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LSE:BEZ News 22 January 2026 - 5 February 2026

FTSE 100 slips from highs as Bank of England looms; Shell results hit UK shares today

FTSE 100 slips from highs as Bank of England looms; Shell results hit UK shares today

UK stocks slipped Thursday, with the FTSE 100 down 0.2% to 10,382 by 1052 GMT as investors awaited the Bank of England’s rate decision. Shell fell 1.9% after missing profit forecasts but kept its buyback pace. Vodafone dropped 4.7% after launching a €500 million buyback. The STOXX 600 lost 0.5% amid mixed European earnings.
5 February 2026
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Beazley share price today: BEZ holds near 1,240p as Zurich bid deadline starts to loom

Beazley share price today: BEZ holds near 1,240p as Zurich bid deadline starts to loom

Beazley shares held steady near 1,240 pence in early London trading Thursday after surging 6.9% on Zurich’s enhanced takeover offer. Zurich and Beazley have agreed in principle on a cash bid of 1,310p plus up to 25p in dividends, with a firm offer deadline set for Feb. 16. The stock remains below the bid price as investors weigh deal risks and await further developments.
5 February 2026
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FTSE 100 breaks 10,400 as Zurich-Beazley bid and GSK lift UK stocks ahead of BoE

FTSE 100 breaks 10,400 as Zurich-Beazley bid and GSK lift UK stocks ahead of BoE

FTSE 100 rose 1.0% to 10,418.51 by mid-morning Wednesday, with Beazley shares jumping nearly 9% after Zurich raised its takeover bid. GSK gained 2.3% on a positive long-term outlook. AI-linked stocks like RELX and LSEG fell again after recent tech sector jitters. Sterling hit a five-month high against the euro ahead of the Bank of England’s rate decision.
4 February 2026
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Zurich’s £8bn Beazley bid jolts FTSE 100 to a fresh record as GSK rallies, AI fears hit data stocks

Zurich’s £8bn Beazley bid jolts FTSE 100 to a fresh record as GSK rallies, AI fears hit data stocks

Zurich Insurance has proposed to buy Beazley for up to 1,335 pence per share, valuing the deal at about £8 billion. Beazley’s board said it would support the offer if Zurich makes a firm bid by Feb. 16. Beazley shares rose 9% on the news. The FTSE 100 hit a new intraday high, with GSK up and Relx and LSEG under pressure from AI concerns.
4 February 2026
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Beazley share price dips after Zurich stake reveal as takeover clock ticks

Beazley share price dips after Zurich stake reveal as takeover clock ticks

Beazley shares slipped 0.3% to 1,165 pence by 0908 GMT after Zurich Insurance disclosed a 1.47% stake and labeled its 1,280-pence-per-share cash bid as “improved.” Beazley previously rejected the offer as too low and revealed a higher, undisclosed bid. Zurich must decide by February 16 whether to proceed or withdraw. Beazley has not commented.
3 February 2026
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Beazley share price steadies, but Zurich bid clock keeps traders on edge heading into Monday

Beazley share price steadies, but Zurich bid clock keeps traders on edge heading into Monday

Beazley shares closed Friday at 1,133 pence, up 0.09%, staying well below Zurich’s 1,280-pence takeover bid. The gap reflects investor uncertainty as Zurich’s £7.67 billion offer remains only a proposal. Barclays and Caxton Associates disclosed new positions, while traders await further takeover filings and Beazley’s results on March 4. Zurich faces a Feb. 16 deadline to formalize or withdraw its bid.
31 January 2026
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Beazley share price sits at a takeover discount after Zurich’s bid — what investors watch next

Beazley share price sits at a takeover discount after Zurich’s bid — what investors watch next

London, Jan 25, 2026, 07:47 GMT — Market closed Beazley shares closed on Friday at 1,152 pence, up 3.2% on the day, keeping the FTSE 100 insurer in the spotlight after Zurich’s approach. The stock is still trading about 10% below the 1,280p cash proposal Zurich put forward, leaving a visible “deal spread” for traders heading into Monday. (shareprices.com) That gap matters now because it is the market’s quick read on what happens next: a richer offer, a long grind, or Zurich stepping back. Merger arbitrage — a strategy that tries to capture the gap between a bid price and
25 January 2026
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Beazley shares rise again as Zurich bid deadline nears — what to watch when London reopens

