UK Economy 21 April 2026

NatWest share price holds rally as UK rate bets top bank’s 2026 case

NatWest Group shares were little changed on Wednesday but had kept about three-quarters of Monday’s 3.95% jump. At 1302 BST in open London trade, the stock was down 0.09% at 656.6 pence after touching 661.4 pence. It remained about 2.9% above Friday’s close. Monday’s move was sector-wide. Barclays gained 3.9% and NatWest about 4% after Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned and Andy Burnham emerged as the front-runner to replace him. Morningstar equities strategist Michael Field said, “The potential election of a popular candidate like Andy Burnham would likely improve market perception.”

24 June 2026

LSE:NWG·Stock Market·UK Economy

Segro move leaves UK stocks steady; 20% of property index up for grabs

FTSE 100 was steady near 10,430 late Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 250 up just 0.03% at 22,934. Landlords traded higher—FTSE 350 REIT index surged 6%. Segro led with a 16% jump, Tritax Big Box and Harworth both up 5.6%. Segro makes up 20.35% of the FTSE EPRA Nareit UK REITs Index, according to FTSE Russell’s May 29 factsheet. That’s the biggest share in the index. Its 15.6% early move this year alone could lift the benchmark by about 3.2 percentage points. A successful takeover and delisting would see nearly one-fifth of the index need a new component.

24 June 2026

LSE:BBOX·LSE:HWG·LSE:SGRO·NYSE:BLK·NYSE:PLD·Real Estate·Stock Market·UK Economy

Lloyds shares rise as UK bank rally offsets rate-margin worries

Lloyds Banking Group shares rose on Wednesday, joining a rally in UK domestic banks as softer inflation data eased near-term worries about a Bank of England rate increase, while leaving investors to weigh what a steadier rate path means for lender margins. The stock was quoted at 105.25p to sell and 105.30p to buy after the London market closed, up 1.75p, or 1.68%, Hargreaves Lansdown data showed. Trading volume was about 112.3 million shares.

17 June 2026

LSE:BARC·LSE:LLOY·LSE:NWG·Stock Market·UK Economy

Mortgage Rates Hit One-Month Low as Iran Deal Shifts Fed and UK Rate Outlook

U.S. mortgage rates moved lower Monday after bond markets reacted to a tentative U.S.-Iran agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease pressure on oil prices. Mortgage News Daily’s daily index put the average 30-year fixed rate at 6.56%, down 0.02 percentage point on the day and equal to the most recent low from May 29. Matthew Graham wrote that rates are “in solid shape in the context of the last month,” but still remain in an elevated range. The rate move followed a broad relief rally in financial markets. Reuters reported that U.S. crude futures settled 4.9% lower after the deal news, while the Dow rose 0.92%, the S&P 500 gained 1.65% and the Nasdaq jumped 3.07%. Gene Goldman, chief investment officer at Cetera Investment Management, said, “We have a US-Iran deal that’s driving oil sharply lower.” Lower oil prices matter for mortgages because they can reduce inflation pressure, which often feeds into Treasury yields and mortgage pricing.

16 June 2026

Federal Reserve·Interest Rates·UK Economy

Lloyds Edges Back Toward £1 as Buyback, Mortgage Reductions, Rate Moves Stay in Focus

Lloyds Banking Group slipped 0.1% to end Monday at 99.06p, having failed to hang on to an earlier move above 100p. Shares moved between 98.00p and 100.68p as the market digested more buybacks, lower mortgage costs and a calmer climate for UK lenders. Lloyds is seen as the purest listed stock linked to the UK consumer, housing, and rates cycle, so any move here tends to land harder. Mortgage appetite, savings offers, and Bank of England rate calls often hit Lloyds before more international banks.

8 June 2026

LSE:LLOY·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100 Bounces with EasyJet Bid Pushing UK Stocks Into Spotlight

FTSE 100 ticked up in early London trading on Tuesday, picking up some ground after Monday’s drop. Investors weighed weaker oil prices with new takeover moves for struggling UK stocks. The blue-chip index climbed 0.28% to 10,367.71 by 08:03 BST, after opening between 10,355.28 and 10,374.44. Brent crude dropped 0.57% to $94.44. Falling oil prices took some pressure off stocks that lost ground a day before.

2 June 2026

LSE:EZJ·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100 Today: BP Rally Lifts UK Stocks as Barclays and Taylor Wimpey Fall

UK stocks steady as rate fears ease, but FTSE 100 faces Iran, retail in coming week

UK stocks start a holiday-shortened week after the FTSE 100 ended its four-week losing streak. London’s main index closed up 0.22% on Friday and added 2.66% over the week as traders backed off from expecting a near-term Bank of England rate hike. “The backdrop was much less conducive to a long-lasting bout of inflation than it was in 2022,” said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics. No full trading restart for markets on Monday. The London Stock Exchange stays shut May 25 because of the Spring Bank Holiday, so Tuesday’s session will pick up any weekend headlines around oil, politics, and the set of company results expected later this week.

