Latest news with #financialservices
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lloyds shares recently hit a 52-week high — is it too late to consider buying?
Lloyds (LSE: LLOY) shares recently touched a 52-week high of 79.19p, a welcome sight after years of volatility and pandemic-era underperformance. The last time the shares traded that high was late 2015. Naturally, this is a promising sign for long-suffering shareholders like me. But for new investors, the question is whether the recent rally leaves any value on the table – or if the opportunity has already passed. The share price has climbed over 40% year to date, supported by a modest improvement in investor sentiment towards UK banks. A sector-wide upgrade by analysts has also helped. Rising interest rates have expanded net interest margins, even as economic data suggest the Bank of England may begin easing rates in the second half of 2025. In this environment, Lloyds — with its domestic focus and large retail deposit base — could emerge as a key beneficiary. But the bank's latest Q1 results weren't flawless. Underlying profits fell 7% to £1.52bn, with the bank putting aside £105m to prepare for a potential rise in bad loans. The decline was partly due to higher operating costs and regulatory charges. These challenges, combined with ongoing economic uncertainty, could weigh on performance in the second half of the year. Despite the mixed earnings, Lloyds continues to return cash to shareholders in the form of dividends. The 2024 final dividend of 2.11p per share was paid in May, bringing the full-year yield to around 4.7% at current prices. The group also announced a £2bn share buyback earlier this year. For income-focused investors, that's attractive. While not the highest yield on the FTSE 100, it's backed by a well-capitalised balance sheet and a CET1 ratio of 13.7%. Provided the UK avoids a severe downturn, the dividend looks sustainable. Like many high street banks, Lloyds is grappling with the shift to digital, recently announcing plans to close 136 branches across the UK by March 2026. The bank has committed to no job losses, but the move underscores a broader transformation — and the costs associated with it. At the same time, Lloyds is investing in technology and digital services, aiming to improve efficiency and customer experience. While the upfront expense is significant, these efforts could position the bank more competitively over the long term. Even after the recent rally, Lloyds shares still trade below their pre-pandemic levels. The stock's valued at around 7.5 times forward earnings — an attractive valuation by historical or sector standards. That offers a margin of safety for value-oriented investors. However, growth may be modest. As a largely UK-focused bank, it lacks the international diversification of some rivals. Any setback in the UK housing market or rise in unemployment could quickly impact performance. Lloyds shares may no longer be the deep value play they were last year, but they still look reasonably priced for long-term investors seeking income and gradual capital growth. While not without risks, the bank's stable dividend, improving sentiment and leaner cost base make it worth considering for a diversified passive income portfolio — even near a 52-week high. The post Lloyds shares recently hit a 52-week high — is it too late to consider buying? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Mark Hartley has positions in Lloyds Banking Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Lloyds Banking Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
QVest Announces Name Change
Article content Article content TORONTO — Q Cantar Holdings Inc. ('QVest') announces, effective immediately, QVest has changed its name to Victory Hill Capital Corp. (' Victory Hill (Canada) '). Article content The company was originally established in 2006; in 2018 the firm was rebranded as QVest, and finally as Victory Hill in May 2025. Article content Victory Hill has a team of seasoned industry experts who understand that the commitment to investors goes beyond simply managing broad based funds. We believe in helping investors reach a higher level of satisfaction. It's about customizing portfolios to suit specific investor needs. It's about employing agnostic and highly flexible investment styles to ensure clients are getting active risk management in ever-changing markets. And it's also about transparency, through responsive communications and exceptional customer service. Article content As an independently Canadian owned firm, our investors interests are at the forefront of everything we do. We value original thinking, discipline, honesty, integrity