London, Jan 25, 2026, 08:35 GMT — Markets have closed.
RELX (REL.L) shares ended Friday 4 pence lower, slipping 0.14% to 2,921 pence. The stock remains close to its 52-week low, which is 2,898p.
London’s closed for the weekend, making Monday’s open the first real test to see if that floor sticks or the slide picks up. This stock’s been valued as a reliable, cash-generating compounder for a long time, so the recent drop is catching attention.
The key factor now is the balance between support and signal. Buybacks absorb available shares but also highlight valuation concerns and upcoming guidance, particularly as prices hover near the year’s low.
RELX revealed it repurchased 325,221 shares on Friday via UBS AG London Branch, at a volume-weighted average price of 2,913.3865p. The shares traded between 2,898p and 2,947p during the buyback, according to the filing.
On Dec. 5, the company announced it had wrapped up its £1.5 billion buyback programme for 2025 and kicked off a new irrevocable, non-discretionary buyback plan worth up to £250 million. This new programme runs from Jan. 2 to Feb. 6 and is being handled by UBS. “Non-discretionary” means the broker decides daily trades independently but within set limits. The shares purchased are held in treasury—stock the company has bought back but not cancelled. RELX also said it cancelled 55 million treasury shares the day before this announcement. Investegate
RELX bucked the trend as the broader UK market closed cautiously on Friday. The FTSE 100 dipped 0.07%, ending a three-week winning run, pressured by fresh geopolitical jitters. Meanwhile, gold edged closer to $5,000 an ounce. “Gold ostensibly remains the preferred portfolio hedge amid ongoing geopolitical risk,” said Laura Cooper, senior macro strategist at Nuveen. Reuters
Economic signals have tilted the landscape for higher-rated stocks. Britain’s January composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a snapshot of business activity, climbed to 53.9 from 51.4 in December. Investors scaled back expectations for Bank of England rate cuts this year, Reuters reported. “The January PMI data suggest the UK economy has started the year on much firmer footing,” said Jake Finney, senior economist at PwC. Reuters
RELX creates information-driven analytics and decision tools tailored for professional and business clients in Risk, Scientific, Technical & Medical, Legal, and Exhibitions sectors, the company states.
Buybacks won’t shield RELX if rate forecasts keep changing and investors remain cautious on valuation. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio near 24.35 and offers a 2.16% yield, with a market cap of roughly £53 billion, according to Hargreaves Lansdown data.
RELX’s next major event comes on Feb. 12, with full-year results for 2025 due then. Ahead of that, investors will be watching Monday’s trading and upcoming buyback updates to see if the shares can hold above 2,900p.
