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UK Economy 26 February 2026 - 14 March 2026

Lloyds Banking Group Share Price Falls to 94p as App Glitch Adds to UK Bank Selloff

Lloyds Banking Group Share Price Falls to 94p as App Glitch Adds to UK Bank Selloff

Lloyds Banking Group shares closed down 1.38% at 94.18 pence Friday, leading FTSE All-Share trading volume as investors reacted to a mobile-app glitch and sector-wide weakness. The bank repurchased 19.27 million shares for cancellation under its £1.75 billion buyback. Oil above $100 and stalled GDP dampened hopes for a Bank of England rate cut, pressuring UK lenders.
14 March 2026
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FTSE 100 Today: UK Stock Market Falls as $100 Oil Shifts Bank of England Outlook

FTSE 100 Today: UK Stock Market Falls as $100 Oil Shifts Bank of England Outlook

The FTSE 100 fell 0.47% to 10,305.15 on Thursday, about 5% below its February record, as oil rebounded to $100 a barrel after tanker attacks in Iraq. Money markets now price a 54% chance of a UK rate hike by December. HSBC dropped over 5% after closing Qatar branches. New UK homebuyer enquiries fell sharply in February, according to RICS.
12 March 2026
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SSE PLC insiders buy shares as utility enters key UK grid spending phase

SSE PLC insiders buy shares as utility enters key UK grid spending phase

SSE Plc disclosed Monday that CEO Martin Pibworth and six other executives acquired a total of 45 shares under its all-employee share plan, ahead of a closed period starting April 2. The company faces scrutiny over its ability to fund a £33 billion, five-year grid expansion, with five major transmission projects already under construction and 75% of key planning consents secured.
10 March 2026
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Persimmon Plc Shares Slide Ahead of 2025 Results as UK Housebuilder Pressure Builds

Persimmon Plc Shares Slide Ahead of 2025 Results as UK Housebuilder Pressure Builds

Persimmon Plc shares dropped 5.5% to 1,223.5 pence on Monday ahead of its full-year results due March 10. The fall followed warnings from rivals Vistry and Taylor Wimpey about lower margins and profits amid rising build costs and weaker demand. Persimmon previously reported 2025 completions up 12% and expects profit at the upper end of forecasts. Investors await any update on its 2026 outlook.
9 March 2026
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NatWest Mortgage Rates Rise Again as UK Rate-Cut Hopes Crumble

NatWest Mortgage Rates Rise Again as UK Rate-Cut Hopes Crumble

NatWest Group will raise mortgage rates for existing customers and additional borrowing from March 10, following recent hikes for new borrowers. Barclays, Halifax, and Santander are also increasing rates, while some smaller lenders have withdrawn products. The average UK two-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 4.84% this week. Mortgage approvals in January fell to a two-year low, according to Bank of England data.
9 March 2026
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UK stock market today: FTSE 100 pares early slump as oil shock hits London shares

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 pares early slump as oil shock hits London shares

FTSE 100 closed down 0.3% and FTSE 250 fell 1.6% after Brent crude surged over 25% to $119.50 a barrel amid the U.S.-Iran war. UK gilt yields jumped as traders shifted bets toward a possible Bank of England rate hike. Sterling weakened, while energy stocks like Shell and BP rose. Homebuilders and property shares led declines, with Persimmon down 5.5%.
9 March 2026
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Barclays faces a £500 million MFS exposure as lenders hunt for answers

Barclays faces a £500 million MFS exposure as lenders hunt for answers

Barclays is owed about £500 million by companies linked to collapsed UK mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions, according to Bloomberg. The figure is among the largest exposures tied to the lender’s administration. Investors are reviewing risks as banks and funds assess potential losses. MFS collapsed after allegations of financial irregularities and mismanagement.
5 March 2026
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Tesco share price jumps as UK grocery inflation ticks up; TSCO eyes April results

Tesco share price jumps as UK grocery inflation ticks up; TSCO eyes April results