and excellence. We strive to deliver superior returns but believe the journey to achieve them should be every bit as rewarding. Article content This change reflects our commitment to growth and our vision for the future. The name 'Victory Hill Capital' embodies our dedication to achieving success for our clients and reaching new heights in the financial industry. It represents our strategic focus on delivering exceptional value and innovative solutions to our clients. Article content Please be assured that this name change will not affect our operations, services, or the quality of support you have come to expect from us. Our team remains the same, and we are more committed than ever to helping you achieve your financial goals. Article content We appreciate your continued trust and partnership. Should you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Article content About Victory Hill (Canada) Article content Victory Hill (Canada) has championed focused investments and strategies as an asset and portfolio manager, advises internally and sub-advises high net-worth private wealth clients, family offices, institutional and investment funds. As Private Wealth Portfolio Managers, Victory Hill (Canada) offers financial planning, estate planning and related financial services to our private clients and family office clients. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Fintech Chime Is Said to Plan IPO Launch as Soon as Monday
Chime Financial Inc. is planning to launch its initial public offering as soon as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as US listings bounce back from a disappointing April. The no-fee banking services company is weighing a valuation of about $11 billion, one of the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn't public. Chime was valued at $25 billion after raising $750 million in a funding round in 2021, according to an announcement at the time.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Insurance group from Japan buys 15% slice of M&G
M&G has sold a 15 per cent stake to one of Japan's biggest life insurers in a partnership deal. Shares in the financial group rallied yesterday after it announced that Dai-ichi Life is now its largest shareholder in a long-term tie-up. The deal is expected to bring just below £4.5billion in business to M&G and about £1.5billion to Dai-ichi Life over the next five years. It is the latest example of a Japanese group teaming up with a UK firm after Tokyo-based Meiji Yasuda bought around 5 per cent of Legal & General in February. M&G shares hit their highest level since June 2021 following yesterday's announcement, but later gave up some of the gains. It still closed 5.5 per cent higher last night at 236.7p. The business has been regarded as a takeover target after speculation Australia's asset manager Macquarie was considering a £5billion bid in 2023. But M&G chief executive Andrea Rossi said that the partnership would bolster its position to compete as a standalone company. 'I can see us having a great independent future in front of us,' he said. Rossi described the partnership as a 'recognition of M&G's strengths and clear confidence in our leadership, strategy and long-term prospects'. 'It brings together two highly complementary international businesses with shared growth ambitions who aim to deliver excellent client service and sustainable shareholder returns.' The deal will allow the business to have 'even greater access to the Japanese and Asian market', Rossi added. M&G will become Dai-ichi Life's preferred asset management partner in Europe. Under the terms of the agreement, Dai-ichi Life will have the right to appoint a director to the board of M&G for as long as it holds at least a 15 per cent stake, M&G said. Russ Mould, at broker AJ Bell, said: 'The usually staid insurance sector burst into life as M&G's strategic partnership with Dai-ichi Life generated excitement. The deal is expected to generate significant business for the company over the next five years.' And Jefferies' analyst Philip Kett said: 'There appear to be no downsides to this partnership, and we expect it to be taken well by investors.' Earlier this month, Dai-ichi Life said it would raise its stake in UK-based Capula Investment Management to 15 per cent from just below 5 per cent. And in April it bought a 15.1 per cent stake in Australian investment manager Challenger for around £408m. Tetsuya Kikuta, president and chief executive of Dai-ichi Life, said: 'We see our partnership with M&G acting as a spearhead to develop our presence across Europe and the UK, accelerating our strategy to become a global top-tier insurance group.'
