Lloyds Banking Group reports £4.3bn half-year profit

Lloyds Banking Group reported a half-year profit of £4.3bn for the period ending June 30, supported by a 9% rise in underlying net interest income to £7.3bn. In response to these results, the bank increased its interim dividend by 30% to 1.58p per share and launched a new £1bn share buyback programme.

Alongside these financial results, major UK lenders including Lloyds and NatWest are increasing social investment initiatives. These moves come amid speculation regarding potential tax increases for the banking sector in the upcoming government Budget. Lloyds recently announced a £100m investment aimed at youth skills training, while NatWest has expanded support for agricultural customers affected by drought.