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Bahrain, Kuwait prepare for possible Iran conflict spread
Bahrain and Kuwait -- both home to U.S. military bases -- prepared on Sunday in case the Iran conflict spreads to their territories. Bahrain asked drivers to avoid the main roads, and Kuwait set up shelters within a ministry complex following U.S. attacks on Iran's nuke facilities. U.S. forces attacked Iran's main nuclear sites on Saturday night, and President Donald Trump warned Tehran that it will face even more devastating attacks if the country does not accept peace. Tehran warned that if the United States attacked it, it would target American assets, including U.S. bases in the region. Bahrain is the home of the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet, and Kuwait has several U.S. military bases. Bahrain's interior minister said on X that "in light of recent developments regarding regional security, we urge residents and citizens to only use main roads when absolutely necessary to maintain public health and safety, and to allow relevant authorities to efficiently use the roads." According to the Civil Service Bureau, Bahrain has also instructed 70% of its government employees to continue working from home until further notice on Sundays. The reason given was escalating tensions. The Finance Ministry said that Kuwait has set up shelters at the country's Ministries Complex, an expansive compound of buildings which houses several government departments including the Ministries of Justice and Finance. Bahraini authorities said earlier this week that they have activated a plan national and a civil emergency centre national to prepare for emergencies. They also tested warning sirens throughout the country. The regional media reported that 33 shelters had been set up in the country.
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What is the risk of nuclear contamination from an attack on Iran?
Donald Trump claimed that Iran's nuclear sites were "obliterated", including the Fordow deep-buried facility, in military strikes carried out overnight. The U.S. also joined Israel's attacks on June 13th. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that the U.S. military attacks on Iran's uranium-enrichment facilities posed limited contamination risks. Which Iranian nuclear sites have been hit so far? The U.S. Military struck sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump claimed that Iran's nuclear enrichment sites had been "completely obliterated". These attacks come after Israelis announced attacks on nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan Arak, and Tehran. Israel claims it wants to prevent Iran from building a nuke, and the U.S. insists that Tehran will not be allowed such weapons. Iran denies ever seeking nuclear arms. IAEA, the international nuclear watchdog, has reported damages to the uranium-enrichment plant in Natanz and the complex of nuclear facilities at Isfahan including the Uranium Conversion Facility as well as to centrifuge production plants in Karaj and Tehran. Israel has also attacked Arak (also known as Khondab). IAEA reported that Israeli military strikes damaged the nearby heavy water plant and the Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor which were still under construction. IAEA stated that it was not in operation and did not contain any nuclear material. Therefore, there were no effects radiological. The heavy-water reactors are capable of producing plutonium that, along with enriched uranium can be used in the production of an atom bomb. What are the risks of these strikes? Before the U.S. airstrikes, experts had said that Israel's attacks posed only limited contamination risks. Darya Dolzikova is a senior researcher at London's think-tank RUSI. She said that attacks on the facilities at the front of the nuclear fuel-cycle - where uranium gets prepared to be used in a reactor -- pose chemical risks, and not radiological ones. UF6, also known as uranium hexafluoride (UF6), is a concern at enrichment plants. She said that when UF6 reacts with the water vapour in air, it creates harmful chemicals. In low wind, it is expected that the material will settle near the facility. In high winds, however, the material may travel further, but also disperse more widely. Underground facilities have a lower risk of hazardous chemicals dispersing. Simon Bennett, the head of the civil safety and protection unit at the University of Leicester, in Britain, stated that the risks to the environment are minimal when subterranean installations are struck because "you are burying nuclear materials in thousands of tons of concrete, rock, and earth". James Acton is the co-director of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Nuclear Policy Program. He said that uranium was barely radioactive before it went into a reactor. He added that "the chemical form of uranium is toxic, but it doesn't travel long distances. It's also barely radioactive." He said that attacks on enrichment sites were unlikely to have significant consequences off-site, while opposing Israel's campaign. What about nuclear reactants? A strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor on the Gulf Coast would be of major concern. On June 19, Israel's military announced that it had hit a Bushehr site, but later said the announcement was an error. Israel wants to prevent any nuclear catastrophe. Richard Wakeford is an honorary professor of Epidemiology at the University of Manchester. He said that while the contamination