London, Feb 7, 2026, 08:33 GMT — The market is closed.
NatWest Group Plc (NWG.L) finished Friday up 1.45% at 659.4 pence. The stock kicked off trading at 651 pence, hitting lows of 648.25 and topping out at 663.11 pence during the session. The FTSE 100, pushed higher by lenders like Lloyds and Barclays, gained 0.6%.
London markets stayed quiet with the weekend break, but heading into Monday, the big question mark remains UK rates. The Bank of England left its Bank Rate at 3.75% this Thursday—decision split, 5-4. Policymakers flagged a possible rate cut down the line, provided that inflation’s sudden dip isn’t just a temporary slip.
Friday’s BoE survey highlights just how fast expectations have moved. Investors are now positioning for rates to slide to 3.0% by March 2027. LSEG data points to two more quarter-point cuts for 2026, nearly priced in already. For lenders, shrinking rates mean a tighter net interest margin—the difference between a bank’s loan income and what it pays out on deposits.
NatWest logged another incremental buyback on Friday, picking up 797,428 shares at a volume-weighted average of 659.29 pence apiece, according to a routine filing. The bank will cancel the repurchased stock, trimming its share count—potentially giving a bump to earnings per share.
NatWest is doubling down on digital mortgage lead generation, signing a three-year pact with Rightmove. Starting in April, the bank will be the property portal’s sole mortgage lender. NatWest will deliver the “mortgage in principle” feature inside Rightmove’s platform, giving buyers an idea of their borrowing power—pending checks. “Partnering with Rightmove ensures NatWest can be there for customers at the exact moment they’re thinking about buying a home,” said Solange Chamberlain, chief executive of retail banking. NatWest Group
NatWest on Friday outlined plans to ramp up its Accelerator community, aiming for 50,000 UK members by 2026, a jump from about 12,000 supported in 2025. “We know that to build the economy of the future we need to back the innovators who will power it,” said Robert Begbie, CEO of commercial and institutional banking. NatWest Group
Still, rate moves slice both directions for the sector. If rates drop more quickly than anticipated, banks can see lending income squeezed. On top of that, a weaker housing market could put mortgage growth to the test, with competition for borrowers already fierce.
NatWest is set to report annual results at 7 a.m. GMT Friday, Feb. 13, with management presenting at 9 a.m. Investors are zeroed in on potential shifts in commentary around margins, capital returns, and credit quality, especially after this week’s change in rate expectations.
