London, February 3, 2026, 09:01 GMT — Regular session
- NatWest shares climbed roughly 1% in early London trading, hitting a fresh 52-week peak.
- A filing revealed the bank repurchased 795,988 shares on Feb. 2 and intends to cancel them.
- Attention now shifts to the Bank of England’s upcoming decision on Thursday and NatWest’s annual results due February 13.
NatWest Group Plc shares (NWG.L) climbed nearly 1% on Tuesday, hitting a new 52-week peak as the rally pressed on. By 0845 GMT, the stock was trading up 0.99% at 690.8 pence, having briefly reached 691.0.
The jump came amid broad buying in UK banks, driving the FTSE 100 to a record finish on Monday. NatWest and Barclays each climbed roughly 2.7% as the sector hit its highest point since 2008. Swissquote Bank analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya attributed the milestone to “improving global risk sentiment.” Now all eyes turn to Thursday’s Bank of England policy meeting, where rates are widely expected to stay put at 3.75%. Reuters
NatWest revealed in a regulatory filing late Monday that it bought back 795,988 shares on Feb. 2, with prices ranging from 656.8 to 682.0 pence. The volume-weighted average price paid was 673.71 pence. The bank intends to cancel these shares as part of its ongoing buyback programme.
A buyback occurs when a company repurchases its own shares from the market. When these shares are cancelled, the total number outstanding drops, which can boost earnings per share if profits remain steady.
NatWest plans to announce its full-year results on Friday, Feb. 13 at 0700 GMT, with a management presentation scheduled for 0900 GMT, according to its investor calendar.
Investors are watching closely for any updates on guidance around income, costs, and capital returns—dividends and future buybacks included. With the share price rising, expectations have been pushed higher.
Rate signals are crucial since they directly impact net interest margin — the difference between a lender’s earnings on loans and what it pays out on deposits. When cuts come quicker, that margin can tighten.
That’s why Thursday’s BoE statement—and any signals on wage pressures—could shake the sector, even if no new company updates drop.
The trade can quickly shift. If the UK economy weakens or bad loans climb, profits would take a hit and buybacks might slow down.
NatWest is now focused on the BoE decision coming Thursday and its results on Feb. 13, where it will detail its outlook for 2026 and capital strategy.