of the area surrounding enrichment plants would "mainly be a chemical issue", the extensive damage of large power reactors was "a different story". He added that radioactive elements could be released into the ocean or through a plume containing volatile materials. Acton, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that an attack on Bushehr could "cause an absolute radiological disaster". Why are Gulf States particularly concerned? The Gulf States' impact on any attack on Bushehr will be worsened if the Gulf waters are contaminated, putting at risk a vital source of desalinated water. A source familiar with the situation said that the Gulf Cooperation Council is on high alert in order to monitor any possible contamination of the environment after the attacks. The source confirmed that there have been no radiological signs so far. She also said the GCC has emergency plans in place for the case of any threat to food and water security in the Gulf. According to authorities, in the United Arab Emirates desalinated drinking water is more than 80%. In Bahrain, 100% of groundwater was reserved for contingency planning. Qatar is 100% dependent on desalinated drinking water. According to the General Authority for Statistics, in Saudi Arabia, which is a larger country with more natural groundwater reserves, 50% of water supplies will be desalinated by 2023. Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait have no access to any other coast. While Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE can draw water from more than one sea, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait are all crammed along the Gulf shoreline. If a natural catastrophe, an oil spill or even a targeted assault were to disrupt a water desalination facility, hundreds of thousands would lose their access to freshwater instantly, said Nidal Ilal, professor and director of the Water Research Center at New York University Abu Dhabi. He said that coastal desalination plants were particularly vulnerable to regional hazards such as oil spills and possible nuclear contamination.
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In Algeria, one spectator is dead and several others injured after falling from the upper balcony
Media reports on Saturday said that one spectator was killed and others injured when they fell from the upper stands of the stadium after MC Alger won the Algerian top division league for the second consecutive season. MC Alger confirmed that one of its supporters died in an incident at the 5th July Stadium in Algiers. The Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences to the family and wished a quick recovery for those injured. In an Instagram post, MC Alger wrote: "It was with great sorrow and sadness that we heard the news about our supporter Younes Aguzzi who died after falling from the upper seats." Local media reported that the spectators fell because a fence on the upper tier of the stand had broken. El Heddaf TV posted a Facebook video showing a part of the railing falling into the lower tier. Reports said that the injured spectators were rushed by ambulance to the hospital where MC Alger staff, players and administrators went to donate blood. The trophy presentation ceremony had been postponed. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed)
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Investors rush to safe havens as oil prices spike after US bombs Iran's nuclear sites
Investors said that a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites could trigger a knee-jerk response in global markets upon their reopening, sending oil costs higher and triggering an exodus to safety. They were assessing how this latest escalation would affect the global economy. The attack announced by Donald Trump via the social media website Truth Social deepens U.S. participation in the Middle East conflict. Investors were considering a variety of market scenarios as they headed into the weekend. They expected that the U.S. involvement would cause a selloff of equities, and possibly a bid for the dollar or other safe-haven investments when trading began. However, they also stated that there was still a lot of uncertainty regarding the outcome of the conflict. Trump described the attack as "successful", but few details were available. He was scheduled to speak later Saturday. Mark Spindel is the chief investment officer of Potomac River Capital. He said, "I believe that markets will be initially alarmed and that oil will open higher." "We haven't done any damage assessment yet and it will take time. We're still engaged, even though he described it as "done". What's next? Spindel said. "I believe the uncertainty will blanket the markets as Americans are now exposed everywhere. He added that it would increase volatility and uncertainty, especially in the oil market. Spindel said, however, that there is still time to digest this news before the markets open. He also said that he would be making arrangements to speak to other participants in the market. OIL PRICES AND INFLATION The markets are most concerned about the impact that the Middle East developments could have on the oil price and, therefore, on inflation. An increase in inflation may dampen consumer confidence, and reduce the likelihood of interest rate reductions. Jack Ablin is the chief investment officer at Cresset Capital. He said, "This creates a new and complex layer of risk to which we will have to pay attention." This will have a direct impact on the energy prices, and