Lloyds still assessing FCA car finance ruling, AG Barr FY profits rise
By Michele Maatouk
Date: Wednesday 01 Apr 2026
(Sharecast News) - London open
The FTSE 100 was called to open flat at 10,128..
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Lloyds Bank said it was still assessing the impact of the final compensation ruling from Britain's financial regulator on the motor financing mis-selling scandal handed down after markets closed on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority said millions of drivers would be entitled to a higher-than-expected average of £830 in compensation. "The details of the final scheme differ from the scheme as laid out in October 2025 and require careful analysis. Accordingly, the group is assessing the implications and impact of the final rules. The group will update the market as and when appropriate," Lloyds said in a short statement.
Irn-Bru maker AB Barr posted a 12.5% jump in full-year adjusted pre-tax profit to £65.8m, as revenue rose 4% to £437.3m. The drinks maker said the revenue increase was "value-led" and reflected "pleasing" performances and growing momentum in the core soft drinks brands of Irn-Bru, Rubicon and Boost. Chief executive Euan Sutherland said: "We entered FY26/27 with good momentum and clear priorities, and expect to deliver a year of low double digit percentage revenue growth supported by our recent acquisitions."
Newspaper round-up
British Steel is on track to be fully nationalised within weeks, the Guardian understands, a year after the government took over the daily running of the loss-making business from its Chinese owner. The steelmaker, which employs 3,500 people at its plant in Scunthorpe, was taken under government control last April amid fears that the owner Jingye was planning to shut down the site. - Guardian
The International Monetary Fund has warned that "all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth worldwide" should the conflict in the Middle East continue to throttle the amount of oil, gas and fertiliser making its way out of the Gulf. In a stark message that countries on all continents will be affected, the Washington-based organisation said a rise in energy and food costs would harm economic growth this year and could leave lasting scars on the global economy. - Guardian
Airlines around the world are cancelling thousands of flights after the war in Iran caused jet fuel prices to more than double. More than one in 20 flights scheduled to take off on Monday was cancelled, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. That was almost twice the number this time last year and comes as conflict in the Middle East squeezes the global supply of jet fuel and sends prices surging. - Telegraph
One of Britain's biggest food suppliers is pushing through emergency price increases as the war in Iran sends shipping and ingredient costs soaring. Princes, which sells canned tuna, Super Noodles and Branston beans, has warned European supermarkets it will raise prices from Wednesday after the Middle East conflict unleashed "unprecedented cost pressures". - Telegraph
Heathrow and its airline customers, led by British Airways, are preparing for a fight after the Civil Aviation Authority indicated it could freeze take-off and landing charges or allow only single-digit increases in fees. The aviation regulator has opened a consultation on what Heathrow can charge airlines from next January, which is key income for the airport to cover its running costs and improve its service. - The Times
US close
Major indices delivered a mixed performance on Monday as investors kept a close eye on Middle East developments and digested comments from Fed head Jerome Powell on inflation.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.11% at 45,216.14, while the S&P 500 shed 0.39% to 6,343.72 and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 0.73% lower at 20,794.64.
The Dow closed 49.50 points higher on Monday, taking a modest bite out of heavy losses recorded in the previous session.
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