DOHA, 23rd Feb (Reuters) - Qatar is open to buying stakes in part state-owned UK lenders RBS and Lloyds Banking Group and has discussed investing in Britain, Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani said on Wednesday.

The prime minister made the remarks during a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Asked whether the Gulf Arab state would invest in RBS or Lloyds specifically, he replied: "We are very open to any investment in the UK and we have discussed some."

Note from Investec today:
"In light of the recent announcement of a voluntary settlement with the FSA with regard to certain legacy Halifax retail mortgages, costing 500m in provisions for goodwill payments to affected customers, the expected PBT for 2010e will be lighter than consensus and our pre-existing PBT forecast of 983m before fair value unwind of 2.4bn and other statutory adjustments. We retain our Hold recommendation ahead of Friday's prelims...
The level of provision taken in respect of the Halifax mortgage was 500m, but the underlying number of cases to which this relates has not been specified. Given Lloyds current 28% market share in UK retail mortgages, we expect this number to be significant when visibility develops and, given the current voluntary agreement with the FSA, the probability of the case not ending in LBGs favour looks increased. As there is no current visibility on the issue, we highlight this as a potential downside risk to future profit projections.

don't understand final comment as LLOY has already stated the 500m provision is sufficient to cover all goodwill payments.

Isold 20000.barcs on monday and 54000 mrw to buy in to looys this week and looking for 100p plus in near future

You sold Morrisons? But what about bid coming sooner than you thought?

hopeing to buy back by monday

Finals 2.21BLN Profit. Better than expected. Market expecting 2.04BLN. Accompanied by strong trading statement too.

smarty? where do you work?

Tanker........you tanking it????

Bit of a glich today at LSE, but note Lloyds trading well down. The whole market seems to be teetering first one way then the other, regardless of all the smart a--se views its going to take years to get out of the deep deep do do, and as for this sorry bunch of no hopers leading us, i despair. But as I said before "Being so cheerful keeps me going"

good results on the whole and going forward getting bettter . so not at all bothered .
will draw out 100k from my advantage account only paying 1.8%. and will ether buy more lloy or buy back more barc or mrw . very relaxed

I have now put a order in for 200.000. at 62p .will i get them if not i will by at 63p

my order as been canceled i will have to place it again

you must have bottomless pockets.....

TANKER you are tankering

re - very relaxed

go to school first to lear some 2 + 2

200K at 62p = 124.4K

The 100k ( all Bullsh!t ) is not enough

i had over 40k in my account in cash thank you. and good bye fool or just a poor man

the chickens are selling silly hens

my order has now been done my avge now is 64.37p

RBS now going back up .

these will end up on the day