UK bank stocks popped by over 3% on Tuesday as investors waited for the upcoming Rachel Reeves budget reading and as traders anticipated more returns.
Lloyds share price jumped by 3.78% to 90.69p, up from this week’s low of 85.86. It has jumped by over 80% from its lowest level this year.
Barclays stock price rose by 2.36% to $410, up by 85% from the year-to-date low, while Natwest soared by 3.75%. NatWest stock has jumped by 75% from its lowest point this year. Other bank stocks like Standard Chartered and HSBC also soared.
Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds share prices rose ahead of Rachel Reeves speech
The main reason why the Barclays, NatWest, and Lloyds share price jumped as traders waited for the upcoming Rachel Reeves budget speech.
According to Bloomberg, Reeves, the unpopular Chancellor of the Exchequer, has decided not to introduce a windfall tax on the country’s banks.
She will also not increase taxes on the industry, a move she expects will boost the sector and spur lending in the economy.
Additionally, she will not make changes to the banking levy, which is known as the surcharge. As was widely expected, Reeves will not introduce a new tax on banks income from reserves.
The new reporting came a few months after an influential think tank argued that introducing a windfall tax would help the country move from the multi-billion pound deficit into a surplus over the years.
The think tank pointed to the substantial profits the banks have made in the past few years, helped by structural hedges, which help to reduce sensitivity to interest rates.
On the other hand, banks have argued that imposing more taxes would make the country and the financial sector less attractive considering that they already pay more than their European counterparts.
UK banks investors eye sweeteners amid rising pessimism
Lloyds, Barclays, and NatWest investors are also hoping that the companies will unveil more policies to boost returns, as investors caution that the bull run may be about to run out of steam. Just recently, Unicredit’s Andrea Orcel warned:
“As we go into 2026, it is going to be tougher for European banks. I think net interest income will be more brutal than people expect.”
Some European banks have started offering sweeteners as the recent rally fades. For example, BNP Paribas and Société Générale recently announced an accelerated share repurchase program, giving investors €2.5 billion earlier than expected.
Additionally, Deutsche Bank announced new targets, which pointed to higher returns and payouts to investors.
UK banks published strong financial results recently, with the only blemish being the multi-million-pound provisions because of the motor insurance scandal.
Lloyds Bank said that its statutory profit after tax was £3.3 billion, even as it reported a £800 million charge related to the motor insurance issue. Its underlying net interest income in the first nine months of the year rose by 6% to £10.1 billion.
NatWest also published strong results, with its total income rising to £4.2 billion in the first nine months of the year and its impairment charges falling to £153 million.
Barclays, on the other hand, reported strong financial results as its profit before tax rose by 4% to £2.5 billion, helped by its investment banking division. However, its credit impairment charges jumped to £334 million from the £82 million.
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