London, Jan 10, 2026, 21:54 GMT — The market has closed.
- Shell shares climbed 3.0% in London on Friday, with U.S.-listed shares also finishing higher.
- The oil major revealed additional share repurchases set for cancellation as part of its ongoing buyback program.
- Traders are focused on Washington’s upcoming decision regarding Venezuela sanctions, eyeing potential ripple effects on crude prices.
Shell Plc shares are moving into Monday’s trade with renewed focus on oil geopolitics after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters that more Venezuela sanctions might be eased “as soon as next week” to help boost oil exports. “We’re de-sanctioning the oil that’s going to be sold,” Bessent said. 1
Shell’s shares on the London stock exchange gained 3.04% to close at 26.40 pounds on Friday, still roughly 10% shy of their 52-week peak of 29.38 pounds hit on Nov. 11, according to MarketWatch. Over in New York, Shell’s U.S.-listed stock finished up about 0.7% at $70.83. 2
The reason this matters now is straightforward. Any shift in the outlook for Venezuelan oil supply can rattle crude prices, and energy stocks often react quickly to those moves.
Shell investors have also been watching capital returns closely. While buybacks boost earnings per share by cutting the share count, they vie directly with spending and debt paydown for cash.
Shell repurchased 2,089,933 shares on Jan. 9 for cancellation. This included 953,773 shares on the London Stock Exchange and 1,018,727 in Amsterdam, plus smaller amounts on other platforms. The move falls under its existing buyback program, which kicked off on Oct. 30 and runs through Jan. 30. Merrill Lynch International handled the trading decisions independently, the company said. 3
Washington’s Venezuela strategy has drawn in major oil players. On Friday, the White House held talks with Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and others about investing in Venezuela’s energy industry, according to a White House official cited by Reuters. 4
In London, sentiment was upbeat. The FTSE 100 hit a record closing high on Friday, buoyed by a positive U.S. jobs report and energy stocks rallying alongside stronger oil prices, Reuters reported. 5
Shell’s Monday action will probably hinge on crude prices and any fresh developments out of Venezuela, rather than company-specific updates. Traders generally see policy changes there as a supply issue upfront, figuring out the winners afterwards.
The Venezuela news could swing both ways for oil-related stocks. If traders begin factoring in increased supply earlier than anticipated, crude prices might drop, dragging energy shares down—even if the wider market stays steady.
Shell’s next key date is Feb. 5, set for releasing its fourth-quarter earnings along with an interim dividend update. 6
