GMT — The market has closed. Barclays PLC shares closed Friday 0.96% higher at 488.95 pence, ahead of the London market’s Saturday closure. (Hargreaves Lansdown) This move is significant since the stock sits right where two key themes collide: capital returns domestically and policy risk overseas. Either one could swiftly shift the bank’s valuation, and neither has been resolved yet. Barclays investors have relied on buybacks and dividends as their clearest sign of confidence amid a choppy economic landscape. The key question this week: will that backing persist as macro headlines ramp up again? Barclays
17 January 2026
····
Diageo share price slips again: insider buys and China options keep DGE.L on watch

Diageo share price slips again: insider buys and China options keep DGE.L on watch

London, January 17, 2026, 08:28 GMT — The market has closed. Diageo plc shares slipped again on Friday, continuing a patchy stretch that’s rattled investors ahead of the new week. The owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker has operated with razor-thin margins for mistakes. Even the slightest signal on strategy, pricing, or asset sales can shift the stock more than ordinary market fluctuations. This is crucial since there aren’t many near-term figures to shift expectations. The next major update arrives with interim results in late February, and investors are debating what, if anything, will move the needle first. Diageo closed
17 January 2026
····
Anglo American share price slides as copper cools — what to watch before Monday

Anglo American share price slides as copper cools — what to watch before Monday

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:24 GMT — Markets have closed. Anglo American (AAL.L) shares dropped 2.4% on Friday, halting a brief rally as metal prices fell and London’s major miners headed into the weekend weaker. This is crucial now since the stock just surged to a new 52-week high Thursday, and what happens next hinges as much on copper prices as on company news. A weaker signal from China’s demand could quickly shake the sector. London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.04% on Friday, dragged down mainly by miners amid worries over falling copper demand in China, the biggest consumer. Glencore dropped
17 January 2026
·······
Rio Tinto share price slips from fresh high as Glencore deal talk runs into China risk

Rio Tinto share price slips from fresh high as Glencore deal talk runs into China risk

London, January 17, 2026, 08:21 GMT — The market has closed. Rio Tinto (RIO.L) shares fell 1.87% to 6,347 pence (£63.47) on Friday, retreating from Thursday’s 52-week high of 6,468 pence. During the day, the stock fluctuated between 6,287 and 6,405 pence. (Investing.com) Rio now finds itself caught between two powerful forces: volatile daily shifts in industrial metals and the looming uncertainty of a potential merger with Glencore. Both factors trace back to China, which stands as the major customer and possibly the chief regulator. London’s market is closed this weekend, so the real test arrives Monday when trading resumes.
17 January 2026
·······
Lloyds share price near 52-week high as BoE eases bank oversight — what to watch next week

Lloyds share price near 52-week high as BoE eases bank oversight — what to watch next week

London, January 17, 2026, 08:26 GMT — The market has closed. Lloyds Banking Group plc shares closed Friday in London just shy of a 52-week high. The stock ended at 102.10 pence, slipping 0.1%. Trading won’t resume until Monday. Attention next week will shift to the policy environment driving UK bank valuations, beyond just daily trading flows. The Bank of England announced it will switch large lenders to a two-year supervisory cycle, reducing how often formal risk review meetings occur. This move comes amid pressure to ease regulations and support growth. “This will make our operations more efficient and streamline
17 January 2026
····
Shell stock in focus after LNG Canada stake-sale talk as buyback ticks on

Shell stock in focus after LNG Canada stake-sale talk as buyback ticks on

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:26 GMT — Market closed. Shell Plc shares are set to draw attention when London markets open Monday, following a Reuters report that the oil giant is considering selling part of its stake in LNG Canada, a C$40 billion liquefied natural gas project in British Columbia. According to sources, Shell is gauging interest for up to 30% of the venture, while Mitsubishi is also mulling its 15% share. One source pegged the potential deal at roughly $15 billion, including expansion capital. Talks remain preliminary and there’s no certainty they will proceed, Reuters added, with Shell declining
17 January 2026
···
BAT stock: South Africa plant closure plan and buyback update set the agenda for Monday

BAT stock: South Africa plant closure plan and buyback update set the agenda for Monday

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:02 (GMT) — Market closed British American Tobacco shares slipped 0.3% to finish at 4,326 pence (£43.26) on Friday in London. (London Stock Exchange) Investors are using the weekend pause to parse what the South Africa plant decision reveals about illegal cigarette sales and pricing strength in crucial markets. Focus on cash returns—dividends and buybacks—remains sharp ahead of the next trading day. British American Tobacco South Africa will shut its only local manufacturing plant by the end of 2026, threatening about 230 jobs. The Heidelberg facility is operating at just 35% capacity. According to the company
17 January 2026
····
HSBC share price ends lower after Singapore insurance review — what to watch before markets reopen

HSBC share price ends lower after Singapore insurance review — what to watch before markets reopen

London, Jan 17, 2026, 07:54 GMT — The market has closed. HSBC Holdings Plc shares edged lower Friday as the bank launched a review of its Singapore insurance unit. London markets were closed for the weekend. The stock closed down 0.4% at 1,232 pence, hovering close to its 52-week peak. (Investing.com) The review is crucial as HSBC attempts to better define its core holdings and geographic focus. Traders use “simplification” to mean shedding distractions and boosting returns, but they’re also keen to gauge how aggressively management plans to pursue growth in Asia. With markets closed, the key question is whether
17 January 2026
······
RELX share price: what to watch after Friday’s dip and a fresh buyback filing

RELX share price: what to watch after Friday’s dip and a fresh buyback filing

London, Jan 17, 2026, 08:00 GMT — The market has closed. RELX (REL.L) ended the week on a down note, slipping 0.93% to 3,094 pence Friday. The stock fluctuated between 3,070 and 3,122 pence, with roughly 6.9 million shares changing hands. (Investing.com) London’s mood stayed subdued. The FTSE 100 dipped 0.04% to 10,235.29, pulling back from a record close the day before. Losses in mining stocks dragged down the index, despite gains in other sectors. (Reuters) On Friday, RELX disclosed it acquired 306,154 shares via UBS as part of its share buyback program, with the shares designated as treasury stock.
17 January 2026
······
1 … 260 261 262 263 264 … 884

Stock Market Today

Nvidia stock jumps nearly 8% as Big Tech AI spending bets lift chipmakers and Dow tops 50,000

Nvidia stock jumps nearly 8% as Big Tech AI spending bets lift chipmakers and Dow tops 50,000

7 February 2026
Nvidia surged 7.8% Friday, leading a chip stock rally that pushed the Dow above 50,000 for the first time. The PHLX semiconductor index gained 5.7% as Advanced Micro Devices rose 8.3% and Broadcom 7.1%. Amazon fell 5.6% after projecting $200 billion in 2026 capital spending. Investors weighed a $600 billion AI infrastructure outlay against sharp losses in software shares.
Glencore share price steadies after Rio Tinto walks away — what to watch next week

Glencore share price steadies after Rio Tinto walks away — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Glencore shares closed up 0.6% at 478.1 pence Friday, rebounding after a 7% drop following the collapse of merger talks with Rio Tinto. The company is expected to announce the sale of its Kazzinc stake soon and has signed a non-binding agreement with Orion for a potential $9 billion deal in the DRC. Investors await Glencore’s full-year results on Feb. 18 for further guidance.
Go toTop