24 May 2026

FTSE 100·Interest Rates·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100 up as BT gains; UK data tempers mood

FTSE 100 opened higher on Friday, getting support from BT, Compass and 3i. Investors picked up UK stocks, betting on advances in U.S.-Iran talks, though new data pointed to softer demand in Britain. London’s main blue-chip index put on 38.41 points, or 0.37%, hitting 10,481.88. The FTSE 250 traded up 119.27 points, or 0.52%, at 23,067.19. BT climbed 3.74%. Compass was up 2.60%, and 3i added 2.27%. On the downside, ConvaTec, BP and Barratt Redrow slipped.

22 May 2026

FTSE 100·LSE:BDEV·LSE:BP·LSE:BT·LSE:CPG·LSE:CTEC·LSE:III·LSE:RDW·Stock Market·UK Economy

HMRC pay code error could cut UK take-home, warns tax accountants

UK savers could be overpaying tax after HM Revenue & Customs changed PAYE codes using faulty savings-interest figures, several reports said overnight. Issues include double-counted interest, mismatched estimated interest, and cash ISA interest wrongly classified as taxable. ISAs aren’t subject to tax. HMRC is using more bank and building-society data now to take savings tax without telling most people to file a return. With PAYE, tax comes out of wages or pensions using a tax code. If the code is off, people might see less pay before they catch the mistake.

21 May 2026

UK Economy

British Gas Debt Warning: Why A £7bn Energy Bill Problem Is Hitting UK Households Now

The UK government’s proposal to write off up to £500 million in energy debt for vulnerable households hasn’t started yet. That delay leaves ministers under pressure, with industry projections showing consumer arrears heading toward £7 billion—roughly $9.5 billion—by the end of the year. Officials say they’re still working through data-sharing requirements for the scheme. Ofgem, for its part, says the final call belongs to ministers. It’s a tough moment for households. Cornwall Insight is now projecting Ofgem’s energy price cap for July through September at £1,843.78 for a standard dual-fuel direct debit customer—an increase from £1,641 over April to June. The cap, just as before, only affects unit rates and daily standing charges, not the overall bill.

13 May 2026

LSE:CNA·UK Economy

UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Falls as Gilt Yields Surge

London’s FTSE 100 slipped on Tuesday, dropping 0.48% to 10,219.95 as traders backed away from UK assets following a jump in gilt yields and fresh questions about Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s future. The index touched a session low of 10,152.05, with volume at 117.9 million shares, according to delayed figures from LSEG. Over the past year, the FTSE 100 has ranged between 8,531.06 and 10,934.94. Why it’s significant: the selloff didn’t just hit one corner of the market. Yields on long-dated UK government bonds shot up to highs not seen in nearly 30 years, sterling slid, and banks paced the losses among stocks. After taking a drubbing in local elections, with almost 80 Labour MPs demanding he name an exit date, Starmer planned to huddle with his cabinet.

12 May 2026

FTSE 100·LSE:BARC·LSE:LLOY·LSE:NWG·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100’s Third Weekly Loss: Why UK Stocks Are Back on Edge

The FTSE 100 slipped for the third consecutive week, dropping 0.4% to finish at 10,233.07 on Friday, after a late-session slide. New clashes in the Gulf put fresh pressure on the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and local election setbacks for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party didn’t help sentiment. The FTSE 250 index, covering mid-cap stocks, edged down 0.2%. This wasn’t just about London. The selloff landed alongside a flurry of oil moves, political signals, and fresh company warnings. For the week, the FTSE 100 dropped 1.4%. The FTSE 250, though, managed a 1.7% gain; AIM climbed 2.0%. A market split: global risk on one side, home-focused stock picking on the other.

9 May 2026

Stock Market·UK Economy

UK Stock Market Live: FTSE 100 Falls Again as Oil Tops $100 and Labour Losses Hit London Shares

London’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.75% to 10,200.29 in early Friday trading, according to delayed figures from Hargreaves Lansdown, as tensions flared again between the U.S. and Iran, sending oil prices up. Growing political uncertainty following UK election results also weighed on Britain’s blue-chip index, setting it up for a second consecutive day of losses. The stakes just jumped: what started as a standard dip has become something else. Iran’s conflict is pushing up fuel prices, stirring inflation bets, and filtering into what companies are telling investors. Early local election numbers are also stirring doubts about Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s hold on power.

8 May 2026

FTSE 100·NYSE:BP·NYSE:SHEL·Oil Prices·Stock Market·UK Economy

Centrica Shares Sink as British Gas Owner’s Retail Warning Overshadows £370 Million Severn Deal

Centrica dropped 5.16% to 198.7 pence on Thursday, as the British Gas parent flagged that retail energy earnings are tracking near the lower end of its 2026 target. That outlook weighed on shares, even with news of a £370 million power-station deal landing the same day. This update lands as Centrica attempts to reassure investors that reliable infrastructure returns can help blunt the drag from its household energy business, where mild weather and rising bad debts are squeezing profit. The company now sees retail EBITDA — earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation — tracking toward the bottom of its £500 million to £800 million target, while infrastructure EBITDA is set to come in above the £500 million to £650 million range.

