The Government is to sell off a further tranche of Lloyds Banking Group shares  to ease out of the supporting role it was forced to take when the recession and financial crisis hit the banking industry in the UK.

Last year they sold 6% of their holding and when they complete the sale of a further 7.5%, valued at £4.1 billion, the remaining stock still owned by the UK public, will amount to 25% of the overall available shares. These will also be sold in due course but sales of this magnitude require careful management to avoid depressing the price and the Government is keen to get out of the banking business at break even at least, which they do at anything above the purchase price of 73.6%. Holding costs would need to be factored in before they can trumpet a true profit.

With the Lloyds Banking Group in profit and a UK stock market still quite positive, there is every chance they will be able to do that, providing the Ukraine crisis doesn't spook investors who are not running for the exits for now.