London, Feb 15, 2026, 11:47 GMT — Market closed
- London Stock Exchange Group finished the session at 7,570 pence, gaining 0.66% on Friday.
- According to the report, activist Elliott is pushing for a £5 billion share buyback.
- Feb. 26 results are on deck, with investors scanning for clues on capital returns and strategy shifts.
London Stock Exchange Group plc finished Friday’s session at 7,570 pence, up by 50 pence. With new rumblings about activist interest, the stock is likely to attract attention once London trading picks back up after the weekend. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
Elliott Advisors is pressing the group for a £5 billion share buyback, according to The Times on Sunday, saying the company’s valuation doesn’t reflect its potential to boost profit margins or sharpen its investor messaging on artificial intelligence. LSEG shares were sitting near £75, a drop from a high above £112, the paper noted, as investors fret that fresh AI tools could shake up tech-driven companies. (The Times)
The date is notable: LSEG will release its preliminary results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025 on Feb. 26. That gives management an early chance to lay out any plans for capital returns or changes in spending. (LSEG)
London trading’s been on edge lately. The FTSE 100 added 0.4% Friday, with takeover chatter and hopes for looser monetary policy injecting some stability, Reuters said. Volatility has been swirling since late January, fueled in part by fresh AI tool launches. LSEG managed a bounce, joined by Experian and RELX—names that took a beating earlier in the week. Markets are now giving a 63.4% probability to a quarter-point rate cut from the Bank of England in March, after fourth-quarter GDP data showed 0.1% growth, according to the same report. (Reuters)
Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill told a London audience that interest rates remain “a little bit too low” and pushed for maintaining a restrictive stance until there’s clear evidence of disinflation. The central bank left its rate unchanged at 3.75% last week following a narrow 5-4 split, according to Reuters. (Reuters)
For LSEG, the main question is how the board decides to use its cash. Buying back shares has the effect of reducing the number of shares in circulation, which can bump up earnings per share. But that approach goes head-to-head with paying down debt and funding new investments.
Traders want to hear management’s take on AI risk in the data and analytics segment, especially its impact on pricing muscle and expenses. Margin talk is also on the radar, since activists tend to zero in there—any change in tone will get attention.
A larger buyback isn’t a sure thing. LSEG might see less leeway than Elliott is pushing for, or choose to hold onto more flexibility heading into 2026, given lingering market jitters around tech-driven volatility.