8 May 2026

LSE:CNA·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100 Falls Today as Shell, BP and Centrica Drag UK Stocks After Peace-Deal Rally

The FTSE 100 was down 0.34% to 10,403.62 at 09:17 BST on Thursday, according to a MarketScreener estimate, after Shell, BP, and Centrica dragged the index lower. London’s heavyweight energy stocks lost ground, reversing some of the index’s previous gains that had followed optimism around a possible U.S.-Iran peace deal. The significance here lies in Wednesday’s sudden rally, which came on the back of shifting geopolitical headlines—not stronger company numbers. The FTSE 100 jumped 2.2% to finish at 10,438.66, while the FTSE 250 advanced 1.7%. Reports of headway toward a Middle East peace deal sent oil tumbling and prompted a wave of risk-on trades.

7 May 2026

Energy Sector·LSE:BP.·LSE:CNA·LSE:SHEL·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100 Today: Why UK Stocks Are Barely Moving as DCC, Unilever and the BoE Dominate London Trading

The FTSE 100 edged 0.10% higher to 10,222.85 in early London trading Thursday, while the FTSE 250 managed a 0.05% lift to 22,212.77. Brent crude advanced 3.52% to $122.19 a barrel, inflation and rate worries refusing to let up. That slight uptick stood out after the FTSE 100 slid 1.2% on Wednesday—marking the seventh loss in eight sessions and putting the index at a one-month low. Recent declines have come on the back of uneven earnings and investor wariness ahead of policy moves from central banks in the US and UK.

30 April 2026

FTSE 100·LSE:BEZ·LSE:DCC·LSE:ITK·LSE:RR.·LSE:SDR·LSE:ULVR·LSE:UU.·LSE:WTB·NYSE:KKR·Stock Market·UK Economy

FTSE 100 Today: BP Rally Lifts UK Stocks as Barclays and Taylor Wimpey Fall

UK equities ticked up early Tuesday, the FTSE 100 hovering near 10,340 for a gain of about 0.2% after a higher open. BP and Shell nudged the index upward as crude stayed north of $110 a barrel. But Barclays slipped, weighed by earnings, and Taylor Wimpey lost ground on cost pressures. BP featured among top risers; Barclays sat near the bottom of the pile. London is looking to snap a six-day losing streak—something the market hasn’t seen in over a year. The FTSE 100, tracking the city’s top listed firms, dropped 0.6% to close at 10,321.09 on Monday. Waning optimism over Iran-U.S. peace talks weighed on sentiment.

28 April 2026

FTSE 100·LSE:BARC.L·LSE:BP.L·LSE:CNA.L·LSE:SHEL.L·LSE:TW.L·Stock Market·UK Economy

UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Slips as Oil Jump Puts BoE Week in Focus

The FTSE 100 slipped in early Monday trading, dipping 0.30% to 10,348.26 by 09:09 BST, according to Investors Chronicle data, after opening flat. London’s main index felt the drag from firmer oil prices, as stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations kept market sentiment wary ahead of a week packed with central bank action. This isn’t just about commodities anymore—the oil shock has broader implications. The Bank of England looks set to keep Bank Rate steady at 3.75% this week. Still, by Friday, investors had completely priced in a 25 basis-point hike for July, and another for September, according to Reuters. A quarter-point bump equals 25 basis points.

27 April 2026

Bank of England·FTSE 100·LSE:MKS·LSE:SBRY·LSE:TSCO·Oil Prices·Stock Market·UK Economy

UK Inflation Hits 3.3% as Fuel Shock Threatens Higher Bills and BoE Rate Cuts

Inflation in Britain climbed to 3.3% in March, up from 3.0% the month before—marking the first time official data pointed to the Iran conflict and pricier energy filtering through to consumer prices. The result, matching economists’ median forecast from a Reuters poll, has upped the stakes for the Bank of England and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Timing is key here. Inflation remains stubbornly above the Bank of England’s 2% goal, with only eight days left before the next rate call. The central bank has flagged the risk: a lasting surge in global energy prices could filter through to pay and what companies charge. Bank Rate sits at 3.75%, with policymakers set to decide again on April 30.

22 April 2026

Bank of England·Inflation·UK Economy

FTSE 100 Today: British Land Rally Masks AB Foods Slide as UK Stocks Edge Up

UK stocks nudged up Tuesday, the FTSE 100 inching 0.12% higher to 10,622.06, while the FTSE 250—tracking smaller, mostly UK-focused firms—added 0.39% to 23,030.71 in late-morning trading. Support came from British Land and utility names, but losses in Associated British Foods and housebuilders capped gains. This matters for investors juggling a cooling—though far from broken—labour market alongside new geopolitical tension from the Iran war. European shares ticked higher, Reuters said, as the door stayed open for Middle East peace talks. Oil dropped early.

21 April 2026

FTSE 100·LSE:ABF·LSE:BLND·Stock Market·UK Economy

UK Economy 21 April 2026 - 24 June 2026