Member Info for freddie01

After a quiet period on LinkedIn, we’re going to be sharing more from Systems Assurance.

For over 30 years, we’ve supported organisations across the UK with practical, tailored IT solutions — from single software licences through to wider infrastructure, procurement, cyber security, cloud, consultancy and training projects.

Our aim is simple: help businesses get the right technology, at the right time, with the right support around it.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing more about what we do and how we can support UK businesses with their IT needs.

Find out more about Systems Assurance:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7459588522157678594/?origin=NETWORK_CONVERSATIONS&midToken=AQGs9s27EUuDwg&midSig=2iykFfT-k-pcg1&trk=eml-email_network_conversations_01-network_post-0-actor_card&trkEmail=eml-email_network_conversations_01-network_post-0-actor_card-null-1o1ysf~mp7btdh4~16-null-null&eid=1o1ysf-mp7btdh4-16&otpToken=MTMwNTFlZTgxNDI2Y2VjNGI3MjQwNGVkNDExNmVmYjM4OWNlZDg0MzkwYWY4YTYxNzVjZTAwNmI0NzVkNWZmNWZmZGY4ZDlkNzZmNGQwZGI0ZWFkYWYxN2NiM2U2OTVhYjEwODA0OTdkNWRlYWNiYzBhYTEsMSwx

Interesting link. Thanks for posting.

Do we have any idea if it's Mark Halpin or Tialis offloading.

Better than I expected.

Https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/02/ee-and-bt-uk-start-inviting-customers-to-openreach-xgs-pon-broadband-trial.html

Https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd70yxwp9wpo

Https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1086872/ixico-eyes-accelerated-business-development-activity-as-it-hires-new-cco-1086872.html

Https://mxccapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MXC-Capital-Announcement-30-January-2026.pdf

Are the board dividend friendly?

Thank you both.

Does anyone have a link to this please?

Https://financialpromoter.co.uk/lloyds-unveils-bank-on-lloyds-brand-platform-to-back-britains-ambitions/

Lloyds Banking Group – already a major player in Build To Rent – has now signed a deal with a prominent housing provider.

Lloyds Living, its Build To Rent (BTR) offshoot, has some 7,300 properties in the private rental sector.

And the bank recently teamed up with homelessness charity Crisis to fund a new lettings agency called Good Place Lettings, based in London’s East End. has launched with the

Now a new Lloyds £195m finance package with housing provider Orbit will fund upgrades to thousands of social homes across the Midlands, East and South East of England.

The bank says the deal is part of its commitment to”support the transformation of the UK’s social housing stock.”

The funding will accelerate energy efficiency upgrades to ensure all homes achieve EPC band C or above by 2030.

This will be achieved through improving insulation and installing energy efficient measures to reduce carbon emissions.

An Orbit spokesperson says: “This arrangement will support us in continuing to provide good quality, energy efficient, affordable and safe homes, whilst continuing our drive to create inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods so more people have a good quality home that they can afford, in a place that they are proud to live.”

And a Lloyds spokesperson adds: “By combining our banking and long-term investment expertise, we’re helping the sector deliver more sustainable homes and improve the living experience for residents.”

https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2026/01/lloyds-banking-group-big-new-housing-investment/

Https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2156571/lloyds-halifax-close-54-banks

Https://www.gbnews.com/money/lloyds-club-mortgage-deal-eligibility

Https://www.cityam.com/lloyds-shares-to-offer-best-cash-back-rate-in-europe-analysts-say/

Future share growth depends heavily on the new man in charge. He has a lot of work to do.

https://www.bandmretail.co.uk/investors/investment-case

Shares in Lloyds Banking Group surged past 100p on Tuesday morning amidst a wider rally in the London stock market’s blue-chips.

The FTSE 100 banking giant jumped over one per cent at the opening bell to 101.30p marking a 17-year high.

Lloyds’ share price has not closed above the 100p mark since prior to the global financial crisis, where the bank’s stock crashed from over 200p to lows of 44p in the space of 18 months.

But over the last year the bank has been one of the key drivers of the FTSE 100 rising nearly 80 per cent in just 12 months.

The FTSE 350 bank index – where Lloyds is the top performer – has outpaced the FTSE 100 with a gain of near 50 per cent compared to the near 20 per cent of the wider index.

The lender was handed a major stock boost after the Supreme Court’s motor finance ruling, which handed banks a lukewarm win. Lloyds profit had previously taken a 36 per cent hit after hiking provisions for the car mis-selling scandal.

But the scandal still threatens to take a chunk out of Lloyds’ bottom line, with chief executive Charlie Nunn warning the current redress proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) could wipe 20 years of profit off the industry.

Lloyds to dish out shareholder cash

Lloyds is tipped to dish out over £17bn to shareholders in the year to come, according to analysts at Jefferies.

Analysts labelled the stock its “preferred” in the banking industry following its bumper 12-months.

Jefferies‘ Jonathan Pierce and Piriya Rathod said Lloyds’ “longer than average” structural hedge would boost takings in the year to come. Structural hedging is key strategy deployed by banks to shield profits from interest rate swings.

The bank is set to benefit with old earnings hedged on lower rates maturing and set to be replaced with new ones at the present higher interest rates.

Over £1bn is set to be added to Lloyds’ profit in both 2027 and 2028 from the structural hedge strategy, analysts said.

The £17bn pencilled in for distributions marks a 20 per cent upside to market consensus. But analysts believe a “move to a half-yearly buyback program could add around £1bn to this as early as next year”.

They added Lloyds’ strong hedge meant it “may overtake” its domestic-focused rival Natwest’s return on tangible equity, which measures how efficiently a bank uses its core capital to generate profits.

https://www.cityam.com/lloyds-shares-surge-past-100p-to-17-year-high/

Samuel Norman, banking & fintech reporter

With 2025 the year bank stocks soared, Lloyds was the jumbo jet in this mission, rising over 70 per cent. But despite this strong take-off, you’d be a fool to think you’d missed boarding time. That’s because all signs are pointing towards a shareholder return bonanza in 2026.

The bank is tipped by analysts to move towards a half-year buyback next year – a move which would add around £1bn to returns.

But it doesn’t stop there. Jefferies predict the blue-chip banking titan will hand over £17bn to investors by 2027.

It’s the bank’s structural hedge that’s set to help drive these fortunes, with Lloyds expected to benefit from old earnings hedged on lower rates maturing and set to be replaced with new ones at the present higher interest rates. The boost from this strategy could add over £1bn to Lloyds’ profit in both 2027 and 2028 – another hefty pump of gas set to fuel the Lloyds’ Banking jet.

Tipped at: 98.2p

https://www.cityam.com/city-ams-10-stock-picks-for-2026/

Marks and Spencer's Boxing Day sale has gone down a storm with shoppers on the hunt for affordable office wear - and hundreds are loving these trending ballet pumps.

More here...

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/hundreds-flood-ms-boxing-day-33138304