Today: 11 June 2026
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UK Economy 8 January 2026 - 16 January 2026

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

National Grid shares rose 0.7% to 1,189 pence by 0853 GMT Friday, nearing their January 8 peak. The company plans about £60 billion in capital spending over five years as Britain expands wind power, but rising costs and higher rates have forced some developers, including Germany’s EnBW, to abandon projects. Investors remain focused on Bank of England rate-cut expectations and upcoming UK inflation data.
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

NatWest shares rose 1.4% to 639 pence Thursday after the bank announced new share buybacks at an average price of 640.29 pence. The FTSE 100 closed at a record high, led by gains in major UK banks. UK GDP grew 0.3% in November, rebounding from October’s decline. Investors await next week’s labour and inflation data for clues on Bank of England rate cuts.
16 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

The FTSE 100 reached a new record on Thursday, rising 0.45% by mid-morning, while the FTSE 250 gained 0.7%. Asset managers and banks led the advance, with Schroders and Ashmore posting strong results. Dunelm plunged 16.6% after warning on profits. Official data showed UK GDP grew 0.3% in November.
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

Aldi UK will raise its starting hourly wage to £13.35 from March 1 and extend full-pay maternity leave to 26 weeks. Aldi Ireland will boost hourly pay by 2% from February 1, setting a new minimum of €15.40. The UK pay hike affects tens of thousands of workers and follows a £36 million investment in pay and benefits. The moves come ahead of the UK minimum wage increase in April.
15 January 2026
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

Britain’s data watchdog is investigating Lloyds after the bank used aggregated staff banking data in pay talks, The Guardian reported. Lloyds shares rose 0.8% to near a 52-week high. Barclays and NatWest disclosed new share buybacks, with Barclays repurchasing 3.5 million shares and NatWest buying back 842,406 shares on January 14. UK bank stocks have surged more than 80% over the past year.
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

3i Group shares rose 3.8% to 3,150 pence in early London trading Thursday after UK GDP data beat forecasts, easing recession fears and fueling rate cut bets. Official figures showed UK GDP grew 0.3% in November, led by services and production. 3i’s stock remains volatile and well below its October peak. Investors await the company’s Q3 update on Jan. 29 for details on its portfolio and Action stake.
15 January 2026
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National Grid plc stock edges up in London as gilt yields slide — what to watch next

National Grid plc stock edges up in London as gilt yields slide — what to watch next

National Grid shares rose 0.6% to 1,174 pence in early London trading after the company issued over 7 million new shares through its scrip dividend scheme. The 10-year gilt yield fell to 4.34% as UK government bonds rallied. UK GDP grew 0.3% in November, beating forecasts. Investors await inflation data on January 21 and the Bank of England meeting on February 5.
15 January 2026
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NatWest share price rises in early London trade after fresh buyback filing — what to watch next

NatWest share price rises in early London trade after fresh buyback filing — what to watch next

NatWest shares rose 1.2% to 637.8 pence in early London trading after the bank announced further buybacks, purchasing over 1.6 million shares for cancellation on Jan. 13 and 14. Investors await the Feb. 13 annual results for updates on targets and capital returns. Morgan Stanley expects new medium-term goals and a possible cut to NatWest’s capital ratio target.
15 January 2026
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FTSE 100 climbs on miners and AstraZeneca as record gold keeps UK stocks in play

FTSE 100 climbs on miners and AstraZeneca as record gold keeps UK stocks in play

FTSE 100 rose 0.3% to 10,170.81 in mid-morning trade, led by gains in gold miners and AstraZeneca. Spot gold hit a record $4,639.42 an ounce after U.S. inflation data missed forecasts. The FTSE 250 slipped 0.3%, showing uneven momentum. Investors are watching a pending U.S. tariffs ruling and upcoming bank earnings.
14 January 2026
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Rolls-Royce stock in focus: fresh buyback filing and Deutsche Bank target lift ahead of London open

Rolls-Royce stock in focus: fresh buyback filing and Deutsche Bank target lift ahead of London open

