London, February 8, 2026, 08:49 GMT — Market closed.
- Lloyds ended Friday at 106.75 pence, gaining 0.9%.
- The bank repurchased 10 million shares for cancellation on Feb. 6, according to a filing.
- Investors are tracking housing data from Halifax, which is part of Lloyds, while also looking ahead to UK banking news set for next week.
Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) wrapped up Friday’s session at 106.75 pence, gaining 0.9% after the bank revealed fresh buyback details and its Halifax unit reported firmer UK house prices. London’s exchange will stay closed Sunday and resume trading Monday. 1
Why it matters now: Lloyds’s fortunes move in step with UK consumers—think mortgages, retail banking. Housing data or shifts in borrowing costs usually hit the stock almost immediately. This fresh buyback throws another layer of support under shares heading into the week. But if rate outlooks or credit jitters change, sentiment could flip in a hurry.
Banks took on most of the work in pushing the broader market higher late in the week. London’s FTSE 100 added 0.6% on Friday, as Lloyds, NatWest, and Barclays all moved up, according to Reuters. 2
Lloyds disclosed it snapped up 10 million ordinary shares on Feb. 6 via Goldman Sachs International, with prices ranging from 106.40 pence to 107.25 pence apiece. The bank plans to cancel these shares, trimming its share count as time goes on. 3
Halifax’s newest house price index puts the average UK home at £300,077 for January, marking a 0.7% monthly rise and 1.0% higher than a year ago. “Affordability remains a challenge for many would-be buyers,” said Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Halifax. 4
Lloyds is watching the housing market closely for two reasons. If activity picks up, loan volumes could get a lift. But with affordability stretched and lenders fighting hard for customers, mortgage margins—where rates shift fast—face pressure.
Deal talk is swirling around the sector. Sky News says NatWest is nearing a £2.5 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners, the wealth manager—a bid that would heat up the fight for fee-based wealth and advisory business. Reuters flagged Lloyds among the other interested parties in the sale process. 5
Still, plenty could derail things. Should markets pivot toward pricing in quicker rate cuts, banks may feel a squeeze on net interest margin—the difference between income from loans and what they owe on deposits—even with steady loan growth. And if housing or employment stumbles, expect the risk of credit losses to climb.
Come Monday, eyes will be on UK lenders to see if they push Friday’s gains further, while any weekend news tied to Evelyn Partners could ripple across the banking sector. Updates on mortgage rates, such as those sub-4% offers from Halifax, might also sway sentiment.
Lloyds’ next major event lands February 18, when it’s set to release its 2025 annual report and accounts. Eyes will be on details about capital returns, risk, and how earnings hold up as rates ease. 6
