Natwest returns to profit as virus loan charges fall October 30, 2020 Natwest returned to profit during the third quarter, reporting forecast-beating earnings after setting aside a smaller-than-expected sum to deal with bad loans due to the coronavirus pandemic. Natwest posted an operating profit before tax of £355m for the three months to September on an income of £1.9bn. The figure beat the bank-compiled analyst estimates of [...]
Lloyds profit beats forecasts on pandemic mortgage boom October 29, 2020 Lloyds posted a forecast-beating profit for the third quarter as Britain’s biggest domestic lender cashed in booming demand for mortgages and set aside a smaller amount to cover bad loans. The bank returned to profitability in the three months to September after posting an unexpected loss in the first half. Lloyds reported a pre-tax profit [...]
Banks hike mortgage interest rates amid boom in applicants October 24, 2020 Banks are reportedly hiking mortgage interest rates in order to deter prospective buyers as they struggle to meet a spike in demand for home loans amid a buoyant housing market. Lenders are turning away mortgage business as the ability to process applications has been slowed by home-working during the coronavirus pandemic. The housing market has [...]
FCA says 12 million people in UK will struggle to pay bills October 22, 2020 Some 12 million people in Britain are likely to struggle with bills or loan repayments amid the continued economic disruption triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said. A survey by the watchdog found that 12 million people in the UK had low financial resilience, and that two million of those people [...]
Metro Bank loans rise as capital remains below regulators’ expectations October 21, 2020 Metro Bank today reported a two per cent hike in lending for the third quarter, as the British bank warned its capital remained below buffers set out by regulators following a significant hit from the pandemic. Loans handed out by the bank climbed to £15.09bn in the three months to 30 September, up two per [...]
McLaren boss says operating costs now ‘break even’ following fundraising and redundancies, and downplays second wave fears October 19, 2020 McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt has described his “horrible” 2020 in an exclusive interview with City A.M., but says he is “cautiously optimistic” despite the second wave of coronavirus. Flewitt was forced to make 1,200 redundancies – almost a quarter of the company’s 4,000-strong workforce – and carry out a sale and lease-back of the McLaren [...]
Homeowners worried about mortgage renewals as payment holiday ends October 16, 2020 A quarter of the UK’s home-owners are worried about renewing their mortgage as the payment holiday comes to an end this month. As the country grapples with an impending recession the UK’s homeowners are concerned they will be unable to renew their mortgages as earnings stagnate and mass unemployment looms. A poll commissioned by Willow [...]
Snakes and Ladders: Who is moving jobs in the City this week? October 14, 2020 Snakes and Ladders provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Despite the unnatural quiet that has replaced the fast-paced bustle of the Square Mile over the last few months, behind the scenes things are still moving. While the pandemic has [...]
Mortgage applications soar after coronavirus lockdown lifted October 14, 2020 Mortgage applications soared after lockdown was lifted this summer, reaching an estimated value of £216bn, however the closure of the housing market means lending is expected to be down compared to last year. Pent-up demand and government incentives helped to jolt the UK property market back to life after restrictions were eased following the UK [...]
UK house prices to rise 20 per cent by 2024 October 8, 2020 UK house prices are expected to soar more than 20 per cent by 2024, according to the latest research. Analysis by estate agent Savills found that UK property prices will jump 20.4 per cent in the five years to 2024 Average house prices are expected to increase four per cent this year before stagnating in [...]