Tuesday newspaper round-up: Sellafield, CBI, Barclays

(Sharecast News) - Ministers are under pressure to explain the actions of the government and regulators over cybersecurity at Europe's most hazardous nuclear site after a Guardian investigation revealed disturbing vulnerabilities in its networks. The shadow energy secretary, Ed Miliband, called on the government to urgently "provide assurances" about Sellafield, after the Guardian revealed it had been hacked by groups linked to Russia and China. - Guardian The Confederation of British Industry has said it is suffering a "considerable level of financial stress" and there remains "material uncertainty" that it can continue operating in the long term after sexual misconduct allegations. The scandal-hit business lobby group said it was "emerging from an unprecedented situation" that had led to "exceptional costs", warning there was also "material uncertainty arising from the CBI's financial performance since the year end". - Guardian

Barclays' Qatari backers are to halve their stake in the lender in the biggest share sales since the Gulf state rescued the banks during the financial crisis. Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Barclays second largest shareholder, on Monday launched plans to raise £510m through the sale of shares. - Telegraph

Lloyds Banking Group has scooped an estimated £700 million profit after unexpectedly getting back the entire £1.2 billion it lent to the Barclay family. Analysts are now re-examining their forecasts for the year after the bank was repaid far more than the £500 million at which it is thought to have valued the loan in its books. - The Times

The ownership of UK-listed shares by British pension funds and insurers has slumped to its lowest level since records began, according to official figures. The proportion of the overall London share market owned by those institutions had fallen to 4.2 per cent by the end of last year, from 4.3 per cent in 2020. That compares with 45.7 per cent in 1997 and a high point of 52.1 per cent in 1990. - The Times