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UK Economy News 15 January 2026 - 17 January 2026

Severn Trent share price: SVT closes higher as Ofwat scrutiny keeps UK water stocks in focus

Severn Trent share price: SVT closes higher as Ofwat scrutiny keeps UK water stocks in focus

London, Jan 17, 2026, 09:24 GMT — Market closed. Severn Trent (SVT.L) closed Friday at 2,835 pence, gaining 16 pence, or 0.57%. With London markets closed for the weekend and no new company updates, trading remained quiet. The water utility’s market cap stands near £8.54 billion. Its latest disclosure on the London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service (RNS) dates back to Jan. 2. (London South East) This matters now. On a quiet tape, regulated utilities move more on big-picture factors — policy risks, interest rates, and changing hunger for steady dividends — than on company-specific news. The stock ends up
17 January 2026
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SSE share price hits a 52-week high — here’s what could move the UK utility next week

SSE share price hits a 52-week high — here’s what could move the UK utility next week

London, Jan 17, 2026, 09:19 GMT — The market has closed. SSE Plc (SSE.L) shares climbed 1.12% to finish at 2,343 pence (£23.43) on Friday, hitting a fresh 52-week peak. The UK utility outpaced a flat broader market despite lighter trading volumes. (MarketWatch) This move is significant as SSE occupies a sweet spot between two favored investor plays: regulated electricity networks offering steady returns, and renewables projects that secure long-term revenues when policy backing is certain. This week, SSE gained renewed government-backed support for a major offshore wind project, bringing a sharper policy focus. Even with the stock close to
17 January 2026
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NatWest share price ends week up 2% at 652.8p as buybacks run; BoE decision, results ahead

NatWest share price ends week up 2% at 652.8p as buybacks run; BoE decision, results ahead

London, January 17, 2026, 08:53 (GMT) — Market closed. NatWest Group Plc shares ended Friday at 652.8 pence (6.53 pounds), rising 2.16%. London markets were closed over the weekend. The stock fluctuated between 636.6p and 652.8p, with roughly 18.5 million shares traded. (Investing.com) NatWest has jumped back into the rate trade ahead of the Bank of England’s upcoming Bank Rate decision on Feb. 5. The benchmark currently stands at 3.75%. (Bank of England) NatWest has marked a key date: the bank will release its 2025 annual results at 7 a.m. GMT on Friday, Feb. 13. Investors are keen to see
17 January 2026
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Experian share price slides in London as traders eye next week’s Q3 update

Experian share price slides in London as traders eye next week’s Q3 update

London, 09:39 GMT, January 16, 2026 — Regular session Experian (EXPN.L) shares dropped 1.2% to 3,291 pence in early Friday trading, pulling back after a modest gain the day before. Around 137,000 shares changed hands. (MarketScreener) Coming up next: a third-quarter trading update on Jan. 21. It’s a brief note on revenue trends that could shake up near-term forecasts. Also on the calendar, the interim dividend exchange rate is set to be decided this Friday. (Experian plc) Experian plc will pay a first interim dividend of 21.25 U.S. cents per share on Feb. 6 to shareholders registered by the close
16 January 2026
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National Grid share price rises in London as UK data and offshore wind auction keep utilities in focus

National Grid share price rises in London as UK data and offshore wind auction keep utilities in focus

London, Jan 16, 2026, 09:09 GMT — Regular session National Grid shares climbed 0.7% to 1,189 pence by 0853 GMT on Friday, having reached 1,191 pence earlier. The stock had closed Thursday at 1,181 pence and is trading close to its January 8 peak of 1,195.35 pence. Over the past year, the shares have gained roughly 25%. (markets.investorschronicle.co.uk) This move is significant because National Grid finds itself caught in a tug-of-war: investors appreciate its steady, regulated cashflows, yet they quickly reprice the stock whenever interest-rate expectations change. This week’s headlines have sharpened that trade. Britain is adding more wind power
16 January 2026
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NatWest share price in focus: NWG ends higher after buyback update as UK banks ride GDP bounce

NatWest share price in focus: NWG ends higher after buyback update as UK banks ride GDP bounce

London, Jan 16, 2026, 07:54 GMT — Premarket NatWest Group Plc shares ended Thursday’s session 1.4% higher at 639 pence, positioning the stock for attention when London markets reopen Friday. (Yahoo Finance) The FTSE 100 hit a record closing high, boosted by a broad rally in UK financial stocks. Barclays, HSBC, and Lloyds all climbed, even as traders factored in about 40 basis points of Bank of England rate cuts by September—a basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage point. Axel Rudolph, IG’s senior financial analyst, described the stronger-than-expected UK GDP as “a potential catalyst for inflows.” (Reuters) NatWest signaled
16 January 2026
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Mastercard stock slips after UK court backs cross-border fee cap plan

