FTSE 100 banks outperform but face tougher waters ahead August 4, 2025 The FTSE 100’s banking constituents breezed through the second quarter results season as interest income remained stable and trading income soared on the back of market volatility. The ‘Big Five’ banks of London’s flagship stock index – Barclays, HSBC, Natwest, Lloyds and Standard Chartered – pocketed a combined £12.8bn in the three months to June [...]
Motor finance: Lloyds shares jump after ruling August 4, 2025 Shares in Lloyds Banking Group and Close Brothers jumped in early deals this morning after the Supreme Court’s landmark motor finance ruling last week. Lloyds shares jumped 5.5 per cent in early deals to 80p – a five-year high. Shares in Close Brothers jumped 22 per cent. Analysts at Jefferies had said Lloyds shares would [...]
Motor finance redress scheme to cost up to £18bn, FCA says August 3, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed it will consult on an industry-wide redress scheme following the Supreme Court’s motor finance ruling last Friday. The City watchdog is aiming to publish a consultation by early October, with total costs of the redress expected to be between £9bn and £18bn. The regulator said in June that any [...]
Relief for banks after lukewarm motor finance win August 1, 2025 Lenders across the City are breathing a sigh of relief after today's landmark Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the appeals of two banks in the high-profile motor finance commission case.
Barclays follows HSBC in ditching net zero banks club August 1, 2025 Barclays has become the second London-based bank to exit the net zero banks club as the financial services industry continues to row back on climate policies. The FTSE 100 giant – which recorded a £1bn profit jump for the second quarter – said on Friday the UN-convened Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) “no longer has [...]
Standard Chartered wealth arm booms in volatile second quarter July 31, 2025 Standard Chartered’s wealth and markets arms boomed in a volatile second quarter of the year driving a surge in profit at the London-listed bank. The FTSE 100 firm recorded a 47 per cent uptick in global markets income on a constant currency basis, as takings topped $1.2bn (£900m) for the second quarter. Meanwhile, wealth solutions [...]
Nationwide wins big in mass switch from FTSE 100 banks July 30, 2025 Nationwide has raided the customer base of Britain’s banking titans as current account switchers flocked away from legacy firms. The building society welcomed nearly 73,000 switchers in the first three months of the year, compared to 17,000 outflows, according to Pay.uk data. This comes after the mutual returned billions to customers in 2024, whilst the [...]
Klarna’s AI push takes centre stage ahead of IPO July 30, 2025 Klarna seems to be making all the right steps about its AI ambitions, but is the Swedish fintech giant genuinely building an AI-first model for its users or simply crafting a compelling narrative for its much-anticipated IPO? “I’m not sure it gets a choice in the matter” Chris Jones, managing director at PSE told City [...]
HSBC boss: Rachel Reeves hiking bank tax would dent growth July 30, 2025 The boss of FTSE 100 juggernaut HSBC has become the latest banking voice to warn Rachel Reeves against raising taxes on banks over fears it would harm economic growth. Georges Elhedery, HSBC’s chief executive, said on Wednesday any further financial pressures on lenders could spark trouble for the UK economy. “Additional taxation on banks runs [...]
HSBC shares sink as impairment charge triggers 29 per cent profit hit July 30, 2025 Europe’s biggest lender HSBC suffered a 29 per cent annual hit to profit in the second quarter of the year after a hefty impairment charge related to business in China. The FTSE 100 juggernaut posted a $6.3bn (£4.72bn) pre-tax profit, missing analyst expectations of $6.99bn. This came as the lender recorded a $2.1bn write-down for [...]