Natwest hikes targets again after jump in profit July 31, 2026 Natwest has upgraded its income targets for a second quarter running as the bank posted better than expected profit and dished out a bumper dividend to investors. The blue-chip lender reported a 20 per cent jump in pre-tax profit in the first six months of 2026 to £4.3bn, up from £3.6bn the year prior and [...]
High interest rates and low confidence put construction firms under pressure, Lords warns July 30, 2026 Construction firms have been hit by a barrage of reduced market confidence, high interest rates and rising national insurance costs, builders’ merchant Lords has warned, after it suffered its biggest-ever single-day stock fall. The London-based firm released a challenging market update on Thursday, which saw its shares plunge 20.61 per cent to an all-time low [...]
Lloyds beats profit target as bank sets sights on more cost-cutting July 30, 2026 Lloyds Banking Group beat its profit forecast for the first half of the year as the bank’s top boss laid out plans to make further cost savings in the years ahead. The FTSE 100 lender – which owns the Bank of Scotland and Halifax – recorded a £4.3bn pre-tax profit in the first half of [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 hits new high after interest rates held July 30, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75 per cent in a 6-3 split. The City had pencilled in a hawkish hold from the Monetary Policy Committee after inflationary pressures were renewed on the latest round of strikes in the Middle East. Megan Greene, Catherine Mann and [...]
Bank of England may set the stage for interest rate hikes this year July 30, 2026 The Bank of England could today roll the pitch for a series of interest rate hikes this year after price shocks triggered by the war in Iran rippled through the global economy in the past quarter, City analysts have predicted. Analysts across financial firms in the City are expecting the Bank to leave interest rates [...]
Mortgage approvals inch up yet gains to be ‘retracted’ July 29, 2026 Mortgage approvals rose slightly in June, according to Bank of England data, yet growing fears of a rise in interest rates could set the property market back again. Net mortgage approvals climbed by around three per cent, from 56,565 in May to 58,200 in June. That remained below the six-month average of around 61,400, and [...]
Healey faces £24bn spending squeeze as inflation puts tax rises in play July 29, 2026 Chancellor John Healey is facing a £24bn real terms squeeze on the public purse due to higher inflation and will be forced to hike takes to fund the government’s spending plans, a top think tank has warned. Price growth will peak at 3.8 per cent early next year before a slow return to the Bank [...]
Hold interest rates but ‘sound hawkish’, City AM Shadow MPC tells Bank of England July 28, 2026 The Bank of England should hold interest rates on Thursday, City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee has said, after a string of economic data prints showed the threat of spiralling inflation had eased. The Shadow MPC – a group of economists compiled by City AM – said a series of economic data releases had suggested [...]
Bank of England to hold interest rates as oil price surge threatens UK economy July 26, 2026 The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates in a split vote on Thursday yet a surge in oil prices could complicate the crucial decision. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent. Analysts believe that two members, Huw Pill and Megan Greene, could [...]
‘Door is open’ to interest rate hike as inflation fears return July 23, 2026 An interest rate hike by the Bank of England this year is back on the cards as fears of continued oil and gas trade disruption across the Strait of Hormuz could push inflation higher, according to City economists. A spike in oil prices to levels seen during the Iran war has dampened the mood across [...]