London, Feb 16, 2026, 07:54 GMT — Premarket
Lloyds Banking Group picked up 14.36 million shares on Feb. 13 as part of its ongoing buyback plan, according to Monday’s filing. The average price landed at 100.17 pence a share, though trades spanned from 98.24p up to 102.75p. All shares are set to be cancelled. (Investegate)
Lloyds ended Friday at 100.40 pence, a drop of 2.00 pence, or 1.95%. With a market cap around £59 billion, the stock has been moving in step with changing expectations for UK interest rates. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
That sets the stage as trading kicks off this week. Investors are zeroing in on new UK wage and inflation data—numbers that could quickly shift bets on what the Bank of England does next, and, by default, shape bank margins.
There’s also trouble brewing inside. According to The Times, Lloyds is looking into how it handled employees’ banking data during pay negotiations following a union complaint. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has started asking questions. Chief executive Charlie Nunn acknowledged to staff that the bank has “lessons” to learn, the paper said. (The Times)
Executive compensation remains a flashpoint in the sector. The Financial Times noted that Nunn pulled in £7.4 million last year—a roughly 20% bump—as pay climbed across major UK banks. (Financial Times)
Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann, in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, tied the rise in youth unemployment to what she called especially steep minimum-wage hikes for younger workers, but pushed back on the idea that this signals a broader labour-market problem. “Very unfortunate, but it is true. It is a fact,” Mann said. (Reuters)
Official figures are coming in rapid succession: UK labour market stats hit at 0700 GMT on Tuesday, with January’s consumer price inflation right behind at 0700 GMT Wednesday. Retail sales for January are on the slate for 0700 GMT Friday, all per the Office for National Statistics. (Office for National Statistics)
Net interest margin remains the key battleground for Lloyds and rivals—that’s the difference between income from loans and the costs of funding, mostly via deposits. When rates drop quickly, that spread feels the pinch, despite lower borrowing often giving loan demand a nudge.
Buybacks—essentially, companies scooping up their own stock—tend to boost earnings per share by trimming the number of shares in play. Still, that move doesn’t insulate a lender from shifts in rate outlooks or changing sentiment toward UK consumers.
Lloyds faces a risk if this week’s data surprise to the upside—rate cuts could get pushed further out, and tighter financial conditions might drag on. Then there’s the staff-data review. Any finding that brings more regulatory scrutiny could weigh on the shares.
Attention swings to Tuesday’s labour report, with Wednesday’s inflation numbers right behind it—both could shake up rate expectations and steer Lloyds shares for the days ahead.
