Government puts bank windfall tax on table to help plug fiscal hole October 19, 2022 The government has put a windfall tax on the UK’s largest banks on the table, sending their shares plummeting today. London-listed Lloyds Bank, which is Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, plunged to the bottom of the FTSE 100 index today, shedding 4.11 per cent. Previously state-owned NatWest trailed closely behind on the biggest losers’ table, dropping [...]
5 Reasons Why This Year’s City Giving Day was the Best One Yet September 29, 2023 On Tuesday 26 September, The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of the City of London, Alderman, Sheriffs and 570 City businesses came together for City Giving Day. Hosted by The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the annual event unites the City to celebrate and promote the positive impact of philanthropy. Here’s 5 reasons this year’s City Giving [...]
Mark Kleinman: Challenging times for challenger banks June 27, 2024 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and is the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City A.M. column. Today, he looks at challenger banks, Carlsberg's Britvic play and office space woes
London’s FTSE 100 gains tamed by traders dumping house builders on property price jitters October 31, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 was tamed today by traders ditching the UK’s largest house builders on fears the property is headed for a sharp slowdown. The capital’s premier index’s gains were held to 0.66 per cent, finishing at 7,094.53 points. The domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK [...]
FTSE 100 close: JD Sports springs London flagship index to 2018 high January 11, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 index leapt to its highest level since 2018 in afternoon exchanges in the City today after a series of strong retailer earnings signalled the UK consumer is holding up well amid the cost of living crunch. The FTSE 100 index climbed 0.99 per cent to 7,770 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE [...]
Nationwide’s Virgin Money bid heralds new era for mutuals’ challenge to big banks March 18, 2024 Nationwide, the world's largest building society, is gearing up for the UK's biggest banking tie-up since the financial crisis as it looks to finalise a £2.9bn takeover deal for high street rival Virgin Money in the coming weeks.
Bank of England to hike interest rates for 14th time in a row to 2008 high of 5.25 per cent July 31, 2023 The Bank of England this week is tipped to hike interest rates for the 14th time in a row as it extends its fight against roaring inflation. Members of the nine-strong monetary policy committee (MPC) are expected on Thursday to back a 25 basis point increase to the UK’s official interest rate, which would send [...]
Record profits place TSB on course for £50m dividend but impairment charges rise on recession fears January 26, 2023 TSB Bank proposed a £50m payout to its parent company in the first quarter of 2023 as its yearly pretax profit increased to a record level. Pretax profit in the 2022 financial year rose to £183.5m from £157.5m in 2021, reflecting lending growth, higher interest rates and higher deposit margins. This figure includes the costs [...]
Spring Budget 2024: Hunt plans Natwest government share sale this summer as Farage says debanking row ‘far from over’ March 6, 2024 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has outlined plans for the government to begin selling part of its stake in Natwest to the general public "at the earliest opportunity" this summer, as part of wider efforts to boost stock market investment.
‘Fading recession fears’ boost optimism as services sector bounced back to growth in February March 3, 2023 The UK’s service sector bounced back to growth in February as business optimism improved and activity expanded at the fastest pace since June. The S&P Global/CIPS UK services PMI survey showed a reading of 53.5 in February, up from 48.7 in January and slightly ahead of market expectations. Any score above 50 is considered growth [...]