Ghost Biz – 25 June 2026

Today in Ghost Biz, Gary Stroebel and The Finance Ghost discuss:

-FirstRand – A £750 million provision forces an exit from the UK, but strong lending growth and a resilient core business continue to underpin the group’s performance.

-Standard Bank – A voluntary trading update points to slower earnings growth, while management maintains full-year guidance despite recent market volatility.

-Labat – Formerly focused on cannabis opportunities and now reinventing itself as an IT business, Labat’s surprise dividend has raised fresh questions about the group’s future.