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UK Economy News 26 January 2026 - 3 February 2026

Thames Water’s £16bn rescue deal is close — lenders may take 30% losses

Thames Water’s £16bn rescue deal is close — lenders may take 30% losses

Creditors are nearing a £16 billion rescue deal for Thames Water, with senior lenders facing losses of up to 30% on Class A debt, according to reports. The plan would give creditors at least a 10% equity stake in the recapitalised utility. A creditor group holding £13 billion of debt aims to reach terms with Ofwat by mid-February. Thames Water serves 16 million customers and has faced over £100 million in fines for sewage spills.
3 February 2026
Robinhood stock tumbles nearly 10% as crypto jolts return, UK ISA rollout in focus

Robinhood stock tumbles nearly 10% as crypto jolts return, UK ISA rollout in focus

Robinhood shares fell 9.6% to $89.91 in after-hours trading Monday, trailing a broader market rally as crypto-linked stocks slumped. The drop followed heavy bitcoin selling and a sector-wide pullback. Robinhood’s UK arm launched a tax-free ISA with a 2% cash bonus and low fees. Investors await the company’s earnings report on Feb. 10.
3 February 2026
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Lloyds shares slide as Shore Capital turns bearish and UK rate decision nears

Lloyds shares slide as Shore Capital turns bearish and UK rate decision nears

Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 1.97% to 106.85 pence after Shore Capital downgraded the stock to “sell,” despite raising its price target. The drop came as FTSE futures slipped and investors braced for Thursday’s Bank of England rate decision. Lloyds recently reported a 12% rise in annual pre-tax profit to £6.7 billion and announced a £1.75 billion share buyback.
2 February 2026
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National Grid share price holds near 52-week high into weekend as BoE rate call looms

National Grid share price holds near 52-week high into weekend as BoE rate call looms

National Grid shares closed Friday at 1,234.5p, up 0.37%, after touching 1,240p. A U.S. SEC filing detailed updated voting rights and director share dealings. Traders are watching next week’s Bank of England rate decision, with utilities sensitive to shifts in gilt yields. About 10.2 million National Grid shares traded as the FTSE 100 marked its longest monthly winning streak in over 12 years.
31 January 2026
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National Grid share price edges up in London trade as rate outlook and UK grid approvals stay in focus

National Grid share price edges up in London trade as rate outlook and UK grid approvals stay in focus

National Grid shares rose 0.1% to 1,231.5 pence in early London trading Friday, near their 52-week high. Investors are watching UK interest rate forecasts and the outcome of Sea Link project hearings, which end Friday with a consent decision expected by mid-2026. Ofgem’s next price control period starts April 2026. The Bank of England’s rate decision is due Feb. 5.
30 January 2026
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SSE share price slips in London as UK wealth fund spotlights the power grid; Feb update looms

SSE share price slips in London as UK wealth fund spotlights the power grid; Feb update looms

SSE shares slipped 0.2% to 2,408 pence by 0924 GMT, trailing the FTSE 100’s 0.5% gain. The UK National Wealth Fund confirmed a financial guarantee for SSEN Transmission’s grid upgrades as part of a new five-year strategy. SSE will pay its interim dividend on Jan. 30 and report third-quarter results on Feb. 4. The stock remains near a 52-week high after gaining 52% in the past year.
29 January 2026
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Diageo share price slips as UK inflation gauge jumps and rate bets reset

Diageo share price slips as UK inflation gauge jumps and rate bets reset

Diageo shares fell 0.7% to 1,643.4 pence in early London trade Tuesday, after closing at 1,655 pence. The British Retail Consortium’s shop price index rose 1.5% in January, the fastest annual pace since February 2024, with food prices up 3.9%. A Reuters poll shows most economists expect the Bank of England to hold rates at 3.75% next week. Diageo reports interim results on Feb. 25.
27 January 2026
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Standard Chartered share price flat in London as Fed week and UK bank targets set the tone

Standard Chartered share price flat in London as Fed week and UK bank targets set the tone

Standard Chartered shares slipped 0.03% to 1,828.5 pence in early London trading Monday, after opening at 1,853 pence. More than 2 million shares changed hands as traders positioned ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Jan. 28 policy decision. Investors are also watching for new profit targets from British banks during earnings season. Standard Chartered reports full-year results on Feb. 24.
26 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Walmart stock jumps 3% to $131 as Dow clears 50,000 — what to watch before Monday

Walmart stock jumps 3% to $131 as Dow clears 50,000 — what to watch before Monday

7 February 2026
Walmart shares climbed 3.34% to $131.18 Friday, pushing its market value to about $1.05 trillion as the Dow closed above 50,000 for the first time. Retail stocks mostly gained, with Target up 4.24% and Costco up 1.20%, while Amazon dropped 5.55%. Investors await Walmart’s fiscal Q4 results on Feb. 19 and key U.S. economic data next week.
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