New York, Jan 14, 2026, 03:14 EST — Market closed
Shell’s U.S.-listed shares closed Tuesday 2.1% higher at $73.18, buoyed by stronger energy sector momentum following a fourth consecutive rise in crude prices.
The shift is significant as traders weigh a complicated blend: geopolitical tensions affecting oil, new Q4 earnings reports from Big Oil, and a continuous stream of share buybacks propping up the sector.
Shell disclosed it repurchased 1,677,480 shares for cancellation on Jan. 13, split between its London and Amsterdam listings. This move is part of a buyback programme the company unveiled in late October.
Oil dipped slightly early Wednesday, with Brent slipping about 0.6% in Asia following Venezuela’s restart of exports and data showing a hefty rise in U.S. crude inventories. “Unless we see further escalation and chances of actual disruption in oil flows, the market could consolidate at these levels,” said Suvro Sarkar, energy analyst at DBS Bank. Reuters
BP in Europe reported $4 billion to $5 billion in fourth-quarter impairments, mostly hitting its energy transition units, and also signaled weakness in oil trading.
Shell says its buyback is planned to last roughly three months and, depending on market conditions, aims to wrap up before the company releases fourth-quarter results.
Shell shares climbed 2.27% in London on Tuesday, ending the day at 27.22 pounds. The rise outpaced a stagnant FTSE 100 and tracked gains across the oil and gas sector.
The floor beneath the group isn’t fixed. Should Venezuelan barrels continue to pour in, and U.S. inventory reports show supply easing, crude might drop sharply—and energy stocks could tumble just as fast.
Shell’s next major event is the release of its fourth-quarter results and interim dividend, scheduled for Feb. 5 at 0700 GMT. Oil market fluctuations leading up to that date will probably influence investor sentiment ahead of the announcement.
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