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Gold Groups: Leading the Innovation of New Financial Platforms
05/30/2025, Los Angeles, CA // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // In today's era where digital waves are sweeping the globe, the financial industry is undergoing profound transformations. New financial platforms have emerged rapidly, bringing entirely new opportunities and experiences to people's lives and economic development. Among numerous new financial platforms, Gold Groups stands out as a leader in the industry, relying on its exceptional innovative concepts, advanced technological capabilities, and comprehensive service systems. Gold Groups focuses on the digital transformation needs of financial industry clients, committing to providing 'technology + industry + ecology' comprehensive services and fully promoting the integration of online and offline operations. With the arrival of the post-pandemic era, the demand for contactless services has grown significantly. Gold Groups has keenly captured this trend and launched intelligent self-service devices that perfectly align with contemporary needs. These devices not only reduce human interaction and the risk of pandemic transmission but also significantly improve operational efficiency, achieving a perfect balance between safety protection and public convenience. Whether in bank branches, government service halls, or commercial venues, intelligent self-service devices deliver more convenient and efficient service experiences to users. At the core of its technology, Gold Groups' security chips and operating systems work in tandem to build an open security application ecosystem. As the first line of defense for data security, security chips adopt advanced encryption technologies and protection mechanisms to ensure that users' sensitive information is not stolen or tampered with. Its self-developed operating system provides a stable and efficient runtime environment for various financial applications while offering strong compatibility and scalability to meet the diverse needs of different clients and partners. Through the close collaboration of these two elements, Gold Groups has laid a solid foundation for the secure operation of new financial platforms, allowing users to enjoy convenient financial services without worrying about security issues. Leveraging nearly three decades of accumulated customer resources, deep technological expertise, valuable experience, excellent brand influence, and a robust supply chain, Gold Groups has meticulously created an innovative ecosystem covering the entire industrial chain of financial payment products. This ecosystem encompasses all links from chip manufacturing and equipment production to system integration and operational services, where different participants collaborate and complement each other, forming a virtuous cycle. This not only enables Gold Groups to provide one-stop financial solutions for clients but also drives innovation and technological advancement across the entire financial payment industry. Meeting users' personalized needs is one of Gold Groups' key service philosophies. Through its platform, users can freely choose desired card numbers, benefits, and personalized card designs. Combined with high-tech technologies such as 3D and VR displays and AI, users can enjoy unprecedented immersive experiences and more intelligent services. For example, when selecting financial products, users can intuitively understand product features and advantages through 3D displays; using VR technology, they can virtually enter a digital branch to communicate face-to-face with customer service representatives. AI technology, meanwhile, accurately recommends suitable financial products and services based on users' behavioral habits and preferences, enhancing the user experience while effectively safeguarding data security. In the field of digital currency, Gold Groups has also taken proactive steps. Its launched digital currency hardware wallets feature functions such as recharge, payment, coin storage, balance synchronization, and information display, meeting the demand for a range of portable hardware products compliant with digital currency standards. This initiative not only aligns with the development trend of digital currency but also provides users with a more convenient and secure way to use digital currency, promoting its widespread adoption in daily life. Additionally, to meet the needs of financial and social security institutions for outbound marketing, as well as the DIY personalization requirements of campuses, enterprises, and other scenarios, Gold Groups has developed a set of convenient card-making solutions. With high flexibility and customizability, this solution can quickly produce card products tailored to the characteristics of different institutions and scenarios. Whether financial institutions offering special bank cards, campuses customizing exclusive student cards, or enterprises creating personalized employee cards, Gold Groups' card-making solutions can effortlessly meet these needs, delivering efficient and high-quality service experiences to clients. Upholding the mission of 'making transactions safer and more convenient,' Gold Groups continues to deliver safer, more convenient, and efficient payment experiences to clients through the perfect integration of products and innovative technologies across multiple industries and scenarios. In the financial sector, its advanced payment systems and solutions for banks and other financial institutions have effectively improved the efficiency and security of financial transactions; in the government sector, it has helped digitize public services, making it more convenient for citizens to handle various administrative matters; in other sectors such as transportation, retail, and telecommunications, Gold Groups' innovative products and services have been widely adopted, injecting new vitality into the development of these industries. Relying on financial technology, Gold Groups provides global clients with embedded software, secure payment products, data processing services, system platform services, intelligent self-service devices, and overall solutions in the field of intelligent secure payment. Its business covers multiple sectors including finance, government, transportation, retail, and telecommunications, successfully creating a digital financial technology business ecosystem. Its outstanding technological strength and high-quality services have won wide market recognition and praise. Recently, Gold Groups leveraged its advantages to successfully provide Taicang City with unique urban honor cards, further demonstrating its leading position and innovative capabilities in the financial technology sector. Looking to the future, Gold Groups will continue to uphold its spirit of innovation and continuously increase investments in technological research and development, product innovation, and service optimization. As financial technology continues to evolve and application scenarios expand, Gold Groups is poised to create more brilliance in the new financial platform sector, bringing higher-quality, more convenient, and safer financial service experiences to global users, and pushing the digital transformation and innovative development of the financial industry to new heights. Company Name: Gold Groups Contact Person: Danielle Email: [email protected] Website: City: Los Angeles