Beazley shares rise again as Zurich bid deadline nears — what to watch when London reopens

LONDON, Jan 24, 2026, 07:46 GMT — Market closed Beazley Plc shares ended Friday 3.23% higher at 11.52 pounds, outpacing a flat London market. Investors remained focused on the Zurich takeover saga heading into the weekend. (MarketWatch) The stock is still far off Zurich Insurance Group’s recent 1,280 pence-per-share offer, leaving a significant gap. Traders are set to probe that difference once the London Stock Exchange opens again on Monday. Why it matters now: the spread reflects the market’s ongoing verdict on whether Zurich will up its offer or walk away. It also signals a busy period ahead, with filings
24 January 2026
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Beazley share price today: BEZ holds steady as Zurich takeover clock ticks

Beazley share price today: BEZ holds steady as Zurich takeover clock ticks

London, January 23, 2026, 08:59 GMT — Regular session Beazley shares edged slightly higher in early London trading on Friday, lingering near 1,117 pence after a turbulent week sparked by Zurich’s takeover approach. By 0837 GMT, the stock had gained roughly 0.1%, following Thursday’s close at 1,116 pence. (Share Prices) Beazley is now trading about 13% under Zurich’s cash offer of 1,280 pence per share, highlighting investor skepticism over whether the Swiss insurer will follow through or back off. The standoff is crucial now, with the UK takeover timetable demanding a clear decision. Traders have shifted focus—shares aren’t reacting to
23 January 2026
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Beazley Rejects Zurich’s $10bn Takeover Bid as Lloyd’s Plan B Takes Shape

Beazley Rejects Zurich’s $10bn Takeover Bid as Lloyd’s Plan B Takes Shape

LONDON, January 22, 2026, 10:05 GMT Beazley turned down Zurich Insurance’s all-cash bid on Thursday, calling the 1,280 pence-per-share offer a “material undervaluation” of the company and its future as an independent firm. Shares of the London-listed specialty insurer fell roughly 3% in early trading. (Reuters) The refusal comes as Zurich pushes to expand its specialty insurance footprint—covering unique risks like cyber attacks, marine, and aviation—and amid growing chatter about deals in the London market. Zurich’s bid priced Beazley at a 56% premium over its pre-offer closing price. Shares of London peers Hiscox and Lancashire climbed earlier this week, fueled
22 January 2026
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Beazley share price falls after board rejects Zurich bid — and traders eye the next deadline

Beazley share price falls after board rejects Zurich bid — and traders eye the next deadline

London, Jan 22, 2026, 08:48 GMT — Regular session Shares of Beazley (BEZ.L) dropped roughly 3% Thursday following the British specialty insurer’s rejection of Zurich Insurance Group’s latest takeover bid. Beazley said the offer undervalued the firm. (Reuters) This resistance is crucial since the stock has behaved like a deal candidate ever since Zurich’s IPO. Now, the ball is in the bidder’s court. Traders face a familiar UK takeover dilemma: either raise the offer or step aside. Beazley slipped 3.1% to 1,088 pence by 08:30 GMT, following Wednesday’s close at 1,123 pence. The stock had surged over 40% on Jan.
22 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Seagate shares rose 5.9% to $429.32 Friday after Citigroup raised its price target to $480 and reiterated a buy rating. The gain ended a two-day slide but left the stock 6.6% below its Feb. 3 high. CEO Dave Mosley sold 20,000 shares on Feb. 2 under a pre-arranged plan, SEC filings show. U.S. jobs and inflation data next week are seen as key tests for tech stocks.
Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

7 February 2026
Cummins shares jumped 6.8% to $577.73 Friday, recovering from a nearly 9% post-earnings drop the day before. The company reported Q4 revenue up 1% to $8.54 billion, took a $218 million charge tied to its hydrogen business, and guided for 2026 EBITDA of 17–18% of sales. Demand for data center generators offset weakness in North American truck markets. Analyst reaction was mixed; Truist raised its price target.
Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

7 February 2026
Corning shares surged 8.3% to $122.16 Friday, their highest close since the dot-com era, after Meta agreed to buy up to $6 billion in fiber-optic cables. The stock is up 40% since late 2025, fueled by strong first-quarter guidance and AI data-center demand. Insiders sold shares following the rally, SEC filings show. Investors await next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data for rate signals.
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