Reuters article (from Hargreaves Lansdown)
https://www.hl.co.uk/feeds/apps/newsroo ... d=15360963"uncertain economic conditions could slow its $25 billion share buyback program, the world's largest, after its third-quarter profits easily beat expectations on strong oil and gas trading."
"slowing demand for oil and gas around the world amid trade tensions between the United States and China, the world's two largest energy consumers, could take a toll, Shell said"
"CEO Ben van Beurden said in a statement that Shell's intention to buy back $25 billion of shares by the end of next year remains unchanged."
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Shell has acquired $12 billion worth of shares since July 2018 and announced on Thursday it had started the next tranche of buybacks of up to $2.75 billion by Jan. 27, 2020."
The lack of a dividend hike at BP and Shell management hinting at a possibly slower pace of share buybacks are suggesting companies are taking a more sober view on the outlook for oil and gas prices"
"Free cash flow, or cash available to pay for dividends and share buybacks, rose to $10.1 billion from $8 billion a year earlier.'
"The Anglo-Dutch company, the world's biggest dividend payer at $16 billion a year, plans to boost payouts to investors through dividends and share buybacks to $125 billion between 2021 and 2025."
($124billion !)