London, Feb 3, 2026, 09:00 GMT — Regular session.

• BAE Systems shares ticked up roughly 1% in early London trading after the company announced another round of buybacks.
• Investors are factoring in a pay dispute that the union and company say could lead to strikes lasting until Feb. 20.
• Attention now shifts to upcoming pay negotiations and the group’s full-year results expected later this month.

BAE Systems shares climbed 1.17% to 1,944.5 pence by 08:45 GMT, recovering from a rough start earlier this week. (London South East)

This shift is crucial as investors weigh two opposing pressures: ongoing buybacks steadily cutting the share count, and a labor dispute threatening to disrupt production at a critical…