NatWest posted a 24% jump in annual profit for 2025 and raised its 2028 return target on Friday, stepping up its move into wealth management following the Evelyn Partners deal. The British bank rolled out plans for a £750 million share buyback in the first half of 2026. Assets under management and administration climbed 20% to £58.5 billion, not counting the Evelyn acquisition. “We are raising our ambition and sharpening our strategic focus, with stretching new targets in place,” said chief executive Paul Thwaite.
Arista Networks jumped roughly 9% in after-hours trading Thursday. The data-center networking equipment firm topped Wall Street’s profit and revenue targets for the quarter and now expects first-quarter revenue to land near $2.6 billion.
July 9, 2026, 10:51 PM EDT. Brent crude was down 0.08% at $76.24 and U.S. WTI slipped 0.06% to $72.04 on Friday. Both benchmarks are up for the week, with Brent set for a 6% gain and WTI up 5%. U.S.-Iran military action in the Gulf, with attacks on U.S. assets and Iranian nuclear targets, have put supply risks in focus. The Strait of Hormuz is still closed, holding up about 20% of global oil and gas shipments. Comments from the U.S. government have aimed to assure markets by ruling out direct hits on Iranian energy facilities and playing down the threat of a broader war. Inflation concerns are still a drag on demand.