The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring Jeremy Skillington, CEO of Poolbeg Pharma has just been released. Listen here.
Barclays.
Despite much improved financial performance share price down 20% in the last five years and is the only major UK bank trading at less than half its book value.
Have markets been disproportionately bearish towards this stock compared to peers, or is it all part of a sector - wide downtrend in UK bank share price valuations ?
Stinks of financial desperation by the Chancellor in a vain attempt to shore up the fiscal hole in the UKs dire finances and borrowing requirements in the run up to the 2024 General Election.
Market correction well overdue, despite the fall, house price - to income ratios are still far to high.
In contrast German business and consumer confidence continues to deteriorate , imports of manufactured goods and materials hit a 36 year low in July, stoking German recession fears further.
Markets off to a positive today ( FTSE100 currently up 1.20%) particularly for Financials and Telecom stocks who will be be hopefully looking to recover lost ground this week after a dismal August for the sectors.
Troajan
Any negative spillover effect of the Chinese property sector on to Global stockmarkets are likely to be limited, apart from HSBC and Standard Chartered thankfully UK banks and insurance companies are not directly exposed to the Chinese property sector or Evergrande, although debt restructuring for banks, equity holders and foreign bond holders of Chinese debt could turn out to be very costly exercise for some.
" Black Swan Event "
Down but not out, more like Hedge Fund speculation and betting designed to rattle financial markets. Chinese economy closely followed by India on it's coat tails is still on course to overtake the United States economy by 2035.
Ramvo
I'm afraid there is no market reappraisal for the banking sector on the horizon at present, despite mega sector share buybacks, banks trading below their book values and on single - digit P/E multiples coupled with fairly chunky dividend yields on offer for investors.
The shares will remain in limbo until the new Government in 2024 shows it's hand on the future direction of economic policy and new regulatory requirements for the banking sector.
Half a story here, core inflation does not include rising petrol / diesel, food and alcohol prices, for most UK households the cost - of living crisis continues unabated with no signs of ending soon.
Lacking any kind of momentum, 40p support level for the share price will be sorely tested after completion of the current share buyback programme.
Net interest magins have now probably peaked and are expected to drop from here on out, strong capital levels are likely to be maintained although not a reliable indicator of future income and increased dividend payout levels.
Hardup
Who Know's how financial markets will interpret increased financial turbulence, political meddling in the UK banking sector and to cap it all, election year in 2024, remains to be seen.
SUF
Nearer to 50p by dividend day that's a tough call to make, i would have been more confident in the short - term share price trajectory if Lloyds had followed suite with rest of the banking sector and extended their current share buyback programme ( 500M ) to take advantage and iron out any market volatility the bank may experience in the run up to 2023 financial year end reporting.
Come September onwards with no share buyback programme in place, the share price may look and become a tad vulnerable to market forces.
Current share buyback programme probably completed by mid - september, will it trigger any appreciable re - valuation and support level for the share price by the market ?
Windfall tax on Italian banks will be equal to 19% of banks net profits and will be used to reduce taxes and support mortgage holders....... fasten your seat belts, UK banking sector could be in for a rough ride if replicated !
Gate13Boy
Agree, UK Business and Mortgage holders have been living in a debt bubble of their own making for far to long and are now slowly but surely being pushed towards the brink of insolvency with many expecting a last - minute bail out by the Taxpayer and Banking Sector.
There are no easy answers or solutions on offer and shouldn't be.
Seany
America 1% levy on share buybacks Jan 2023.
Canada 2% tax on share buybacks 1st Jan 2024.
Why would the UK Chancellor not follow suit and miss out on the opportunity to raise hundreds of millions pounds in extra taxes for the Exchequer ?
Seany
Buyback Bonanza, " make hay while the sun shines " more than likely introduction of a new tax on UK company share buybacks by the cash strapped Chancellor possibly as early as 2024.
Lloyds the only major UK listed bank not to extend it's current share buyback programme in 2023 half year reporting has certainly sent the wrong signal out to financial markets.
Investors may now ask, is the current state of the balance sheet maybe not everything as it seems ?
Ask the question once again.
Why did Lloyds not follow suite with the sector and announce a further injection of cash into their current share buyback programme to take advantage of declining banking sector share price values ?