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LSE:BARC News 22 January 2026 - 6 February 2026

UK Stock Market Forecast 2026: FTSE 100 clings to rate-cut bets as AI jitters hit data stocks

UK Stock Market Forecast 2026: FTSE 100 clings to rate-cut bets as AI jitters hit data stocks

London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2% by midday Friday, led by gains in Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds, while RELX dropped 3.5% amid an AI selloff. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% after a narrow vote and signaled possible cuts if inflation slows. Sterling fell 0.6% against the dollar. Markets now expect the Bank Rate to fall to 3.0% by March 2027.
6 February 2026
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Steadies Near Flat as AI Jitters Drag RELX

UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Steadies Near Flat as AI Jitters Drag RELX

RELX fell 4.2% and Sage Group dropped 2.8% Friday, leading FTSE 100 decliners as AI disruption fears hit data and software stocks. The FTSE 100 was flat at 10,310.70 by 10:47 GMT. Sterling and UK bonds slid after a narrow Bank of England vote revived rate cut bets. Halifax reported UK house prices rose 0.7% in January, topping £300,000 for the first time.
6 February 2026
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Barclays share price hits fresh 52-week high after buyback ends as BoE, results loom

Barclays share price hits fresh 52-week high after buyback ends as BoE, results loom

Barclays shares touched a 52-week high in early London trading Tuesday, reaching 503.7 pence before settling at 502.3 pence by 08:21 GMT. The bank confirmed it completed a £500 million share buyback, canceling over 107 million shares. Investors await the Bank of England’s Feb. 5 policy decision and Barclays’ full-year results on Feb. 10.
3 February 2026
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FTSE 100 hovers near record as Experian jumps on $1bn buyback and miners slide

FTSE 100 hovers near record as Experian jumps on $1bn buyback and miners slide

London’s FTSE 100 touched a record intraday high before ending up 0.2% at 10,189, supported by banks and Experian’s 3.6% jump on a $1 billion buyback. Major miners slid as gold fell 4% and silver dropped over 6%. Bank of England data showed UK mortgage approvals hit a seven-month low in December. The FTSE 250 was flat.
30 January 2026
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UK stock market today: FTSE 100 rises toward 10,200 as banks lead gains

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 rises toward 10,200 as banks lead gains

Bank shares pushed London’s FTSE 100 up 0.5% to 10,197 on Tuesday, while the FTSE 250 was flat. UK shop prices rose 1.5% year-on-year in January, the fastest pace in nearly two years. Dr Martens dropped 8.7% after warning on demand. Cranswick signaled profits at the top end of its forecast range.
27 January 2026
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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
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Barclays share price ticks up as profit-target talk builds ahead of Feb. 10 results

Barclays share price ticks up as profit-target talk builds ahead of Feb. 10 results

Barclays shares rose 0.2% to 481.2 pence in early London trading after Reuters reported UK banks may raise profit targets ahead of earnings. Sources told Reuters Barclays plans to lift its return on tangible equity target above 12%. The bank repurchased over 3.5 million shares for cancellation after a Jan. 23 buyback. Full-year results are due Feb. 10.
26 January 2026
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Barclays snaps up 2.5 million more shares as buyback presses on amid tariff volatility

Barclays snaps up 2.5 million more shares as buyback presses on amid tariff volatility

Barclays bought back 2,522,940 shares on Jan. 21 at an average price of 475.07 pence, bringing total repurchases since October to 86,403,909 shares. All repurchased shares will be cancelled, reducing the bank’s share capital to 13.83 billion ordinary shares. The buybacks come amid renewed tariff disputes and geopolitical tensions affecting markets. NatWest also repurchased 830,691 shares for cancellation on Wednesday.
22 January 2026
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HSBC share price climbs near a 52-week peak as BoE rate-cut bets shift — what investors watch next

HSBC share price climbs near a 52-week peak as BoE rate-cut bets shift — what investors watch next

HSBC shares rose 1.4% to 1,248.2 pence in early London trading, near a 52-week high, after UK inflation data and shifting rate forecasts. Barclays and Lloyds also gained. Morgan Stanley now expects the Bank of England’s next rate cut in March, following December inflation of 3.4%. The BoE meets Feb. 5, with HSBC’s annual results due Feb. 25.
22 January 2026
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Barclays share price jumps as Paris HQ shift plan hits tape, buyback keeps focus on Feb results

Barclays share price jumps as Paris HQ shift plan hits tape, buyback keeps focus on Feb results

Barclays shares rose nearly 2% in early London trading Thursday after the bank announced plans to move its European headquarters from Dublin to Paris by 2027, pending regulatory approval. The bank also repurchased over 2.5 million shares on Jan. 21. JPMorgan raised its price target for Barclays to 570 pence ahead of fourth-quarter results. Barclays will report full-year 2025 results on Feb. 10.
22 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Diageo share price slips into the weekend as investors eye Feb. 25 results

Diageo share price slips into the weekend as investors eye Feb. 25 results

7 February 2026
Diageo shares closed down 1.48% at 1,760 pence on Friday, trailing a 0.59% gain in the FTSE 100. An updated analyst consensus points to a 2.0% fall in first-half organic net sales ahead of interim results due Feb. 25. Trading volume was light, and the stock remains over 22% below its 52-week high.
National Grid share price: what to know before London reopens after BoE signal

National Grid share price: what to know before London reopens after BoE signal

7 February 2026
National Grid shares closed at 1,285 pence in London on Friday, up 0.23%. The Bank of England held rates at 3.75% after a close vote, signaling possible cuts if inflation falls. National Grid announced a wireless power transmission study with Space Solar and marked five years of IFA2 interconnector operations. Its U.S. ADR ended at $88.06, up $1.17.
BAE Systems share price rises into weekend — what to watch before Monday’s London open

BAE Systems share price rises into weekend — what to watch before Monday’s London open

7 February 2026
BAE Systems shares closed up 1.2% at 1,879 pence on Friday, tracking gains in European defence stocks. The company’s market value stands near £54.8 billion. Investors await BAE’s full-year results on Feb. 18 for updates on cash returns and orders. GXO Logistics renewed and expanded its contract to support BAE’s Type 26 frigate program in Scotland.
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