London, Feb 4, 2026, 10:45 GMT — Regular session
Shares of London Stock Exchange Group plc (LSEG.L) slipped roughly 1.8% to 7,048 pence by 10:39 GMT, after dipping as low as 6,684 pence earlier. That kept the stock close to a new 52-week low.
The decline stretched a two-day selloff in software and data stocks, sparked by Anthropic’s latest moves that revived fears faster AI tools could erode subscription revenue and future growth estimates. JP Morgan’s Toby Ogg noted investors seem to be “sentenced before trial,” with little enthusiasm to buy the dip. Reuters
Worries have spilled over from just software. Investors fear “AI agents” — tools capable of handling instructions and managing tasks across multiple apps — will improve quickly and force a rethink on the value of data, workflows, and compliance products.
“Anthropic is now, quite clearly, parking its tanks on their lawn,” said IG chief markets strategist Chris Beauchamp, summing up the mounting pressure on sector business models. The European Central Bank and Bank of England both hold meetings Thursday, setting the stage to challenge risk appetite following the sudden repricing. Reuters
Anthropic rolled out plug-ins for its Claude Cowork agent on Friday, aiming to automate jobs in legal, sales, marketing, and data analysis, Reuters reported. “Sometimes the market just shoots first and asks questions later,” said Mike Archibald, a portfolio manager at AGF Investments, as shares in companies linked to legal and data workflows took a steep hit. Reuters
LSEG revealed it purchased 253,226 ordinary shares on Feb. 3 under its buyback plan, at an average price of 7,685.36 pence each, with the intention to cancel them. Following this, the company will have 507,012,183 voting shares outstanding, not counting treasury stock.
LSEG operates across financial markets infrastructure and data services, covering Data & Analytics, the FTSE Russell index business, Risk Intelligence, Capital Markets, and Post Trade services, per a Reuters company profile. This broad offering means traders often group it with workflow and analytics companies when sentiment shifts against “software” exposure. Reuters
On Tuesday, LSEG tumbled 12.7% amid a broader AI-driven selloff that pushed the UK technology index down 11.8%. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.26%, Reuters reported. “Risk appetite just isn’t fully restored,” noted Swissquote Bank analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya, as investors brace for Thursday’s Bank of England decision. Reuters
LSEG holders now face a key question: is this just a sudden jolt sparked by new product news, or the beginning of a gradual decline as investors rethink their long-term bets? The sharp swings over two sessions cloud the real price signal; liquidity appears briefly, then vanishes.
The decline might deepen if additional AI tools target revenue-generating data and professional workflows, or if companies opt to develop in-house solutions rather than renew contracts. Another round of sessions like this could push the selloff beyond a sector hiccup, turning it into a wider de-rating.
Traders will be on the lookout for whether the sell-off spreads to other UK defensives or remains focused on stocks linked to data, compliance, and workflow products. If bargain hunters return, expect them to pick their spots rather than dive in all at once.
LSEG is set to release its preliminary results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, on Feb. 26, per its investor relations calendar.
