Early Market News: Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY), BT Group plc (LON:BT.A), Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA)

Here is another collection of breaking news stories which may affect companies as trading continues later. The following listed companies should see some movement: Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY), BT Group plc (LON:BT.A), Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA). Here is a more detailed look at the news that will affect each company when trading continues. Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) has decided to hike SVR for new borrowers. Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) is hiking its standard variable rate (SVR) to 3.99 per cent for new mortgage customers on its Halifax brand from the new year. Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) has confirmed that the existing mortgage customers will not be affected by the introduction of the new homeowner variable rate and will remain on Halifax's existing SVR. Stephen Noakes, the commercial director of mortgages at Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) said that, "In light of market conditions, particularly ongoing higher funding costs, we have introduced this new rate for new mortgages." BT Group plc (LON:BT.A) BT Group Plc (LON:BT.A) has decided to reduce minimum FTTC speed. BT Group Plc (LON:BT.A) has announced that it is cutting the minimum broadband download speed supported by its next generation “super-fast” Fibre-to-the-Cabinet ( FTTC ) service from 15Mbps to just 5Mbps.This change will allow BT Group Plc (LON:BT.A) to move more lines on to the new equipment, thus making a higher rate of return on the investment. BT Group Plc (LON:BT.A) said in a statement that, “There are no changes to our ordering process or systems and circuits should be ordered following the standard FTTC ordering journey. If a circuit has a predicted speed between 5Mbit/s to 15Mbit/s the order should be placed requesting a 40Mbit/s downstream and 2Mbit/s upstream option. The circuits will be provided to the highest speed supported by the line.” Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA) Reports say Iraq will sign an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA). By the end of January, Iraq will sign an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA) and Mitsubishi corporation for the capture of associated gas at oil fields in the country's south. The government gave initial approval on June 29 for the creation of a joint venture with Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA)  and Mitsubishi to be called Basra Gas Co. The venture would be owned 51 percent by state-run South Gas, with Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA) holding 44 percent and Mitsubishi the remaining 5 percent. We could see more movement when trading continues for Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY), BT Group plc (LON:BT.A) and Royal Dutch Shell plc (LON:RDSA).
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