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UK Economy 1 January 2026 - 8 January 2026

Jefferies lifts Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest price targets as UK bank rally rolls into 2026

Jefferies lifts Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest price targets as UK bank rally rolls into 2026

Jefferies raised price targets on Barclays to 560p, Lloyds to 119p, and NatWest to 720p, citing room for UK bank shares to rise. UK banks now account for 17% of the FTSE 100 but still trade at a 25% discount to the wider market. Barclays kept Lloyds rated “overweight” and cut NatWest to “equal weight,” citing stronger capital returns at Lloyds. Shares were mixed in early London trading.
8 January 2026
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Fresh Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest price targets hint at more upside for UK bank sharesLONDON,

Fresh Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest price targets hint at more upside for UK bank sharesLONDON,

Jefferies raised price targets for Lloyds to 119p, Barclays to 560p, and NatWest to 720p, citing room for UK bank shares to rerate despite a strong 2025. Lloyds traded near 99.6p, Barclays at 481p, and NatWest at 629p on Thursday. Barclays kept Lloyds “overweight” but cut NatWest to “equal weight,” citing diverging capital and earnings outlooks.
8 January 2026
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FTSE 100 Forecast 2026: UK Stock Market Pulls Back From Records as Oil Slides

FTSE 100 Forecast 2026: UK Stock Market Pulls Back From Records as Oil Slides

The FTSE 100 fell 0.7% to 10,054.34 by 1052 GMT, led lower by BP and miners after recent record highs. Oil prices dropped as the U.S. announced a $2 billion Venezuelan crude deal, with Shell down 2.4% and BP off 3.1%. UK construction PMI slumped to 40.1 in December. Auction Technology rejected 11 takeover bids from FitzWalter Capital, the first such move for a UK-listed firm this year.
7 January 2026
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National Grid shares edge higher as UK utility nears 52-week high ahead of Jan 13 dividend

National Grid shares edge higher as UK utility nears 52-week high ahead of Jan 13 dividend

National Grid shares rose 0.5% to 1,178 pence in early London trade Wednesday, extending gains after Tuesday’s rally. The company will pay an interim dividend of 16.35p per share on Jan. 13, with full-year results due May 14. Trading volume Tuesday was 6.7 million shares, below the 50-day average. Ofgem approved £28 billion in network investment last month, set to raise consumer bills by £108 by 2031.
7 January 2026
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SSE shares edge up in London after SSEN flags January flexibility auction

SSE shares edge up in London after SSEN flags January flexibility auction

SSE Plc shares rose 0.7% to 2,271 pence in London by 1007 GMT, following news that its SSEN Distribution unit will launch a long-term flexibility auction on Jan. 12, seeking 46 megawatts. The stock traded between 2,249 and 2,277 pence. Investors are watching grid upgrades and regulatory developments as Britain’s electricity networks expand. SSE’s interim dividend is due Jan. 30.
6 January 2026
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Experian (EXPN.L) stock slips after Ascend upgrade adds UK business data — here’s what investors watch next

Experian (EXPN.L) stock slips after Ascend upgrade adds UK business data — here’s what investors watch next

Experian shares fell 0.7% to 3,403 pence in early London trading Tuesday, reversing part of Monday’s 2.9% rally. The move follows the UK launch of an upgraded Ascend platform with commercial data on eight million businesses. Shares go ex-dividend Jan. 8, with a Q3 trading update due Jan. 21. The stock remains about 16% below its July high.
6 January 2026
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Lloyds Banking Group share price rises to 1-year high as mortgage cuts and BoE data sharpen results focus

Lloyds Banking Group share price rises to 1-year high as mortgage cuts and BoE data sharpen results focus

Lloyds shares rose 1.6% to 101.51p in early London trading, hitting a 52-week high. Bank of England data showed consumer borrowing jumped £2.08 billion in November, while mortgage approvals slipped to 64,530. HSBC cut mortgage rates Monday, raising talk of a price war. Investors await Lloyds’ Jan. 29 results for signals on mortgage margins and loan growth.
6 January 2026
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Claire’s and TOFS teeter on administration as UK high street faces fresh jobs shock

Claire’s and TOFS teeter on administration as UK high street faces fresh jobs shock

Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop are preparing to file for insolvency, putting about 2,500 jobs and over 300 stores at risk, Sky News reported Monday. The chains, both owned by Modella Capital, face rising costs and weaker demand after Christmas trading. Interpath Advisory is expected to handle TOFS and Kroll to handle Claire’s. Shopper footfall before Christmas fell 13.1% from a year earlier, according to Sensormatic Solutions.
5 January 2026
Uber stock: UK ‘taxi tax’ contract rewrite puts VAT risk in focus ahead of Monday trade

Uber stock: UK ‘taxi tax’ contract rewrite puts VAT risk in focus ahead of Monday trade

Uber rewrote UK driver contracts outside London to limit exposure to new VAT rules, shifting tax liability to drivers, The Economic Times reported. Shares closed Friday at $82.86, up 1.4%, but remain below key moving averages near $88. Investors are watching for fallout in UK pricing and upcoming U.S. economic data. Uber’s next earnings report is scheduled for Feb. 4.
5 January 2026
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Uber stock rises as UK VAT ‘taxi tax’ takes effect; what investors watch next

Uber stock rises as UK VAT ‘taxi tax’ takes effect; what investors watch next

Uber shares rose 0.9% to $82.48 Friday after Britain barred London private-hire firms from using a VAT scheme, a move expected to raise £700 million annually. Uber rewrote contracts outside London to shift VAT responsibility to drivers, most of whom fall below the registration threshold, the Guardian reported. Lyft gained 1.6% and DoorDash slipped 1.5% in U.S. trading.
2 January 2026
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UK energy bills forecast to drop £138 in April 2026 after levy shake-up

UK energy bills forecast to drop £138 in April 2026 after levy shake-up

Cornwall Insight forecasts the UK energy price cap will drop 8% in April, lowering a typical annual dual-fuel bill to about £1,620. Ofgem’s cap for Jan.–Mar. rose 0.2% to £1,758, driven by higher policy and supplier costs. The April cut is linked to budget changes moving some levies to general taxation. Wholesale prices have eased, but some network charges are still set to rise.
2 January 2026
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Uber stock ends 2025 lower as UK ‘taxi tax’ contract rewrite report surfaces

Uber stock ends 2025 lower as UK ‘taxi tax’ contract rewrite report surfaces

Uber shares closed down 0.5% at $81.71 on Dec. 31 after reports said the company is rewriting UK driver contracts outside London to shift VAT liability ahead of a rule change due Friday. The new rule will add 20% VAT to London app-booked rides. U.S. markets were closed Thursday for New Year’s. Investors are watching for UK regulatory response and Uber’s pricing moves when trading resumes.
1 January 2026
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Stock Market Today

  • WEX Inc. Shares Rise 3.43% on Strategic Partnerships and Strong Q4 Performance
    March 20, 2026, 5:32 PM EDT. WEX Inc. stock surged 3.43% amid renewed investor confidence driven by strategic partnership announcements and robust Q4 2025 results. The company posted an EBIT margin of 20.2% and EBITDA margin of 33%, highlighting solid operational efficiency and profitability. Despite a dip to $148.90, shares rebounded to $156.89. WEX's strong cash position of $1.68 billion and significant debt reduction of over $10.56 billion demonstrate financial stability. Analysts note the company's reasonable valuation, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.52 and manageable debt servicing ability. Technical indicators point to a support level near $150, suggesting potential upside if sector momentum continues. WEX's steady revenue growth and above-average returns reinforce its competitive stance in the finance sector.
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