Lloyds shares soar to five-year high amid speculation govt is poised to sell stake

clock

Shares in taxpayer-backed Lloyds Banking Group soared to a five-year high yesterday amid speculation the government is poised to start selling its stake.

A source close to the situation said it was ‘entirely possible' that the share sale could begin this month - and possibly within the next seven to ten days, the Daily Mail reports. It is thought George Osborne is keen to start offloading the government's 39% stake before the Conservative's party conference begins on 29 September. Lloyds shares jumped 1.22p to 78p - a closing price not seen since late 2008 when the global banking system was reeling following the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The government is understood to be considering the sale of around a quarter of its holding - ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

What advisers need to know as SpaceX fuels space investing interest

What advisers need to know as SpaceX fuels space investing interest

WisdomTree’s Mobeen Tahir unpacks the space economy theme

Professional Adviser
clock 14 August 2026 • 1 min read
How markets have developed in 2026 so far

How markets have developed in 2026 so far

'Active allocation does not mean constant trading or short-term market calls'

James Flintoft
clock 12 August 2026 • 3 min read
How sustainable funds have beaten the index this year

How sustainable funds have beaten the index this year

'ESG funds benefit from access to some of the livelier parts of the market'

Ian Aylward
clock 10 August 2026 • 3 min read