Today: 21 May 2026
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UK Economy 20 February 2026 - 5 March 2026

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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FTSE 100 today: UK shares finish flat as tariff and AI worries hit banks; Convatec jumps

FTSE 100 today: UK shares finish flat as tariff and AI worries hit banks; Convatec jumps

FTSE 100 closed down 0.04% at 10,680.59; FTSE 250 slipped 0.2%. Convatec surged 10.4% after raising its growth target, while Unite Group dropped 14.3% on a weaker student demand outlook. Standard Chartered missed profit estimates despite a 16% gain and a $1.5 billion buyback. Investors watched new U.S. tariffs and Bank of England rate signals.
24 February 2026
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FTSE 100 ends flat as Trump tariff reset jars UK stocks; Johnson Matthey sinks

FTSE 100 ends flat as Trump tariff reset jars UK stocks; Johnson Matthey sinks

FTSE 100 closed down 0.02% at 10,684.74 as tariff concerns resurfaced after President Trump announced a new 15% global import levy. FTSE 250 dropped 0.9%. Miners gained on higher gold and oil prices, while software and data stocks fell on AI worries. Johnson Matthey shares plunged over 17% after cutting the sale price of its catalyst unit to Honeywell.
23 February 2026
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FTSE 100 today: UK stocks climb as Trump tariff ruling jolts trade bets, BoE cut in focus

FTSE 100 today: UK stocks climb as Trump tariff ruling jolts trade bets, BoE cut in focus

Britain’s FTSE 100 closed up 0.6% at 10,686.89 on Friday, lifted by a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Trump-era tariffs. Trump announced a new 10% import duty under a different law. UK retail sales jumped 1.8% in January, beating forecasts. Defence shares led weekly gains, while Aston Martin fell 1.4% after warning of a larger annual loss.
20 February 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • Prospect Resources Applies for ASX Quotation of 17.9 Million New Shares
    May 21, 2026, 1:01 PM EDT. Prospect Resources Ltd. (ASX:PSC) has applied to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) for the quotation of 17,888,561 new ordinary fully paid shares. This move aims to expand the company's capital base to support its ongoing projects. The listing process will increase the shares available for trading, potentially enhancing liquidity for investors.

Latest articles

Ondas Shares Slip After $196.6M AI Defense Contract

Ondas Shares Slip After $196.6M AI Defense Contract

21 May 2026
Ondas shares dropped 3.5% to $9.04 after closing its $196.6 million all-stock acquisition of Israel-based Omnisys. The deal registered 3.1 million shares for resale, raising concerns about increased stock supply. Ondas reported Q1 revenue of $50.1 million, up from $4.3 million a year earlier, but posted a $42.7 million operating loss.
Social Security Payments May Increase in 2027 After Unexpected Inflation Data

Social Security Payments May Increase in 2027 After Unexpected Inflation Data

21 May 2026
The Senior Citizens League raised its 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment forecast to 3.9%, citing higher inflation. That would add about $81 a month to the average retired worker’s check, but the official figure will be set in October. Rising energy, food, and housing costs are driving the estimate. The adjustment would affect over 75 million Social Security and SSI recipients.
Dow Jones Falls as Bond Yields Signal Trouble for Bulls

Dow 50,000 Watch: Oil, Walmart, Nvidia in Focus

21 May 2026
The Dow hovered near 50,000 Thursday as rising oil prices and Treasury yields dampened risk appetite. Brent crude climbed 2.2% to $107.32 a barrel after renewed U.S.-Iran tensions. Walmart shares fell on cautious guidance despite higher sales, while Nvidia’s record results failed to spark a tech rally. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq traded lower in morning action.
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