London, June 12, 2026, 16:55 BST
- NatWest Group Plc ended after hours at 609.40p/609.80p, up 22.00p, or 3.74%. The FTSE 100 was up 1.54% on delayed Hargreaves Lansdown figures.
- European stocks saw a rebound, according to Reuters, with banks up 2.3% as oil slipped. Traders pointed to hopes for a Middle East diplomatic deal as the reason.
- NatWest’s Q1 profit came in stronger, with the bank lifting its income outlook to the higher end of its earlier range. That’s kept the results as a support for investors.
NatWest Group Plc shares closed higher in London on Friday, with the stock leading gains in UK financials as bank shares bounced in a rising equity market. Hargreaves Lansdown quoted NatWest at 609.40p to sell and 609.80p to buy after the close, up 22.00p, or 3.74%. The FTSE 100, using the same delayed prices, added 1.54%.
The bank’s advance lined up with a firmer session in Europe. Reuters said European stocks jumped Friday, with the STOXX 600 climbing 1.2% at the open. Brent crude dropped over 2%. The European banking index was up 2.3% as easing worries about a broader Middle East conflict lifted the mood. Barclays and Standard Chartered each gained more than 2% among UK lenders.
The rally held up even as new data pointed to more strain in the UK economy, which is NatWest’s main market. Reuters said Britain’s economy shrank 0.1% in April, the first drop since August. The Bank of England keeps Bank Rate at 3.75%, with its next move set for June 18. Interest-rate bets remain key for bank margins and loan growth right now. AJ Bell puts NatWest’s UK income at about 90%.
NatWest shares started Friday at 601.60p, up from 587.60p at Thursday’s close, according to AJ Bell. The bank hit 610.40p during the session and carried a market cap of £48.51 billion. The data showed a year high for the shares at 705.40p and a year low at 471.00p. Despite Friday’s lift, NatWest stayed under its 12-month high.
NatWest posted first-quarter results on May 1, reporting attributable profit of £1.4 billion and earnings per share at 17.9p, a 15.5% jump from Q1 2025. Return on tangible equity was 18.2%. CEO Paul Thwaite called it a “strong performance” in the release and said the bank is “confident we will achieve our guidance.” NatWest forecast income excluding notable items at the top of its £17.2 billion to £17.6 billion range. NatWest Group Investors
NatWest posted first-quarter operating profit before tax of £2.0 billion, up from £1.8 billion last year and just above the £1.9 billion analyst average, according to Reuters. Reuters highlighted a £283 million impairment charge for the period, with £140 million of that tied to updated economic forecasts because of the Middle East conflict. The report said investors remain focused on credit costs and income trends.
Analyst consensus compiled by Investors Chronicle from LSEG put NatWest’s 12-month median price target at 730p, based on 15 estimates. Targets ranged from a low of 600p up to 840p. Recommendations listed for June 4 included 4 “buy,” 7 “outperform” and 7 “hold.” NatWest’s next earnings are scheduled for July 31. Investorschronicle
