Barclays and Natwest layoffs signal start of banking’s AI job squeeze Banking Barclays, Natwest, Lloyds and HSBC toasted to a £14n profit haul in the third-quarter but sweeping job cuts stole the show. Samuel Norman takes a look at what the last three months signal for the sector’s future. As bank leaders stepped up to the podium for third-quarter earnings, the agenda had already been set for [...]
Banks battle for mortgages ahead of looming interest rate hike Banking Britain’s biggest banks are battling for mortgage market share on razor-thin margins even as borrowers rush to remortgage ahead of looming interest rates hikes. The central bank is expected to lift its base rate to four per cent on Thursday – its first hike in three years – following a sharp resurgence in inflation. The [...]
Natwest shares slump after muted quarter Banking Natwest shares fell after the bank delivered its third-quarter following a muted quarter for profit growth. The FTSE 100 bank recorded a pre-tax profit of £2.2bn, broadly in line with internal consensus and up 1.9 per cent from the same period last year. Its stock fell some four per cent to 611p in early trading. [...]
Lloyds shares fall after high interest rates boost income October 29, 2026 Shares in Lloyds Banking Group tumbled on Thursday morning after the bank beat profit expectations in the third-quarter after a boost from high interest rates and a reduction in its cost base. The FTSE 100 giant reported a £2.3bn pre-tax profit for the latest three months, up nearly 99 per cent on last year’s figure. [...]
Healey avoids bond market backlash with ‘placeholder Budget’ October 28, 2026 John Healey has managed to avoid punishment at the hands of the bond market through a “placeholder Budget” that delayed big decisions on defence and welfare and left questions hanging over the government’s future spending plans. The Chancellor announced a raft of cost of living measures as part of his fiscal statement, funded by taxes [...]
Budget 2026: Healey uses state-backed lenders to ramp up borrowing October 28, 2026 John Healey has revealed plans to increase borrowing through the UK’s state-owned business lender and infrastructure bank. The Chancellor has allocated an extra £20.4bn to the country’s two major state-owned policy banks for the next five-years. The National Wealth Fund will get around £15.4bn, while the British Business Bank will receive £5bn. “I will work [...]
Budget 2026: Healey doubles bank tax to fund energy package October 28, 2026 John Healey has confirmed a “time limited” tax hike on the UK banking sector as a means to fund the government’s energy support package. The Chancellor will double the surcharge, which sits on top of corporation tax, to six per cent. The increase will begin in January and continue for 15 months. “I want to [...]
Santander UK turns to more cost-cutting after profit slip October 28, 2026 Santander UK said it expects to make more “efficiencies” after its profit slipped in the first nine months of the year due to a drag from restructuring costs and motor finance costs. The UK arm of Spain’s Banco Santander reported a £1.2bn pre-tax profit for the nine months ending 30 September, down six per cent [...]
Budget 2026 Live: Healey introduces pension tax allowance and lays out bank surcharge plans October 28, 2026 Welcome to City AM‘s Budget liveblog. The Chancellor has delivered his Budget speech in the House of Commons. John Healey announced a range of measures to tackle the cost of living but the market will keep a close eye on his tax and spending plans as the government looks to balance the books. Healey has [...]
HSBC shares sink after revenue misses expectations October 27, 2026 Shares in HSBC plunged this morning with billions wiped from its market value after the bank missed revenue expectations in the third-quarter. The FTSE 100 bank’s stock slid seven per cent in early trading to 1,269.0p in a move that shed around £16bn from the firm’s market capitalisation. It also put it on track to [...]