possibly on inflation. The S&P 500 is little changed after an initial decline when Israel attacked Iran on June 13th. Analysts at Oxford Economics had modeled three scenarios before the U.S. attack Saturday. These included a deescalation of conflict, a shutdown of Iranian oil production, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. "Each scenario has an increasing impact on global oil prices." Oxford stated in the note that the worst case scenario would see global oil prices rise to $130 per barrel by the end this year. This would cause U.S. inflation to reach 6%. The note was published prior to the U.S. strike. "Although a price shock will inevitably reduce consumer spending due to the impact on real incomes. However, the magnitude of the increase in inflation, and the concerns over the possibility of second-round effects, are likely to ruin any chances of rate reductions in the U.S. for this year," Oxford wrote in the report. Jamie Cox of Harris Financial Group said that oil prices were likely to spike after the announcement. Cox, however, said that he expects prices to level out in a couple of days because the attacks may lead Iran to look for a peace agreement with Israel and the United States. Cox stated that "with this demonstration of strength and the total destruction of its nuclear capability, they have lost all their leverage and are likely to hit the escape button for a peace agreement." Economists warn a sudden rise in oil costs could harm a global economy already stressed by Trump's tariffs. History suggests that any pullbacks in equity prices could be temporary. In the past, when Middle East tensions reached a boiling point, such as the 2003 Iraq invasion or the 2019 attacks against Saudi oil facilities the stocks first lagged but quickly recovered and traded higher in the following months. According to Wedbush Securities' and CapIQ Pro's data, the S&P500 averaged a 0.3% drop in the three weeks immediately following conflict. However, it was 2.3% higher two months later. DOLLAR WORSE A escalation of the conflict could have mixed consequences for the U.S. Dollar, which has fallen this year amid concerns over the diminished U.S. exceptionalalism. Analysts said that if the United States directly engages in the Iran-Israel conflict, the dollar may initially benefit from an increase in safety bid. "Are we seeing a flight towards safety?" Steve Sosnick is the chief market strategist of IBKR, Greenwich in Connecticut. It's difficult to imagine that stocks will not respond negatively, but the question is by how much. It depends on Iranian reactions and whether oil prices spike."
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The key facilities of Iran's nuclear program
Donald Trump, President of the United States, said that on Saturday, U.S. forces had carried out a "very succesful attack" against nuclear sites in Iran. This included a facility located deep within a mountain in Fordow, South of Tehran. Israel has struck Iranian nuclear sites after launching its attacks on Iran in June. These include Natanz, the centre of Iran's uranium-enrichment programme, as well as Khondab, an incomplete heavy-water research reactor. Here are some of Iran’s most important nuclear facilities. Where are Iran's nuclear facilities? The Iranian nuclear programme is spread out over many different locations. Although the threat of Israeli aerial strikes has been looming for decades, only a few of the sites are underground. IRAN HAS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS SYSTEM? The United States, as well as the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, believe that Iran had a secret and coordinated nuclear weapons program which it stopped in 2003. The Islamic Republic has denied ever possessing or planning one. Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities as part of a 2015 agreement with world powers. In exchange, the deal lifted international sanctions. The pact collapsed after Trump, during his first term in office, pulled out the United States in 2018. Tehran began to abandon the restrictions the following year. IS IRAN INCREASING ITS URANIUM ENRICHMENT? Yes. Since the deal fell apart, Iran has expanded its uranium-enrichment programme. The "breakout time", or the amount of time needed to produce weapons-grade uranium to make a nuclear weapon is now days or a little more than one week instead of at least a full year as it was under the 2015 agreement. It would take more time to actually make a bomb using that material. The exact time is not known and the debate continues. Iran enriches uranium up to 60% fissile purity, which is close to 90% weapons grade, at two locations. In theory, it has enough material to make six bombs if enriched any further. NATANZ Complex at the centre of Iran's nuclear enrichment program, located on a plain bordering mountains south of Tehran in the Shi'ite holy city of Qom. Natanz is home to two enrichment facilities: the huge, underground Fuel Enrichment Plant as well as the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. In 2002, an exiled Iranian group revealed that Iran was building secretly Natanz. This sparked a diplomatic standoff with the West over Iran's nuclear intentions. The standoff continues to this day. The FEP is a facility designed for commercial enrichment, with a capacity of 50,000 centrifuges. Around 16,000 centrifuges had been installed, and 13,000 were in use, refining the uranium up to 5% purity. The FEP is described by diplomats who are familiar with Natanz as being