Tesco shares rose 2% to 481.5 pence in early London trading Wednesday, outperforming a flat FTSE 100. New Worldpanel data showed UK grocery inflation ticked up to 4.3% as Tesco extended its market share to 28.7%. About 1.1 million Tesco shares changed hands by 0852 GMT. Investors are watching the Bank of England’s March 19 rate decision and Tesco’s April 16 results.
4 March 2026
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HSBC share price slips again as oil shock keeps UK banks in focus

HSBC share price slips again as oil shock keeps UK banks in focus

HSBC shares fell 1.0% to 1,249.6 pence in early London trading Wednesday, after dropping 5.2% Tuesday amid concerns over Middle East tensions and rising oil prices. UK bank stocks have tracked a global selloff this week as traders scale back expectations for near-term Bank of England rate cuts. HSBC shares will trade ex-dividend on March 12 in London, Hong Kong, and Bermuda.
4 March 2026
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Lloyds share price drops again as oil shock hits UK banks ahead of Reeves update

Lloyds share price drops again as oil shock hits UK banks ahead of Reeves update

Lloyds shares fell over 2% to 97.86 pence in early London trading Tuesday, extending losses for UK banks amid inflation and rate cut uncertainty. Oil price gains and Middle East tensions have pushed investors toward safe-haven assets. Traders now see a 52% chance of a Bank of England rate cut in March, down from 78% last week. Lloyds disclosed continued share buybacks and new share issuances for employee plans.
3 March 2026
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National Grid shares rise after utility lifts 2027 earnings view and maps out £70 billion plan

National Grid shares rise after utility lifts 2027 earnings view and maps out £70 billion plan

National Grid shares rose 1.33% after the company raised its 2027 earnings growth forecast and extended its investment plan through 2031. The utility accepted Ofgem’s new UK transmission price control, effective from April 2026. National Grid now expects adjusted EPS growth of 13%-15% in 2027 and at least £70 billion in capital investment by FY31. Investors await further details in a management call later Monday.
2 March 2026
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Ashtead share price: AHT set to disappear from London screens as Sunbelt listing goes live

Ashtead share price: AHT set to disappear from London screens as Sunbelt listing goes live

Ashtead’s London listing will be cancelled at Monday’s market open after its court-approved restructuring took effect. Shares in new U.S. holding company Sunbelt Rentals Holdings are set to begin trading in London at 0800 GMT and New York at 1430 GMT. Ashtead last closed at 5,326 pence on Feb. 27 before trading was suspended. FTSE Russell will remove Ashtead from the FTSE UK index series at the open.
2 March 2026
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UK picks Barclays executive Katharine Braddick to run Bank of England banking watchdog

UK picks Barclays executive Katharine Braddick to run Bank of England banking watchdog

Katharine Braddick, a Barclays executive, has been named Bank of England deputy governor for prudential regulation and chief of the Prudential Regulation Authority, starting July 1. She replaces Sam Woods, whose term ends in June. The appointment comes as the government urges regulators to support lending and growth. Braddick’s move from Barclays to the regulator has drawn scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest.
27 February 2026
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National Grid share price steadies near 1,390p as UK grid deals and Ofgem deadlines sharpen focus

National Grid share price steadies near 1,390p as UK grid deals and Ofgem deadlines sharpen focus

National Grid shares rose 0.2% to 1,390.5p in early London trading Thursday, following Engie’s £10.5 billion deal for UK Power Networks. Investors are watching Ofgem’s March 2 consultation deadline and National Grid’s May 14 results. Ofgem set the April–June household energy price cap at £1,641, with network costs rising £66.
26 February 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • i-80 Gold Valuation Reviewed After 30% Price Drop Amid Mixed Performance
    March 20, 2026, 9:47 AM EDT. i-80 Gold (TSX:IAU) shares have slid roughly 30% over the past month despite a 77.45% one-year total shareholder return, contrasting with a 42.17% loss over three years. The stock trades at CA$1.81, far below a projected fair value of CA$18.88 based on bullish production and profitability forecasts. However, the company faces a significant challenge turning a US$198.8 million net loss into sustainable profits. Current price-to-sales ratio of 11.8x is notably above the industry average of 6.8x, suggesting the market may have priced in high growth expectations. Investors should weigh the potential upside against execution risks and valuation concerns amid ongoing market volatility.
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