Analysts dampen outlook for FTSE 100 banks as tax clouds gather October 21, 2025 The UK’s top banks are gearing up for a third-quarter reporting season where all eyes will be on the Labour government’s second Autumn Budget. Speculation of a bank tax hike has dominated chatter around the sector in recent months and elevated fears across the City. It also comes alongside flaring tensions between the lending industry [...]
FTSE suffers worst day since April amid credit market jitters October 17, 2025 The FTSE 100 suffered its worst session since April on Friday, after a sell-off in US regional banks caused jitters to sweep through global equities markets. Banks led losses on the UK’s blue-chip index as a risk-off mood prevailed across the world, with bond yields falling and the price of gold hitting yet another all-time [...]
Mining has its mojo back – will London miss out? October 15, 2025 After years spent cast as the underbelly of the global economy, mining is undergoing a reputational and financial revival. Ali Lyon explores what’s behind the renaissance, and whether London risks losing its status as the industry’s spiritual home as a result. With his thick-rimmed spectacles, salt-and-pepper hair and wiry, lean build, Gustavo Pimenta is a [...]
Spotlight turns to FTSE 100 clients of Peter Mandelson’s advisory firm after government sacking September 12, 2025 After Peter Mandelson’s dramatic ousting from government over his close relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the firms that chose to partner with his consultancy Global Counsel have come under the spotlight. More than two dozen major corporations hired Global Counsel to conduct lobbying services over the past two years, disclosures from the Office of the [...]
Natwest and Lloyds shares lead £8bn plunge amid bank tax fears August 29, 2025 Shares in a number of Britain’s biggest banking giants tumbled on Friday as speculation that Rachel Reeves would use the sector for an easy cash grab ramped up. Natwest topped the FTSE 100’s fallers, losing over five per cent. Meanwhile, Lloyds was down nearly four per cent, Barclays just over two per cent, whilst HSBC [...]
Standard Chartered shares rally after US rejects whistleblower claims August 22, 2025 Shares in Standard Chartered rallied on Friday after it emerged the US government has rejected whistleblower claims that it breached sanctions rules. Allegations over the banking giant’s practices had courted the attention of US president Donald Trump, who last week took to Truth Social to post a link to an article about the claims published [...]
Atom chair: Big banks don’t know their role in economic growth August 20, 2025 The chair of digital bank Atom has slammed Britain’s banking giants for failing to drive the country’s economic ambitions. Lee Rochford, who had tenures at Virgin Money, RBS and BNP before Atom, said it was “increasingly unclear what role [top banks] are playing in driving better customer outcomes or supporting UK economic growth”. Chancellor Rachel [...]
Standard Chartered shares struggle to rebound after US lawmaker triggered $3bn sell-off August 18, 2025 Shares in Standard Chartered inched higher on Monday, but failed to fully recover from a dramatic sell-off at the end of last week that was triggered by a United States congresswoman. The bank’s stock nudged up by one percent as markets opened, reaching 1,319.50. But, this remained far below the 1,407 price point prior to [...]
Motor finance ruling hands City banks £7bn stock boost August 4, 2025 The FTSE 100’s banking giants added billions to their market value on Monday after a hefty boost from the Supreme Court’s motor finance ruling. Lloyds Banking Group bolstered its market capitalisation by over £3.5bn after a seven per cent surge to a five-year high on the back of the top Court’s ruling last Friday. The [...]
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 [...]