Lloyds Banking Group has reaffirmed its financial guidance, maintaining a confident outlook despite recent rate cuts by central banks. The lender expects to achieve a net interest margin (NIM) greater than 2.90% for 2024, indicating a robust performance in generating interest income. Reuters reported that the bank's Q3 profits held steady, surpassing market expectations despite the challenging economic backdrop.
Supporting its optimistic outlook, Lloyds uses a "structural hedge" strategy involving a notional balance of £242 billion with an average duration of around three and a half years. This technique helps the bank manage interest rate risks and stabilize earnings amid fluctuations in rates. Furthermore, Lloyds maintains a strong asset quality ratio, aiming to keep it below 20 basis points for 2024, reflecting effective risk management practices.
In terms of financial stability and growth, Lloyds projects capital generation of roughly 175 basis points for 2024. The bank also demonstrates cost control with operating costs expected to be around £9.4 billion, including the Bank of England levy. These measures reflect Lloyds' strategic positioning to weather changes in the interest rate environment and sustain its financial health moving forward.