London, Jan 16, 2026, 08:46 GMT — Regular session
Shares of Shell Plc edged lower on Friday morning, falling 0.8% to 2,725 pence as of 0814 GMT. 1
Shell’s share price remains anchored to two familiar drivers: crude prices swayed by geopolitical shifts, and a steady stream of capital-return and portfolio news. Investors are also bracing for the sector’s earnings season, when oil majors must prove their cash flow stays strong.
Oil prices barely moved, with Brent rising just 0.1% to $63.81 a barrel by 0749 GMT, following a steep climb earlier this week on Iran-related concerns. “Sentiment is driving markets, but the impact of headlines is always short-lived,” said Phillip Nova senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva. OANDA’s Kelvin Wong flagged Iran and upcoming China data as key near-term factors to watch. 2
Company-specific developments dragged stocks down. Shell and Exxon Mobil scrapped a planned sale of natural gas assets in Britain’s Southern North Sea to Viaro Energy, citing unmet conditions amid shifting commercial and market factors. Shell confirmed it will keep operating these assets, which cover 11 gas fields plus the onshore Bacton Terminal. 3
Shell revealed another batch of share repurchases, buying back 658,369 shares in London and 650,893 in Amsterdam on Jan. 15. These shares are set for cancellation as part of its ongoing buyback plan, which runs through Jan. 30. Share buybacks involve a company buying its own stock, usually cutting the total shares outstanding.
Shareholder pressure on long-term strategies is mounting. Climate activist group Follow This, along with over 20 other investors, submitted resolutions urging Shell and BP to clarify how they plan to create value if global oil and gas demand drops, Reuters reported. Shell stated its board will review any proposal that meets procedural rules ahead of its mid-May annual meeting. 4
Traders see it clearly: oil remains the main driver. Yet ongoing buybacks and asset moves are shifting how investors weigh risk—particularly in the UK North Sea, where aging fields bring hefty decommissioning expenses.
Downside risks aren’t new. A fresh flare-up in Iran or a drop in demand hitting crude prices could quickly overwhelm company-level supports like buybacks, pushing energy shares down fast.
Investors are gearing up for Shell’s Q4 results and interim dividend announcement set for Feb. 5. CEO Wael Sawan and CFO Sinead Gorman will hold an analyst webcast that day to discuss the numbers. 5
