Latest news with #NatWestGroup
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is NatWest (NWG) Quietly Becoming One of the UK's Most Reliable Dividend Payers?
NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A person using a laptop to access a bank's online banking system. NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is an Edinburgh-based company that offers mortgages, loans, credit cards, and related services. The company recently announced its results for the first half of the year, highlighting a £4.2 billion increase in net loans to customers, bringing the total to £336.2 billion. This figure includes £2.2 billion in personal loans and credit card balances acquired from Sainsbury's Bank as of June 30, 2025. Within Retail Banking, NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG)'s mortgage balances grew by £4.1 billion, while Commercial & Institutional balances rose by £2.0 billion, mainly due to increased lending activity in the Commercial Mid-market segment, particularly to housebuilders and housing associations, as well as within the Corporate & Institutions division. NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) reported an operating cash flow of £2.5 billion. The company also returned £1.4 billion to shareholders through dividends during this period. Its semi-annual dividend comes in at $0.1543 per share for a dividend yield of 3.92%, as of July 25. While we acknowledge the potential of NWG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is NatWest (NWG) Quietly Becoming One of the UK's Most Reliable Dividend Payers?
NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A person using a laptop to access a bank's online banking system. NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is an Edinburgh-based company that offers mortgages, loans, credit cards, and related services. The company recently announced its results for the first half of the year, highlighting a £4.2 billion increase in net loans to customers, bringing the total to £336.2 billion. This figure includes £2.2 billion in personal loans and credit card balances acquired from Sainsbury's Bank as of June 30, 2025. Within Retail Banking, NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG)'s mortgage balances grew by £4.1 billion, while Commercial & Institutional balances rose by £2.0 billion, mainly due to increased lending activity in the Commercial Mid-market segment, particularly to housebuilders and housing associations, as well as within the Corporate & Institutions division. NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) reported an operating cash flow of £2.5 billion. The company also returned £1.4 billion to shareholders through dividends during this period. Its semi-annual dividend comes in at $0.1543 per share for a dividend yield of 3.92%, as of July 25. While we acknowledge the potential of NWG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ian Isaac joins IAA-Advisory as director
IAA-Advisory has announced the appointment of Ian Isaac, one of the UK's most prominent asset finance leaders, as Director. Isaac, who recently retired as Managing Director of Lombard, joins the advisory firm with what Founder Derek Soper describes as 'unparalleled insight' and a career defined by 'leadership experience and dedication to advancing the asset finance industry.' During his time at Lombard, the UK's largest asset finance provider and part of the NatWest Group, Isaac spearheaded a number of customer-focused strategies and led innovation within the group. As MD he supported businesses across the spectrum, from SMEs to large corporates, in accessing vital funding. As a senior leader regulated under the FCA's SMF3 designation, Isaac played a central role in raising awareness of accessible finance solutions across the UK. Following his retirement, Isaac was appointed Chairman of JCB Finance Ltd, a UK equipment finance provider and joint venture between NatWest and JCB Excavators, specialising in asset finance for businesses across the construction, agricultural, and industrial sectors. 'I've long admired IAA-Advisory's depth of expertise,' Isaac said, adding that he is 'looking forward to contributing' to the firm's continued impact on the asset finance sector. At IAA-Advisory, Isaac brings a wealth of knowledge in areas such as credit, regulatory risk, product and in-life management, and distribution. He has led teams of more than 1,000 and is widely regarded as a trusted advisor with 'deep knowledge of the UK corporate finance landscape.' IAA-Advisory, which serves banks, captives, independents, and financial institutions, positions itself as a strategic partner for organisations navigating both day-to-day and long-term challenges in leasing and asset finance. His contributions to the leasing industry was formally recognised when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Leasing Life Awards in Milan in 2024. "Ian Isaac joins IAA-Advisory as director" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Business News Wales
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Strongest Rise in Welsh New Business Since March 2023
Welsh businesses saw a further rise in output during June, according to the latest Cymru Growth Tracker data from NatWest, but growth in activity slowed despite a sharper upturn in new sales. At 50.5 in June, the headline Wales Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region's manufacturing and service sectors – fell from 51.5 in May, to signal only a slight expansion in output at Welsh private sector firms. Meanwhile, the rate of increase in new orders accelerated to the sharpest in over two years. Despite more favourable demand conditions, firms were less confident in the outlook for output over the coming year and registered another strong fall in employment. On the price front, input costs and output charges increased at softer rates in June. Although still historically elevated, output prices rose at the weakest pace since October 2024. Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist of NatWest Group, summarised the report's findings for Business News Wales: Jessica Shipman, Chair, NatWest Cymru Regional Board, said: 'Business conditions appear to be improving for Welsh firms, as new order growth accelerated to the fastest in over two years and companies raised their output levels in turn. That said, the rise in activity was only slight. At the same time, previous hikes to the Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions continued to weigh on business decisions as employment contracted again and confidence in the outlook was dampened amid concerns regarding client spending, and efforts to control costs. 