UK Economy 12 February 2026 - 20 March 2026

NatWest shares move up after UK rule change and £20 billion plan
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NatWest shares move up after UK rule change and £20 billion plan

NatWest Group shares picked up in London on Tuesday, getting a lift from a stronger market and new policy support after the government relaxed ring-fencing rules for major UK lenders. London Stock Exchange trading stayed on its usual weekday schedule, open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local. AJ Bell’s delayed numbers pegged NatWest at a 570.6p sell and 570.8p buy, up 4.6p or 0.81%. Recent deals happened around 12:53 BST on volume of about 3.29 million shares. The figures value NatWest at about £45.44 billion.
May 19, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group plc Stock Price Today: Why Shares Are Sliding as BoE Hike Bets Build
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Lloyds Banking Group plc Stock Price Today: Why Shares Are Sliding as BoE Hike Bets Build

Lloyds Banking Group slipped 1.0% to 91.84 pence in London on Friday afternoon, the shares sliding for a second session as investors absorbed a grimmer UK rate scenario following the Bank of England’s latest decision. This shift is significant, given Lloyds holds the top spot as Britain’s biggest mortgage lender—mortgages account for around 66% of its loan book. Traders are now pricing in about a 60% probability of a rate hike in April, with as many as three quarter-point increases possible before the year wraps up. That’s a stark reversal from the rate-cut bets that prevailed before the latest energy shock.
March 20, 2026
FTSE 100 Today: UK Stocks Close Lower as Oil Surge Hits London Before BoE
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FTSE 100 Today: UK Stocks Close Lower as Oil Surge Hits London Before BoE

The FTSE 100 in London slipped on Wednesday, reversing earlier advances as another spike in oil prices pushed investors to pare back risk ahead of policy decisions from the Federal Reserve expected later in the day, and from the Bank of England set for Thursday. The FTSE 250, tracking mid-cap UK firms, also closed lower. This shift carries weight at the moment, as UK equities are again moving in tandem with the energy price surge and shifting rate expectations. The country remains deeply reliant on imported natural gas, leaving it vulnerable. According to economists surveyed by Reuters, few now expect a Bank of England rate cut on March 19; the majority have pushed forecasts for a 25 basis-point trim to
March 18, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 Fall as Oil Above $100 Delays BoE Cut Bets
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 Fall as Oil Above $100 Delays BoE Cut Bets

London’s blue-chip shares slid for another session Friday, with the FTSE 100 off 0.43% at 10,261.15. The FTSE 250 shed 0.44%, ending the day at 22,071.1—both indexes logged their second consecutive weekly drop. Shell gained 1.1% and BP ticked up 0.9%, but HSBC slipped 1.2%. Persistently high energy prices are “the real risk,” Berenberg’s Jonathan Stubbs warned. This move stands out, with the market facing a tougher backdrop as the UK economy failed to grow in January. The Bank of England now has less room to cut rates quickly. Official data showed GDP was flat for the month, following modest upticks of 0.1% in December and 0.2% in November. On Thursday, Goldman Sachs delayed its forecast for Bank of England
March 13, 2026
UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Rebounds as Oil Slides, Persimmon Surges
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UK Stock Market Today: FTSE 100 Rebounds as Oil Slides, Persimmon Surges

London’s FTSE 100 clawed back ground Tuesday, advancing 1.6% to close at 10,412.24. The FTSE 250 tracked higher too, up 1.9% at 22,513.84. Oil prices slumped sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the Middle East war might soon conclude. That rebound followed three consecutive losing sessions for London shares, with Monday’s finish dragging the FTSE 100 down to a roughly five-week low. Still, despite the uptick Tuesday, the index was stuck under its Feb. 27 record close of 10,910.55.
March 10, 2026
FTSE 100 today: UK shares end at record close on upbeat data, tariff ruling
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FTSE 100 today: UK shares end at record close on upbeat data, tariff ruling

London, Feb 20, 2026, 17:36 GMT — After-hours Stocks in London finished Friday on a stronger note, with the FTSE 100 advancing 59.85 points, or 0.6%, to close at 10,686.89. That just barely clears Wednesday’s record finish of 10,686.18. Investors sorted through a slew of UK numbers and digested a U.S. Supreme Court decision scrapping President Donald Trump’s global tariffs. The mid-cap FTSE 250 gained 178.07 points, or 0.8%, landing at 23,751.56. Diageo, Antofagasta, and Burberry stood out among the top FTSE 100 gainers. BP and Associated British Foods slipped lower. Focus is shifting toward Monday’s U.S. factory orders, a key German business climate readout, and upcoming earnings from HSBC, Diageo, and Rolls-Royce next week.
February 20, 2026
Nationwide brings back 3.54% fixed mortgages as UK lenders jostle for borrowers
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Nationwide brings back 3.54% fixed mortgages as UK lenders jostle for borrowers

Nationwide Building Society lowered its fixed-rate mortgage offerings again on Friday, bringing the lowest rate down to 3.54%. Rivals looking to attract fresh borrowers now face more pressure. Mortgages remain the major monthly outlay for millions of UK households, so even modest rate changes can tip the balance—especially for first-time buyers and anyone refinancing this year.
February 15, 2026
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