Live, rolling coverage as the AA says average petrol prices could rise above 159.7p per litre mark set in May Another group of bankers will be looking forward to a bump in bonuses this year, after NatWest group grew the payout pool after a near 30% surge in quarterly profits. The high street lender said pre-tax profit jumped 29% to £2.3bn between April and June compared with the same period last year, after a jump in customer deposits, mortgage lending, and better economic conditions reduced the prospect of soured loans. We’re the biggest lender to infrastructure. We have the biggest SME bank. It’s important that we play our part and help get growth in every nation and the region of the UK. And that’s how I’d want to use the bank’s capital. Continue reading...