three floors underground. It has been long debated how much damage Israeli aircraft could cause to the building. Other means of damage have been used to destroy centrifuges in the FEP, including an explosion that occurred and a power outage in April 2021 which Iran claimed was an Israeli attack. The PFEP above ground only houses hundreds of centrifuges, but Iran enriches up to 60% purity in this area. FORDOW Fordow, on the other side of Qom is a site for enrichment dug into the mountain. It's probably better protected against potential bombardment as the FEP. Trump tweeted on social media that "Fordow has been destroyed." Iran was not allowed to enrich in Fordow under the 2015 agreement with major powers. The facility was equipped with around 2,000 centrifuges, most of which were advanced IR-6 machines. Of these, up to 350 of them could enrich up to 60%. In 2009, the United States announced that Iran had secretly built Fordow for many years without informing the IAEA. Barack Obama, then-President of the United States, said that "the size and configuration is inconsistent with a peace programme." ISFAHAN Iran's second-largest city, Isfahan has a major nuclear technology center on its outskirts. The facility includes the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant as well as the Uranium Conversion Facility that converts uranium to uranium Hexafluoride, which is then fed into centrifuges. Diplomats claim that Iran stores uranium enriched at Isfahan. There is equipment at Isfahan to make uranium metal, a process that is particularly proliferation-sensitive since it can be used to devise the core of a nuclear bomb. Isfahan will be a new location for 2022, according to the IAEA. It has machines that can make centrifuge components. KHONDAB Iran has a heavy-water reactor that is partially constructed. It was originally named Arak, and it's now called Khondab. Heavy-water research reactors are a risk to nuclear proliferation because they produce plutonium easily, which can be used, just like enriched Uranium, as the core for an atomic weapon. The 2015 agreement saw construction halted and the core of the reactor removed, then filled with concrete, rendering it useless. The reactor would be redesigned to "minimize the production of Plutonium and to not produce weapon-grade Plutonium during normal operation". Iran told the IAEA it intended to begin operating the reactor by 2026. TEHRAN RESERVE CENTRE The Iranian nuclear research facilities at Tehran include a reactor for research. BUSHEHR The only nuclear power station in Iran, located on the Gulf Coast, uses Russian fuel, which Russia takes back after it has been used, reducing proliferation risks.
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Sources say that Israel wants to take swift action against Iran with the split US administration
Two sources say that Israeli officials told the Trump administration that they did not want to wait for Iran to come to a deal in two weeks to dismantle the key parts of their nuclear program. Israel could also act on its own before the deadline expires, amid ongoing debates within Trump's team over whether the U.S. is involved. Two sources with knowledge of the issue said that Israel expressed its concerns to Trump Administration officials in a phone call they described as being tense on Thursday. Sources who spoke under condition of anonymity said that Israeli officials did not want to wait for the two weeks set by U.S. president Donald Trump on Thursday in order to decide whether the U.S. would get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. According to a source in the security industry, Israeli participants included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Chief of Military Staff Eyal Zmir. Sources claim that Israel believes it has a short window of time to act against Fordow, which is the crown jewel of Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. has the only bunker-busting weapons powerful enough to reach this facility that is buried into a mountain. Reports on Saturday indicated that the United States was moving B-2 Bombers to Guam in the Pacific, confirming the possibility of an attack by the U.S. The B-2 is capable of carrying America's 30,000 pound GBU57 Massive Penetrator designed to destroy deep-underground targets, like the one in Fordow. Person familiar with the situation in Washington said that Israel had communicated to the U.S. government that it believed Trump's window up to two weeks was too long and more urgent action was needed. The person didn't say if the Israelis raised this issue during the high-level phone call. Sources claim that during the call Vice President JDVance was adamant about the U.S. not being directly involved, and suggested the Israelis would drag the country into a war. A security source said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was also on the call. An official at the White House strongly disagreed with the description of Vance's remarks in the phone call, but refused to elaborate. The official spoke on condition of anonymity and said that the Vice President had not made this comment during the phone call. The Jerusalem Post had reported earlier that there was a telephone call on Thursday. Some prominent members of Trump's base have urged him to avoid a Middle East conflict. Vance, who has often criticized the past U.S. participation in conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan but recently defended Trump from Republican critics, who urge the administration not