NatWest Q1 results miss expectations but core business remains solid with stable loan growth.

NatWest Group's first-quarter results fell slightly short of analyst expectations, mainly due to weaker non-interest income from markets and debt capital markets. Despite this, the bank's core business showed resilience with nearly 2% loan growth since the previous quarter and stable asset quality. Analysts remain confident in NatWest's outlook, noting disciplined costs, solid capital levels, and manageable impairment charges amid economic uncertainty. The broader UK banking sector fundamentals appear stronger than market sentiment suggests, supporting a positive medium-term view.