Lloyds bumper profits deliver £1bn bonanza for shareholders

Bank hails ‘landmark year’ as it reports 24% rise in profits and return to strong capital positionLloyds Banking Group posted sharply higher profits for 2017 and announced plans to return £1bn to shareholders after a “landmark year” that saw the high street lender return to private ownership after its taxpayer bailout in 2008.The bank reported a 24% increase in pre-tax profit to £5.3bn last year, and said its strong capital position would allow the £1bn