Today: 7 February 2026
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Interest Rates News 1 February 2026 - 7 February 2026

Prudential plc share price ends week higher as PRU buyback and BoE rate bets shape the next move

Prudential plc share price ends week higher as PRU buyback and BoE rate bets shape the next move

Prudential plc shares closed 0.5% higher at 1,182 pence Friday after the insurer repurchased 494,445 shares, averaging 11.87 pounds each, for cancellation. The FTSE 100 rose 0.6% on the day. Bank of England survey data showed markets expect the policy rate to fall to 3.0% by March 2027 from 3.75% now. Prudential’s $1.2 billion buyback program runs through December 2026.
7 February 2026
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Barclays share price jumps into earnings week as BoE rate-cut bets shift the story

Barclays share price jumps into earnings week as BoE rate-cut bets shift the story

Barclays shares closed up 2.7% at 479.1 pence on Friday, outperforming the FTSE 100 ahead of next week’s full-year results. Trading volume was 18.8 million shares, well below the 50-day average. A split Bank of England vote on rates led traders to price in more UK rate cuts, sending sterling down 0.6%. Barclays announced non-executive director Mary Francis will retire in May.
7 February 2026
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SSE share price near 2,510p as BoE rate-cut bets return; UK GDP and SSE updates ahead

SSE share price near 2,510p as BoE rate-cut bets return; UK GDP and SSE updates ahead

SSE shares closed Friday at 2,510p, up 1.2%, with about 6.6 million shares traded. The company’s transmission arm secured over £6.9 million in Ofgem innovation funding for four projects. Investors adjusted UK rate-cut bets after a split Bank of England decision. SSE maintained 2025/26 earnings guidance and reported a 7% rise in renewables output.
7 February 2026
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Lloyds share price near 106p after BoE close vote stirs rate-cut bets

Lloyds share price near 106p after BoE close vote stirs rate-cut bets

Lloyds Banking Group shares hovered near 105.8 pence Friday after dropping 5.6% Thursday, following the Bank of England’s decision to keep rates at 3.75%. The bank bought back 7 million shares on Feb. 5 at an average 106.86 pence. UK bank stocks fell as the FTSE 100 slipped 0.9%. Investors now focus on the Bank of England’s March 19 meeting for signals on rate cuts.
6 February 2026
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NAB share price jumps 2% after RBA hike — what traders watch next

NAB share price jumps 2% after RBA hike — what traders watch next

National Australia Bank shares rose 2.1% to A$43.93 Wednesday after the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted its cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%. Major banks, including NAB, announced matching increases to variable mortgage rates, their first such move in two years. Investors await the RBA’s meeting minutes on Feb. 17 and NAB’s trading update on Feb. 18.
4 February 2026
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Australia stock market today: ASX 200 jumps as RBA hikes rates and miners rebound

Australia stock market today: ASX 200 jumps as RBA hikes rates and miners rebound

The S&P/ASX 200 closed up 0.89% at 8,857.10 after the Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate to 3.85%, the first hike in two years. Miners, tech, and banks led gains as investors adjusted to the new rate outlook. Major banks will lift variable home-loan rates by 25 basis points by mid-February. The index traded between 8,778.60 and 8,896.60 during the session.
3 February 2026
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Utilities stocks face a big rate test next week after XLU slips — what to watch

Utilities stocks face a big rate test next week after XLU slips — what to watch

The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) closed Friday down 0.18% at $43.25, while the Utilities Select Sector Index slipped 0.21%. Investors are watching President Trump’s Fed chair pick and upcoming U.S. jobs data as interest rates regain influence. A new reliability warning highlighted concerns over grid investment after storms left 38 dead and nearly 300,000 without power.
1 February 2026
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Stock Market Today

Mastercard stock price: MA slips as Dow hits 50,000; jobs and CPI data next week

Mastercard stock price: MA slips as Dow hits 50,000; jobs and CPI data next week

7 February 2026
New York, Feb 7, 2026, 11:18 EST — Market closed. Mastercard Incorporated shares (MA.N) last traded down 0.6% at $548.74 on Friday, after moving between $539.90 and $556.65. The stock is about 4% below its 52-week high, according to market data. That small drop still matters because payments names like Mastercard often trade as a clean read on consumer and travel spending. Heading into the new week, the focus shifts back to U.S. growth and rate expectations, which can move the group even when company news is thin. Friday’s tape was not thin. The Dow surged 2.47% to end above
Costco stock price retakes $1,000 — what traders are watching before Monday

Costco stock price retakes $1,000 — what traders are watching before Monday

7 February 2026
Costco closed Friday up 1.2% at $1,001.16, regaining the $1,000 level as about 2.36 million shares changed hands. January net sales rose 9.3% to $21.33 billion, with comparable sales up 7.1% and online sales surging 34.4%. Wells Fargo raised its price target to $950, maintaining a neutral rating. The next earnings call is set for March 5.
Johnson & Johnson stock price: What to watch after talc-case law firm ouster and new AFib data

Johnson & Johnson stock price: What to watch after talc-case law firm ouster and new AFib data

7 February 2026
Johnson & Johnson shares rose 0.9% to $239.99 Friday after a New Jersey appeals court disqualified Beasley Allen from state talc cases, citing improper coordination with a former J&J attorney. The ruling affects about 3,600 state lawsuits, while a related federal motion is pending. J&J also reported early 12-month pilot data for its investigational AFib device at a cardiology meeting.
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