Oil Prices Slide as BP Suspends Share Buyback Programme

Oil prices remain volatile in early 2026, and BP sits at the center of this shift. The company suspended its share buyback programme despite posting a $1.54 billion fourth-quarter underlying replacement-cost profit that matched expectations.
This move reflects weaker oil fundamentals, falling annual profit, and rising balance-sheet caution across the energy sector. Full-year profit dropped 16% to $7.49 billion, highlighting pressure from softer crude prices.
For investors, BP now represents a transition story shaped by commodity cycles, capital discipline, and strategic refocusing toward oil and gas.