'Inflationary pressures eased further from the recent highs seen in April, meanwhile. In a bid to drive sales, selling prices rose at the weakest rate since last October, as firms noted prioritising competitiveness over protecting their margins. In fact, of the 12 monitored UK nations and areas, only Yorkshire & Humber recorded a slower uptick in charges.' Performance in relation to UK The rate of output growth was slower than the UK average. Anecdotal evidence suggested that stronger demand conditions supported the upturn, however. Private sector firms in Wales signalled a second successive monthly expansion in new orders during June. The pace of growth quickened notably to the steepest in over two years. Moreover, the rise in new sales was the second-fastest of the 12 monitored UK nations and regions (behind the East of England). As well as being below the long-run series average, the level of optimism was the second-weakest of the 12 monitored UK nations and areas, ahead of only the North East. Surveyed firms stated that customer uncertainty and reduced client spending weighed on positive sentiment. A higher cost to employ staff following hikes to the Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions reportedly led to cost-cutting initiatives and a reduction in headcounts. Of the 12 monitored UK nations and areas, Welsh firms recorded one of the sharpest drops in employment. The pace of job shedding eased, however, to the slowest since last November. Despite a rise in new orders, firms were able to continue working through their backlogs during June. The rate of depletion was among the slowest in over a year, having softened from that seen in May. Nonetheless, the pace of decline was strong overall and quicker than the UK average. Panellists mentioned that greater prices for raw materials and higher transportation fees coincided with the further impact of hikes in wage bills and labour costs on balance sheets. That said, the pace of input price inflation eased to the slowest in 2025 to date and was weaker than the UK average. At the same time, the rate of increase in output charges softened as firms opted to remain competitive and drive new sales rather than protect margins. The pace of inflation was the least marked since October 2024. Moreover, of the 12 monitored UK nations and areas, only Yorkshire & Humber recorded a slower hike in output charges.
Techday NZ
26-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
FourTwoThree unveils global SME climate data platform with bank support
FourTwoThree has launched a bank-backed data platform aiming to address climate financing and emissions within the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector worldwide. The new platform is supported by NatWest Group, NAB, and SC Ventures, bringing together institutional backing in a move to facilitate the transition to net zero across global supply chains. According to the University of Cambridge, approximately $50 trillion will be required to ensure SMEs meet the necessary sustainability standards by 2050, representing half of the total $100 trillion needed for net zero supply chains. FourTwoThree's core offering is a digital platform that enables seamless data sharing and automated assessment amongst banks, enterprise organisations, and their SME value chain partners. By supporting accurate calculation and measurement of Scope 3 carbon footprints – which account for more than 70% of many large companies' emissions – the platform facilitates collaboration towards emissions reduction. SME focus The platform has been developed to make climate data collection and reporting accessible for SMEs, which play a central role in both employment and trade worldwide. The pressing challenge for large enterprises is that the majority of their emissions derive from their extended supply chains, where visibility and effective collaboration can be difficult. FourTwoThree aims to bridge this gap by allowing SMEs and larger firms to share reliable data, automate key sustainability processes, and access decision-making frameworks that could unlock practical strategies and commercial value. Glyn Baker, Chief Executive Officer at FourTwoThree, emphasised the role that accessible climate action can have across the business ecosystem. "Climate action becomes possible when we make it accessible. With regulatory, shareholder and customer pressure building on large enterprises we know that the demands on their SME networks are increasing. SMEs play a crucial role in the global economy, representing the majority of commerce, employment and GDP. We have the user data and engagement to enable those businesses to accelerate their journey towards a sustainable global transition. Connecting SMEs to better support, accessible financing and emerging climate innovation will simply make them better and more engaged customers, suppliers and employers." Institutional collaboration The development involved active participation from investing banks, leveraging previous experience and use cases to create a platform that meets expectations for security, risk management, and performance at the enterprise level. The digital system is designed to integrate with existing bank infrastructure, supporting both regulatory requirements and customer engagement strategies. Alongside its official launch, FourTwoThree has announced the acquisition of PointSource Technologies, a climate data start-up incubated by SC Ventures. This move is intended to strengthen FourTwoThree's capacity to make climate data actionable, supporting automated assessments for sustainable financing, subsidies, and compliance across supply chains. The acquisition and related investments are subject to regulatory approval. Harald Eltvedt, Operating Member at SC Ventures, commented on the integration of PointSource Technologies into the wider FourTwoThree offering. "When we started PointSource, our goal was to build something pragmatic and useful—something that helps bridge the gap between climate ambition and climate action. I'm proud of what the team has built, and even prouder to see it find a new home with FourTwoThree. This is exactly what we aim to do at SC Ventures: back bold ideas, build real solutions, and scale them with the right partners. With FourTwoThree, we believe PointSource can now reach the scale and relevance the climate challenge demands." Technical foundation FourTwoThree's digital solution is supported by technology partner Valtech and hosted on Amazon Web Services, with a focus on rigorous security protocols suitable for large enterprise clients. The platform aims to provide both banks and their SME customers with tailored guidance, automated emissions calculations, and insight into emerging standards and reporting requirements. The launch underscores the importance of direct institutional backing in supporting the transition of SMEs towards lower emissions, particularly as financial institutions face increased regulatory and stakeholder expectations around sustainability reporting and risk management.
