LONDON, March 24, 2026, 15:15 GMT
Shares in London Stock Exchange Group plc climbed roughly 0.6% to 8,484 pence on Tuesday, outpacing a flat FTSE 100. Investors took in news of a new 10-year Canadian data and index agreement struck by its FTSE Russell division. Reuters
This is significant for LSEG, still on the mend after its shares tumbled roughly 30% over the past year. AI worries hit sentiment, and Elliott Management has kept up the pressure for change. Back in February, the group rolled out a record buyback and fresh targets, but investors want to see clearer signals on growth and margins. Reuters
FTSE Russell said its updated deal is now live, securing CanDeal DNA pricing in FTSE Canada fixed-income indexes for another ten years. The partnership also broadens, bringing in extra data, index, and portfolio analytics. Fixed income here refers to bonds, and over-the-counter data captures prices from trades done off-exchange. “Best-in-class pricing” remains at the core of the index ecosystem, according to Marina Mets, FTSE Russell’s head of Americas fixed income. Over at CanDeal DNA, president Andre Craig described the push for a modernised analytics platform as a “natural next step.” LSEG
Markets were unsettled. Reuters noted the FTSE 100 dropping to its lowest in three months, with oil surging past $100 a barrel and investors anticipating more Bank of England rate hikes. “Fragile optimism” had to contend with tighter financial conditions, according to Bob Savage, head of markets macro strategy at BNY. Reuters
The Canada contract arrives as LSEG moves forward elsewhere. Just last week, the group unveiled new leadership at both the London Stock Exchange and Turquoise, its pan-European platform. Deputy CEO Charlie Walker reiterated the company’s commitment to operating “competitive equities trading venues in Europe.” LSEG
LSEG finds itself stuck in a tricky spot. Investors appreciate those long-term contracts, but they’re also holding the group up next to names like MSCI, S&P Global, and Deutsche Boerse, pressing CEO David Schwimmer to prove concerns over AI are exaggerated. Stephen Yiu at Blue Whale says the management team still has to earn the credibility to push LSEG “to the next stage.” Reuters
Tuesday’s agreement moves the needle a bit, but doesn’t settle the big debates. The new long-term bond-data deal brings some clarity, sure, but leaves open larger issues—pricing power, AI’s impact, and whether stubbornly high energy costs and interest rates will continue to dampen equity valuations. Thomas Mathews at Capital Economics warned the conflict’s fallout could mean “bond and equity prices lower” for longer. Reuters
LSEG reported on Feb. 26 that 2025 organic income rose 7.1%, with ASV—annual subscription value—up 5.9%. Both figures topped forecasts, though ASV slipped from 6.3% the previous year, and that’s become the key metric. The Canada deal on Tuesday bolsters LSEG’s recurring revenue pitch, but investors appear focused on whether Schwimmer can drive growth and margins higher from here. Reuters
