1307 GMT - Share buybacks announced by companies included in the FTSE 100 total 32.1 billion pounds so far this year, 1.6% lower than at this point last year, according to AJ Bell analysis. Despite the slight fall, the volume of buybacks will "remind shareholders of the U.K.'s appeal as a source of cash returns," AJ Bell's Russ Mould says in a note. Further buybacks may come from banks and oil companies in particular, he says. Buybacks may attract negative media coverage because of the backdrop of the Middle East conflict, but Mould notes that Shell ran a significant buyback shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The FTSE 100 falls 0.5% in afternoon trade Friday, but is up 4.7% for the year.(josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 24, 2026 09:07 ET (13:07 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.