London, Feb 9, 2026, 09:17 GMT — Regular session
- Barclays shares picked up roughly 0.8% in early London trading, with financials showing some strength.
- Full-year numbers land Tuesday for the bank, serving as a near-term trigger for UK bank shares.
- Guidance on costs, returns, and capital distributions has investors’ attention now.
Barclays (BARC.L) traded between 476.7 and 483.5 pence early this session, with the stock last up 0.8% at 483.0 pence as of 0917 GMT, Investing.com data showed. 1
All eyes on Barclays, set to release its full-year numbers Tuesday—this time, the stakes are up. Any slip on costs, credit, or capital? Markets haven’t been forgiving lately.
It’s shaping up to be a packed day for UK earnings. The London Stock Exchange’s diary lists Barclays alongside BP and AstraZeneca among the notable companies due to report this Tuesday. 2
The broader market held firmer. FTSE 100 edged up 0.3% during the morning session, banks lending some support to the index. 3
European stocks nudged up, with banks out in front after fresh earnings and deal headlines, Reuters said. The STOXX 600 had gained 0.5% by 0809 GMT. 4
Barclays traders likely to skip over the headline profit, zeroing in on costs, credit quality, and return plans from management. Even minor adjustments to 2026 return or payout guidance could send the stock moving quickly.
The sector’s ongoing deal chatter has investors watching the scramble for fee revenue. On Monday, NatWest struck a £2.7 billion deal to acquire wealth manager Evelyn Partners—a move that reportedly attracted interest from both Barclays and Lloyds, according to Reuters. “While strategically sensible, the valuation is relatively high,” RBC Capital Markets’ Benjamin Toms noted, pegging the deal as roughly 2% earnings-per-share dilutive for NatWest through 2028. 5
Barclays’ shares have swung with changes in risk appetite and rate expectations, as investors parse just how much softer policy might squeeze lending spreads—and whether investment-banking earnings can offset the drag.
The risk? Clear enough: if costs or impairments come in soft, they can easily overshadow any slight outperformance in other areas. And if markets quiet down, investment-banking revenue doesn’t take long to slide. Net interest margin matters, too—if rate cuts pick up speed, that spread between what banks make from loans and what they pay out on deposits could get squeezed.
Tuesday brings results and a slate of events—management is set to update investors on targets and shareholder returns. 6
