Philip Hammond was heavily criticised for his Budget raid on the self-employed via a hike in national insurance contributions NICs.

But Hammond has been forced into a humiliating climbdown Wednesday, scrapping the NICs rise for the self-employed. Thankfully, the Treasury will be able to tell the embarrassed chancellor he's just received a separate windfall of a similar amount, which will help repair the country's balance sheet.

We don't know what price they got, but it wouldn't have been any less than That leaves the government with a smidge more than 2.

After the Brexit vote forced former prime minister David Cameron to scrap a planned share offer to retail investors last summer, the UKFI has been a happy seller. Three weeks ago it sold million shares on the day that Lloyds moved above 70p for the first time since the EU referendum on 23 June.

A month earlier it sold In fact, it's the only one in positive territory, and only Standard Chartered has done better in Despite decent results, and a return to the dividend list, it's impossible to imagine the government will sell its remaining shares for anything like the 80p it managed in early However, a full exit will come as a huge relief to both politicians and investors alike. There have been significant operating issues keeping a lid on Lloyds' share price, but an overhang created by the government's holding hasn't helped.

While clearing the overhang is good news, Lloyds is unlikely to make much meaningful progress until interest rates — a significant aid to bank margins — begin to rise. At least that dividend should keep shareholders happy until they do. This article is for information and discussion purposes only and does not form a recommendation to invest or otherwise. The value of an investment may fall.

The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser.

Visit Interactive Investor's Lloyds Banking Group discussion board to compare strategies, share knowledge and validate decisions. Interactive Investor Trading Limited, trading as "Interactive Investor", is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Standon House, 21 Mansell Street, London E1 8AA, telephone Registered in England with Company Registration number Group VAT registration number This is to protect both of us and for training purposes.

Calls to this number cost no more than calls to 01 and 02 numbers.

Lloyds Banking Group LLOY. More share selling at Lloyds Banking Group. By Lee Wild Wed, 15th March - Related Articles The FTSE shares Neil Woodford just bought. Scary week for UK stocks.

Final taxpayer shares in Lloyds Banking Group to be sold off | Business | The Guardian

Why Lloyds Bank shares are a post-election 'buy'. Chart of the week: Barclays still in major downtrend. How markets are coping with 'worst outcome'.

Recent Features A 'magic formula' for patient investors. What to make of Sky at six-month low.

Lloyds Banking Group plc (LLOY) Ordinary 10p Share Price | LLOY

Here's why the eight-year long bull market still has legs. Charting the way back for Laura Ashley. Most-read this week The FTSE shares Neil Woodford just bought. The 10 investment trusts I have picked for my pension portfolio. The case for investing in Woodford Patient Capital. Woodford stunned by Provident Financial crash. Our Services Our Accounts Share and Fund Account ISAs Why us?

Search by Manager Group Allianz Global Investors Baillie Gifford BlackRock ETF Securities Fidelity GAM Janus Henderson Investors Invesco Perpetual iShares by BlackRock J. Morgan Asset Management Witan Investment Trust Unicorn All Manager Groups More Articles A 'magic formula' for patient investors.

The high-yielding trusts more popular than ever. Why confidence in this retailer is at a five-year high. Names to watch as IPO pipeline hots up. Record-breaking RWS is reassuringly expensive. Price Quote LLOYDS BANKING GROUP LLOY Price Search Search this site: Sign in My Portfolio.

Lloyds Banking Group | The Motley Fool UK

RSS Mobile About us Our network Money Observer Moneywise Share Price Contact us Cookies. Information Advertise with us Site map. Connect Contact us Follow us on Twitter Visit us on Facebook RSS feed. Our Services Share and fund account.

Our Products Shares Investment Trusts Bonds and Gilts Exchange Traded Products VCTs Live Share Prices - Level 2 Forex. Popular Pages Portfolio Login to your trading account Markets Contact us. Secondary links Legal Terms Risk Warning Privacy Security Help.