1221 GMT - Norway's Equinor is expected to grow its 2026 buyback to $4 billion on materially higher gas prices, HSBC's Kim Fustier writes in a note. The company set out a $3 billion target at its June CMD but since then gas prices have stayed high, she says. Equinor's balance sheet is set to continue improving and the company should be able to comfortably pay out $4 billion again over 2027, she says. Buybacks are then seen sustained at $3 billion as gearing stabilizes at low-double digits by the end of 2028, she notes. Shares fall 3.1% to 403.40 Norwegian kroner.