Why the Barclays share price rose 9% in September

The banking sector saw gains in September making up for August’s losses.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

During September the Barclays share price rose more than 9%, outperforming both the FTSE 100 and the financial services sector. Barclays opened the month at 137.54p and ended September at 150.40p, a rise of 9.35%.

Barclays is one of five FTSE 100 banks, along with HSBC, Lloyds, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered. All five saw market share gains in September. HSBC was up 6.5%, Lloyds up 8.5%, RBS up 12%, and Standard Chartered rose 8%. This made up for the falls they each experienced in August.

Temporary progress in US-China trade talks drove the banking sector up on 13 September, with Barclays reaching a high point of 157.3p. Share prices in the banking sector are closely linked to politics, particularly when it comes to topics of trade. That’s why Brexit is forever casting its shadow on the banking stocks and if a no-deal Brexit goes through, then this could again cause the Barclays share price to fall further.

Should you invest £1,000 in Assura Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Assura Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Another reason the Barclays share price increased in September was the confidence shielding its dividend, which was previously thought to be at threat of a cut. The realisation that this was safe (for now) helped boost the share price. 

PPI shadow

In 2018 Barclays settled claims that it mis-sold sub-prime loans prior to the financial crisis. This £1.4bn settlement was less than expected and so preempted a plan to buy back shares, which would have been the first time the bank had done this in over 20 years. 

This £1bn share buyback plan is in place for next year, but there are now worries this may be partially scuppered by the pain of payment protection insurance (PPI). The ongoing PPI refund debacle is still not over and Barclays has said it now expects its PPI compensation bill to be significantly greater than previously expected or accounted for.

This resulted in concerns that Barclays will have to cut its share buyback plan in half to make provisions for the PPI refunds it owes. At the end of June, the 329-year-old bank predicted PPI provision of £360m. This has now been raised to between £1.2bn and £1.6bn.

The overall cost to the banking industry of PPI refunds now exceeds £50bn.

Targets on track

After the 2008 financial crisis, a reformed set of international standards was created to review and monitor the capital adequacy of banks. Part of that is Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1), which is a precautionary way to protect the economy from another financial crisis. Barclays management says it is on target to meet its CET1 ratio goal of 13% for this year.

It has a trailing price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 8 times, which in normal circumstances would seem like a bargain, but this is not new for Barclays and even a low P/E hasn’t stopped the stock from falling in the past.  

There are worries the dividend yield could be impacted if a recession rears its ugly head, or political tensions escalate. As far as banks go, Barclays has been performing better than Lloyds, but I see the sector as extremely vulnerable right now and therefore consider it risky for new investors. 

Should you buy Assura Plc shares today?

Before you decide, please take a moment to review this first.

Because my colleague Mark Rogers – The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing – has released this special report.

It’s called ‘5 Stocks for Trying to Build Wealth After 50’.

And it’s yours, free.

Of course, the decade ahead looks hazardous. What with inflation recently hitting 40-year highs, a ‘cost of living crisis’ and threat of a new Cold War, knowing where to invest has never been trickier.

And yet, despite the UK stock market recently hitting a new all-time high, Mark and his team think many shares still trade at a substantial discount, offering savvy investors plenty of potential opportunities to strike.

That’s why now could be an ideal time to secure this valuable investment research.

Mark’s ‘Foolish’ analysts have scoured the markets low and high.

This special report reveals 5 of his favourite long-term ‘Buys’.

Please, don’t make any big decisions before seeing them.

Claim your free copy now

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Kirsteen has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

A rear view of a female in a bright yellow coat walking along the historic street known as The Shambles in York, UK which is a popular tourist destination in this Yorkshire city.
Investing Articles

£10K invested in Greggs shares at the start of 2025 is now worth…

Greggs shares have tumbled badly so far this year. There may be good reasons for that, but as a long-term…

Read more »

Businessman with tablet, waiting at the train station platform
Investing Articles

Here’s the growth forecast for BAE Systems shares through to 2027!

I think BAE Systems could be one of the hottest growth shares to consider right now. Here's why I'm a…

Read more »

Midnight is celebrated along the River Thames in London with a spectacular and colourful firework display.
Investing Articles

2 top ETFs for investors seeking high-yield dividend shares to consider!

Looking for dividend shares to buy? Here are two top ETFs that may be safer, and no less lucrative, options…

Read more »

A mature adult sitting by a fireplace in a living room at home. She is wearing a yellow cardigan and spectacles.
Investing Articles

Yielding 9.4%, Legal & General shares are a passive income-generating machine

Legal & General’s shares may have struggled for momentum, but this Fool still rates them in the big league for…

Read more »

A row of satellite radars at night
Investing Articles

I just invested £2k in IAG shares. These forecasts suggest I’ve backed a winner!

When IAG shares dipped last month, Harvey Jones couldn't believe his luck. Now he's buckled up for what he thinks…

Read more »

Tariffs and Global Economic Supply Chains
Investing Articles

£5,000 invested in Scottish Mortgage shares just 1 month ago is now worth…

Ben McPoland takes a look at a handful of growth shares in the Scottish Mortgage portfolio to see how they…

Read more »

UK supporters with flag
Investing Articles

2 UK stocks that could be set for a roaring recovery

This investor highlights a pair of UK stocks from the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes that may be set…

Read more »

Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
US Stock

3 of the best pieces of advice from Warren Buffett’s final annual meeting

Jon Smith reviews some of the highlights from Warren Buffett's final conference and details investing lessons that everyone can learn…

Read more »