Lloyds looks to take control of Schroders wealth tie-up October 2, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group is looking to ditch its wealth tie-up with Schroders and take control of the six-year old unit. The FTSE 100 titan is poised to buy out Schroders’ 49.9 per cent stake in Schroders Personal Wealth (SPW). The transaction would hand full control over to Lloyds as the bank sets out to expand [...]
Shawbrook gearing up for £2bn IPO in boost to London market October 2, 2025 Specialist lender Shawbrook is preparing to announce intention of its London Stock Exchange debut – a move which could take place as soon as Thursday next week. Shawbrook’s private equity owner – Pollen Street Capital – is eying a £2bn valuation for the firm from the transaction. It comes amid a dire outlook for the [...]
Economic uncertainty pushes potential house buyers to hold off September 30, 2025 An unpredictable economic and policy landscape has caused a slowdown in housebuying activity in the UK, according to new data. There were 93,630 UK residential transactions in August, two per cent higher than August 2024 but two per cent lower than July 2025, according to HMRC. There’s been a “noticeable shift” in sentiment amongst Brits [...]
Huge losses revealed at Purplebricks after takeover September 25, 2025 Online estate agency Purplebricks racked up huge losses in the year it was taken over by Strike, it has been revealed. New accounts filed nine months after the Companies House deadline show the firm’s pre-tax losses went from £19.4m to £37.8m in the year to 31 March 2024. Over the same period, its turnover rose [...]
Housing in London now classed as unaffordable at every income level September 18, 2025 London housing has been officially classed as unaffordable for every income decile in a ‘pretty grim’ picture of the housing market. New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the average English home costs 7.9 times the average salary. If you live in London, conditions are far worse: Someone earning an average [...]
‘Exhausting’ house buying process damaging the economy, says Santander September 17, 2025 The UK’s outdated house buying process and rate of failed transactions are costing the economy at least £1.5bn a year, one of Britain’s biggest high street banks has warned. According to a report from Santander UK, over half a million failed housing transactions are costing consumers £560m directly, with some costs, including the costs of [...]
She championed consumers, but can Lucy Rigby MP steer the City? September 11, 2025 Lawyers, journalists, and Westminster insiders have long dominated the British political system, and this Labour government is no exception, with a former barrister at the helm. Now, the minister responsible for the City has joined the list. But who is Lucy Rigby MP? That was the question on everyone’s lips in the Square Mile. She [...]
Housing ladder? What about those who can’t get on the credit ladder September 9, 2025 There are plenty of column inches dedicated to getting more Brits on the housing ladder, but what about the credit ladder, asks Jono Gillespie.
Challenger banks face ‘profitability trap’ at growth crossroads September 8, 2025 The UK banking sector faces a profitability roadblock that will give the industry’s challengers an “existential” turning point. Fresh data from KPMG suggests the industry’s average return on equity will fall to eight per cent come 2027 down from 13 per cent four years prior. This is set to spark an £11bn reduction in pre-tax [...]
National Insurance ‘final nail in coffin’ for landlords as some already seek exit August 29, 2025 A national insurance raid on landlords’ rental income risks being the final straw for smaller landlords, with some already making plans to leave the sector. The Chancellor is reportedly examining proposals for applying national insurance (NI) to rental income in the hope of raising £2bn. Earnings from property, pensions and savings are currently largely exempt from NI [...]