Mastercard stock slips after UK court backs cross-border fee cap plan

New York, January 15, 2026, 11:28 EST — Regular session Mastercard shares dropped 0.4% to $544.6 in late morning trading following a UK High Court decision siding with Britain’s payments regulator to cap some cross-border card fees. Visa gained 0.3%, while American Express inched up 0.1%. (Reuters) The decision shines a light on just how much wiggle room the major card networks have to hold their ground on fees, even as the focus moves from merchants to regulators. It arrives at a tricky moment, with investors hunting for any signs that could hit cross-border volumes or pricing. Policy news has
15 January 2026
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UK stock market today: FTSE 100 hits fresh record as Schroders jumps, Dunelm dives

UK stock market today: FTSE 100 hits fresh record as Schroders jumps, Dunelm dives

London, Jan 15, 2026, 10:55 GMT — Regular session Britain’s FTSE 100 hit a fresh record on Thursday, climbing 0.45% by 1028 GMT. Strong corporate results buoyed asset managers and banks, offsetting a steep drop in Dunelm. The FTSE 250, focused on mid-caps, rose 0.7%, reaching its highest level in four years. (Reuters) The rally matters because London’s gains have been driven mostly by a few sectors — financials, miners, and healthcare — and investors are pushing to see how much steam is left as rate-cut expectations tighten. A couple of sharp drops in individual stocks also serve as a
15 January 2026
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Aldi pay rise 2026: UK staff get March bump and longer maternity pay, Ireland hits €15.40 living wage

Aldi pay rise 2026: UK staff get March bump and longer maternity pay, Ireland hits €15.40 living wage

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:38 GMT Aldi announced it will increase pay for tens of thousands of UK workers starting in March and boost hourly rates for employees in Ireland from February, intensifying its wage and benefits investment amid fierce competition for staff. Timing is crucial. In April, Britain’s legal minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over increases, and grocers are raising pay to compete for staff—despite shoppers still watching their budgets closely. The Bank of England is keeping a close eye on wage settlements to assess if inflationary pressures are easing enough to justify further interest rate cuts.
15 January 2026
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Lloyds hit with data watchdog questions as Barclays, NatWest buybacks keep UK bank shares in focus

Lloyds hit with data watchdog questions as Barclays, NatWest buybacks keep UK bank shares in focus

London, January 15, 2026, 09:41 GMT The Guardian reported that Britain’s data watchdog is probing Lloyds Banking Group over its use of staff banking data amid union pay negotiations, sparking new concerns about how major lenders manage customer information. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/13/lloyds-banking-group-staff-data-pay-talks-ico-accounts Lloyds shares climbed about 0.8% to roughly 102p, hovering near a 52-week high. Over the past year, the stock has surged around 88%. This rally tightens the margin for any reputational or regulatory setbacks as the bank gears up to unveil a new executive pay policy for shareholders. https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/l/lloyds-banking-group-plc-ordinary-10p Barclays climbed roughly 1%, pushing its gains to around 82% over
15 January 2026
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Tesco stock rises after buyback filing as UK spending signals stay shaky

Tesco stock rises after buyback filing as UK spending signals stay shaky

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:32 GMT — Regular session. Tesco PLC shares edged up 0.9% to 425.1 pence in early London trading Thursday. The stock gained 3.8 pence during the session, fluctuating between 422.9 and 426.2 pence. (Investing.com) The grocer purchased 476,674 shares on Jan. 14, paying an average of 419.57 pence each, as part of its £1.45 billion share buyback plan. Tesco confirmed these shares will be cancelled, reducing the total number of shares outstanding. (Investegate) Timing is key as investors wrestle with how fast UK consumers are pulling back following a rocky close to 2025. Barclays reported a
15 January 2026
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3i Group share price jumps as UK GDP beats forecasts and investors look to Jan 29 update

3i Group share price jumps as UK GDP beats forecasts and investors look to Jan 29 update

London, Jan 15, 2026, 09:26 GMT — Regular session 3i Group (III.L) shares jumped 3.8% to 3,150 pence in early Thursday trading, outperforming the slightly stronger broader market. (3i.com) The move came after UK data revealed the economy expanded more quickly than anticipated in November, easing some immediate recession worries and shifting attention to possible Bank of England rate cuts. “Firms are telling us they’re still cautious about investing and recruiting,” said Stuart Morrison, research manager at the British Chambers of Commerce. (Reuters) Official data revealed a 0.3% GDP increase in November following a 0.1% drop in October. Services and
15 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

7 February 2026
Cummins shares jumped 6.8% to $577.73 Friday, recovering from a nearly 9% post-earnings drop the day before. The company reported Q4 revenue up 1% to $8.54 billion, took a $218 million charge tied to its hydrogen business, and guided for 2026 EBITDA of 17–18% of sales. Demand for data center generators offset weakness in North American truck markets. Analyst reaction was mixed; Truist raised its price target.
Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

7 February 2026
Corning shares surged 8.3% to $122.16 Friday, their highest close since the dot-com era, after Meta agreed to buy up to $6 billion in fiber-optic cables. The stock is up 40% since late 2025, fueled by strong first-quarter guidance and AI data-center demand. Insiders sold shares following the rally, SEC filings show. Investors await next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data for rate signals.
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