Rolls-Royce repurchased 428,382 shares on Jan. 13 as part of its £200 million buyback, bringing the total to 3.58 million shares cancelled since December. Shares closed Tuesday at 1,305p, up 1.4% and reaching a 52-week high. Deutsche Bank raised its target price to 1,325p, maintaining a “buy” rating. The company will release full-year results on Feb. 26.
14 January 2026
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National Grid share price holds near 52-week high after Barclays target hike as Storm Goretti hits power networks

National Grid share price holds near 52-week high after Barclays target hike as Storm Goretti hits power networks

National Grid shares closed up 0.8% at 1,192.5p on Friday, near their 52-week high, after Barclays raised its target price to 1,400p. Storm Goretti caused power outages across Britain, with most supply now restored. Ofgem’s regulatory decisions and storm recovery costs remain in focus. Senior managers made small share purchases under the company’s employee plan.
10 January 2026
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Lloyds share price slips under £1 as UK housing cools and results near

Lloyds share price slips under £1 as UK housing cools and results near

Lloyds Banking Group shares slipped 0.37% to 99.68 pence in London by 10:51 GMT, after touching 100.50 pence earlier. The move followed data showing UK house prices fell 0.6% in December, with annual growth slowing to 0.3%. Investors are watching for Lloyds’ January 29 results for updates on margins and credit costs. The Bank of England rescheduled two gilt sales but kept its broader programme unchanged.
9 January 2026
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UK Retail Shakeout Starts Fast: 2,550 Jobs at Risk as Supermarkets Battle for Share

UK Retail Shakeout Starts Fast: 2,550 Jobs at Risk as Supermarkets Battle for Share

Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop have entered administration, putting about 2,550 jobs at risk across nearly 300 UK stores. Tesco raised its profit outlook after a 3.2% rise in UK sales over Christmas, while Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer reported stronger food sales but weaker non-food results. Asda’s sales fell 4.2% and its market share slipped to 11.4%.
8 January 2026
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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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Stock Market Today

  • Asian Shares Weaken After U.S. AI Stock Sell-Off Amid Rising Oil Prices
    June 10, 2026, 10:59 PM EDT. Asian shares declined, mirroring another drop in U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) stocks that sharply lowered Wall Street. Tokyo's Nikkei fell by 0.5% to 63,878.60, and South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.2%. Despite this, U.S. futures inched higher, and oil prices climbed over $1 a barrel, highlighting increased energy costs amid market volatility. The AI sector's decline impacted investor sentiment across Asia. Rising oil prices contributed to sector rotation, influencing broader market dynamics. This movement signals cautious investor behavior amid tech sector pressures and commodity price fluctuations.

Latest articles

Tech stocks slide after hours, Oracle’s AI spending draws focus

Tech stocks slide after hours, Oracle’s AI spending draws focus

11 June 2026
Semiconductor stocks plunged 3.6%, dragging the S&P 500 technology sector into correction territory—down 11% from its June 2 record—as investors punished AI-linked companies like Oracle and Super Micro Computer for heavy spending and capital raises, signaling a shift in risk appetite amid rising inflation and escalating U.S.-Iran tensions.
Murphy USA Shares Spike 10% After Casey’s Margin Surge Rattles Gas Station Sector

Murphy USA Shares Spike 10% After Casey’s Margin Surge Rattles Gas Station Sector

11 June 2026
Murphy USA soared 10.04% to $612.16 as investors seized on Casey’s General Stores’ stronger-than-expected fuel margins, spotlighting sector-wide pump profitability; with Murphy’s own first-quarter fuel contribution up 40.6% and margins at 35.0 cents per gallon, the stock’s jump reflects bets that high margins will persist, though volatility in fuel prices remains a key risk.
Sky Quarry Jumps in After-Hours; Traders Eye June Refinery Restart

Sky Quarry Jumps in After-Hours; Traders Eye June Refinery Restart

11 June 2026
Sky Quarry soared 22.44% to $1.91 on record volume, then jumped to $2.38 after hours, as investors bet on a June refinery restart after repairs and a feedstock shortage crushed Q1 revenue to $383; with just $66,828 in cash and “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue, the stock’s fate hinges on hitting its June production target.
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