to get involved in the Iran conflict. Other Republicans, such as Trump ally Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, expressed their hope that Trump would help Israel destroy Iran's nuclear programme. Trump, who ran on a campaign promise to keep America out of "stupid wars" abroad, has at times seemed to be unsure whether he should join Israel's attack on Iran, or focus diplomatic efforts on ending Tehran's nuclear programme. His rhetoric has grown more aggressive in recent days. Iran insists its nuclear program only has peaceful purposes. A request for a comment from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office was not responded to immediately. The Iranian mission at the United Nations did not respond immediately either. Strike on Fordow Increasingly Likely Netanyahu has publicly stated that he does not rule out Israel attacking Fordow on its own, but officials haven't provided any specifics about how this would be accomplished. Four sources have said that it's more likely than not that Israel will launch an independent military operation. Two sources said that the Israeli air superiority makes a solo military operation more likely, but still risky. One source said that Israel believes it has the momentum, but is limited in time due to the cost of the war. Source: "I don't think they will wait much longer." Uncertainty exists as to whether such an attack would be conducted by bombing or ground forces. Two sources stated that Israel could do more damage to the site than destroy it. One source, who declined to provide further details, suggested that this could mean concentrating on the destruction of what is within the site, rather than the actual site. Analysts have suggested that Israel may use special forces to blow up Fordow from the inside. A source with knowledge of the situation said that another scenario under consideration would be to launch a series munitions rapidly in order to break through the fortified area, similar to the way the Israeli military killed Hezbollah's Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in the past year. The source claimed that a special forces incursion could follow a strike of this nature. Israel may not have munitions strong enough to penetrate a fortified installation. Many people believe that U.S. involvement is needed to increase the chances of success. Even with the combined firepower of a U.S. and Israeli military operation, experts in the military and nuclear field believe that a military action would only temporarily set back a programme the West fears already aims to produce atom bombs someday, though Iran denies this. (Reporting and editing by Don Durfee, Maayan Loubell, Alexander Cornwell, Samia Nakhoul, and Emily Rose. Additional reporting and editing by Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, and Maayan Nakhoul in Washington, and Maayan Lulbell in Jerusalem.
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UK issues 10-year industrial plan to boost growth
Next week, Britain will publish a multi-billion-pound 10-year industrial strategy aimed at supporting priority sectors, creating employment and driving long-term growth. The government of Prime Minister Keir starmer has been developing a blueprint for next decade, as part its "Plan for Change", which seeks to revamp the country's skill system, encourage innovation and channel new investment into areas with high growth. The UK has pledged to spend more than 2 billion pounds on a variety of government funds that will support the creative industries, sport and skills development. Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds announced on Sunday that 275 million pounds would be used to train thousands of people in engineering and defense roles. The new skills system will allow British workers to secure well-paying jobs in industries of the future and stop relying on foreign labour. Alex Veitch welcomed Reynolds' promise. He is the director of policy for the British Chambers of Commerce. Veitch stated that "the extra cash invested for training in key industries, such as engineering and defence, can be a real springboard to growth." The government had previously stated that it would change its defence strategy to deal with threats from Russia, cyber attacks and nuclear risks. Starmer promised in February the biggest sustained increase in British defense spending since the Cold War ended, in response U.S. president Donald Trump's demand that Europe take greater responsibility for its security. Other Pledges The government also promised a boost of 380 million pounds for the creative industries, from film to videogames. And more than 900 millions pounds to upgrade grassroots facilities and stage major sporting events. Business groups have said that high energy costs are a threat to UK industries and urged the government to take action. The report, published in June by the manufacturing association Make UK, warned that Britain's energy intensive sectors could suffer a long-term decline if government action is not taken. The report called for reforms to network costs, relief schemes targeted at specific groups and more predictable pricing of energy. In her spending review of June 12, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves acknowledged these pressures. She outlined departmental budgets, and highlighted more than 10 billion pounds in investment in green infrastructure. She confirmed that the British Industrial Strategy Council would oversee the implementation of the growth plans of the government.
