Lloyds shares jump despite profit slump February 20, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group’s shares jumped three per cent following market open, despite recording a profit hit after the firm set aside additional funds for potential motor finance payouts. The FTSE 100 lender’s pre-tax profit was down 20 per cent at £6bn, compared to £7.5bn in 2023. Analysts estimated the bank’s profit before tax at £6.5bn, [...]
Value of UK housing stock hits £9 trillion for the first time February 17, 2025 The total value of all homes across the UK has passed £9 trillion for the first time, according to new research by property firm Savills. After a brief slump in 2023, the UK’s housing stock grew by £346bn last year – meaning it is now more than 3.5 times the annual GDP of the UK. [...]
Natwest skims past profit expectations February 14, 2025 Natwest narrowly beat analysts’ annual profit expectations after posting a bump in its consumer lending. The FTSE 100 lender posted a £6.2bn pre-tax profit, ahead of £6.1bn pencilled in by analysts and up 0.3 per cent on 2023. Net loans to customers hit £368.5bn, an increase of £12.9bn, which reflected Natwest’s acquisition of Metro Bank’s [...]
The five UK fintechs tipped to reach unicorn status February 13, 2025 The UK fintech sector is experiencing lightning growth, with several companies on the road to gaining ‘unicorn’ status, a title given to privately held startups valued at over $1bn (£780m). According to Hurun’s recent index, a handful of fintech firms are leading the charge, with valuations of $500m and above. These firms span various financial [...]
Natwest: FTSE 100 bank’s share price scoops ten-year high February 11, 2025 Shares in Natwest were touching a ten year high on Tuesday morning, ahead of the bank posting its annual results on Friday. At market open, share price was at 442.70p edging towards the high of 445.85p achieved in February 2015. The lender hit its highest share price since 2015 last month, and continued to rally [...]
Home repossessions rise as higher interest rates bite borrowers February 10, 2025 The number of homeowners with mortgages facing repossession rose in the fourth quarter of 2024 as buyers struggled with higher interest rates. UK Finance figures show that repossessions rose 12 per cent in the last three months of 2024 compared to the previous year and were up 54 per cent yearly. Overall, 1,030 residential houses [...]
Cost-cutting pays dividends at TSB as bank reports record year February 7, 2025 TSB's pretax profit increased to £290.4m, 22 per cent higher than the year before and a record since the bank returned to the high street in 2013.
House prices hit record high in January ahead of stamp duty deadline February 7, 2025 According to new data, the average UK house price hit a record high of £299,138 in January ahead of the loss of first-time buyer stamp duty relief in April. House prices rose 0.7 per month on month and three per cent year on year, with London retaining the highest average house price in the UK [...]
What the Bank of England interest rate cut means for your money February 6, 2025 Consumers need “careful financial planning in the months ahead” after the Bank of England cut interest rates on Thursday, wealth manager Quilter has warned. Financial planner at Quilter Holly Tomlinson said the 25 basis point cut will be “good news” for borrowers, whilst savers will be stung by lower returns on deposits. Tomlinson said: “Banks [...]
Barclays the latest to harden line on office attendance rules January 30, 2025 Barclays has become the latest blue chip firm to tighten its office attendance policy, asking staff to attend the office a minimum of three days a week. The British-headquartered lender unveiled a more stringent approach to hybrid working in a memo to staff earlier this week, which cut the minimum number of days staff can [...]