FTSE 100 close: China economy growth spurt jolts London miners higher April 18, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 bumped upwards again today, boosted by stronger than expected Chinese economic growth boosting sentiment toward the capital’s biggest listed industrial giants. The capital’s premier index climbed 0.38 per cent to 7,909.43 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, was broadly [...]
UK pushes back Natwest share sale plan after banking volatility April 3, 2023 The Treasury has pushed back its deadline to sell a chunk of its remaining shares in Natwest by another two years after the lender’s share price slumped last month amid the recent turmoil in the banking sector. The government will now have until 11 August 2025 to gradually sell up to 15 per cent of [...]
Mass bank branch closures making life for retired Brits ‘really difficult’ as Age UK calls for regulation and law changes March 31, 2023 A leading charity for older people has criticised the latest tranche of bank branch closures, saying it is making banking “really difficult.” The head of Age UK responded to news today that Lloyds and NatWest groups would be shutting a further 81 branches this year. She urged the government to introduce regulation to compel banks [...]
Is the future of banking online only? NatWest and Lloyds to axe 81 branches, taking this year’s total to 213. Here’s a list of closures: March 31, 2023 Two of the UK’s biggest banking groups have announced plans to make big cuts to their branch networks this year, cutting more than 80 sites from around the country. Lloyds Group and NatWest Group have said that the sites in England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man will close between July and November this [...]
FTSE 100 close: Credit Suisse turmoil eases as Barclays and NatWest claw back losses March 21, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 today shook off market turmoil sparked by UBS saving Credit Suisse, with the UK’s largest lenders, such as Barclays and NatWest, soaring to the top of the index. The capital’s premier index surged nearly two per cent to 7,536.23 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with [...]
NatWest imposes £1,000 daily limit on Crypto spending to protect people against ‘losing life changing sums’ March 14, 2023 NatWest imposed stricter restrictions on cryptocurrency transfers as it seeks to protect its customers after £329m was lost by UK consumers last year. The bank is implementing a daily limit of £1,000 and a 30-day payment limit of £5,000 to cryptocurrency exchanges. It is implementing the rules to “help protect customers losing life changing sums [...]
Record 150,000 new firms founded by women last year, Natwest report reveals February 22, 2023 A record 150,000 new firms were founded by women last year, according to a major review by Natwest chief executive Dame Alison Rose. New figures outlined in the Rose Review Progress Report for 2022 show female entrepreneurs started twice as many companies last year as they did in 2018, despite the challenging economic environment. There [...]
NatWest shares dive six per cent as £1.3bn profits fail expectations and fear grows of banking ‘slump’ February 17, 2023 NatWest became the second FTSE 100 bank to take a beating as its forward guidance disappointed investors and analysts alike. NatWest’s share price was trading more than six per cent lower this afternoon, despite delivering its biggest profits since the financial crisis in 2022, as it forecast a difficult 2023. “The outlook for this year [...]
FTSE 100 live: London’s blue chip index falls as NatWest and Lloyds share prices slump February 17, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 dropped lower on Friday as a share price slump from NatWest and high street rival Lloyds weighed on the index. The capital’s premier index jumped 0.53 per cent to 7,972.29 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, dropped 0.76 per [...]
NatWest quarter profits almost triple to £1.3bn as higher interest rates offset bad loan provision February 17, 2023 NatWest recorded bumper profits in the final quarter of last year as the boost from higher interest rates outweighed funds set aside to cope with bad loans. Profits at the bank increased to £1.3bn in the final quarter, in line with market expectations and doubling compared to last year. This brought yearly profits to £3.6bn, [...]