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One Russian attack kills one person in eastern Ukraine and one in the north
Officials said that Russian strikes Saturday on Donetsk, a key town on the eastern front in the war in Ukraine, killed at least one individual. Another person died in a drone strike in the north near Russia's border. The Russian military announced that its forces had taken another village as they slowly advanced westward through the Donetsk Region. Reports from Kharkiv in the north suggest that Russian troops are closing in on Kupiansk. Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and other cities were attacked by Russian forces. Both towns have been repeatedly attacked since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Vadym Fillashkin, the governor of Donetsk Region, said that one person was killed and three injured in Sloviansk. Pictures posted online showed buildings reduced to rubble. Four multi-storey buildings and 32 private residences were damaged, he said. Pictures posted by the Kramatorsk city council show heavy damage to a part of an apartment block. Officials reported that at least one resident was injured and trapped under the rubble. One person was killed and local infrastructure damaged in a mass drone attack near the Russian border on Nizhyn. The Russian Defence Ministry announced that its forces had taken over the village of Zaporizhzhia southwest of Pokrovsk where Ukrainian forces were holding off Russian attacks for several months. Zaporizhzhia is a village in Ukraine, not the city Zaporizhzhia. The latter is a large industrial centre located about 160 km (90 mi) to the south. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces listed the village on Friday as one of many where Kyiv’s forces had successfully repelled Russian attack. The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Friday that it had taken Moskovka village, located just outside of the city of Kupiansk. This village was also the subject of Russian attacks over the past few months. Bloggers from both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries have reported a recent increase in combat around Kupiansk. The town was occupied first by Russian forces during the early weeks of 2022, but captured by Ukrainian troops in a lightning-fast counter-offensive later that year. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Oleksander Kozoukhar)
Britain sells off last NatWest shares after crisis-era bailout
After a 60.59 billion pound ($45 billion) state-funded investment at the height the financial crisis in 2008, NatWest is now fully private. This ends a costly taxpayer-funded investment which reshaped both the lender and the industry.
The British government has sold the remaining 1% of its bank shares, according to an announcement by the Treasury on Friday. It had previously sold small blocks over recent years. It held up to 38% as recently as December 20,23.
In a press release, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves stated that "nearly 20 years ago, the government intervened to protect millions and businesses from the effects of the collapse RBS".
"That decision was made to protect the economy, and the return of NatWest to private ownership marks a turning point in the history of this country."
NatWest's reprivatisation is a turning point in the recovery of its business and mortgage lending in its home market. It transformed from an investment bank with a global reach to a more traditional, slimmed-down lender.
NatWest shares have risen by more than 30% this year, to 523 pence. This is above the 502 pence bailout. Prior government selldowns took place at lower prices, resulting in a loss for the rescue.
According to Britain's Finance Ministry, the government lost approximately 10.5 billion pounds in the 45 billion pound rescue when proceeds from share sales and dividend payments to finance ministry are added together with fees and other revenue.
The SYMBOL of EXCESS
NatWest's growth in the years leading up to the financial crisis became a symbol of excess in that time. It grew from being a small Scottish bank in the 1990s, to becoming one of the largest banks in the world, with a total balance sheet exceeding 2 trillion pounds in 2008, which was almost twice the annual British economic output.
Before its 2020 rebranding, the bank known then as RBS had sold assets that ranged from a fleet aircraft in Beijing to the largest hospital of Sydney. It also included a golf-course in Florida, 110 km away from the nearest highway, and an American graveyard. Deep South.
According to UK Finance, the bank, now under private ownership, is a significantly slimmed down lender, focused on its domestic businesses. It ranks third in Britain for mortgage providers behind Lloyds Banking Group, and Nationwide Building Society.
After the financial crisis, Britain introduced so-called "ring-fencing" rules to protect ordinary savers from the riskier activities of banks. It also aimed to boost competition by encouraging smaller challenger banks.
NatWest faces a challenge to increase fee-based revenue from businesses like wealth management. This is because incumbents have been largely unaffected by these efforts. Meanwhile, big rivals including HSBC are pursuing the same strategy in response to declining lending income due to Britain's central banks' policy rate cuts.
Paul Thwaite, the current CEO of the bank, has made it a priority to further simplify and streamline its operations and to promote economic growth by providing mortgages and business loans.
This is in line with the pressure the left-leaning Labour party has put on banks to kickstart the slow economic growth of the country. The ruling party may still tap the cash-rich banks via additional taxes to plug the gaps in the budget.
Alex Potter, Investment Director, Developed Market Equities, Aberdeen, said that NatWest had rebuilt its reputation but was still a political ball.
He said that the lender would continue to be under pressure to actively support the growth agenda of government.
NatWest executives said that the state exit would not affect how they do business. However, bankers and advisors believe that it may try to accelerate its growth strategy through further acquisitions in 2024 after a number of such deals. ($1 = 0.7427 pounds)
(source: Reuters)