London close: London limps lower on quiet day
5th Apr 2011 16:42
London's leading share index finished in the red on a sluggish, but things could liven up later in the week following the release of the minutes from the last US Federal Reserve meeting tonight. Among the fallers in the FTSE 100 was British Airways owner IAG, which announced that high oil prices ha
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Kesa among the fallers
5th Apr 2011 16:38
UBS comments have hit sentiment at consumer electronics retailer Kesa Electricals, the owner of the Comet chain, after it cut its forecasts to reflect weaker trading in the UK after the surprise profit warning from peer Dixons. A 'hold' rating was kept but the target price was lowered to 125p, from
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks still sleepwalking
5th Apr 2011 14:16
London is still in a somnambulant mood on a day that is light on big company news, with Footsie still in the red despite a moderate revival over the lunch time session. Music and film retailer HMV continues to struggle against tough conditions on the high street and competition from supermarkets an
Read moreLondon midday: Shares in wait-and-see mode
5th Apr 2011 12:04
Shares are still subdued as investors look ahead to a stream of economic news beginning tonight. There has been some M&A to stir up excitement though. The US Federal Reserve is due tonight to publish the minutes from the most recent meeting of its rate-setting committee while later in the week the
Read moreLondon open: Shares unchanged ahead of economic announcements
5th Apr 2011 08:24
Traders are sitting on their hands amid a shortage of big company news and ahead of some important economic announcements. The US Federal Reserve is due tonight to publish the minutes from the most recent meeting of its rate-setting committee while later in the week the Bank of England and the Euro
Read moreAmlin sees disaster losses of up to £275m
5th Apr 2011 07:19
The recent natural disasters in New Zealand, Japan and Australia could result in Amlin facing claims of as much as £275m, according to estimates released by the underwriter. Amlin estimates that the second earthquake in New Zealand will result in it facing claims of £110m, while claims resulting fr
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Insurers mixed on quake impact
14th Mar 2011 14:07
Insurers Hiscox and Amlin were revealed to be broker Daniel Stewart's preferences within Lloyd's-based insurance stocks. Amlin is making gains, while Hiscox is heading the other way. Sector peer Catlin is also suffering a loss. The broker said that while the scale of the Japanese earthquake is inde
Read moreBroker tips: Carnival, Wetherspoon, reinsurers
14th Mar 2011 12:57
Although Nomura has reduced its target price for Carnival - after the cruise operator lowered its guidance as a result of rising fuel costs - the broker stays with a 'buy' rating. The first quarter results came in at the top end of the guidance range, but the group downgraded its full year earnings
Read moreBroker snap: Quake impact less than expected for insurers
14th Mar 2011 12:22
The scale of the Japanese earthquake is indeed huge, but in terms of an insured loss it appears, at first sight, to be on a more limited scale than might have been expected, according to broker Daniel Stewart. "Given that traditionally the two biggest natural disasters that the insurance has modell
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Japan, Bahrain, Tullett Prebon...
14th Mar 2011 06:33
An explosion rocked Japan's earthquake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Monday, escalating the emergency at the 40-year-old facility north of Tokyo. The blast, captured by television cameras, appeared to have occurred at the plant's No. 3 reactor building, where combustible hydrogen had b
Read moreBoss' s wife splashes out on Standard Life shares
11th Mar 2011 17:18
The wife of Standard Life's chief executive has spent nearly £300,000 on a stake in the insurer, the day after the company announced it had a "good" 2010. Caroline Nish, wife of David, bought 125,000 shares at 2,24p a time, taking the couple's stake to about 550,000 shares. The UK's fourth-largest
Read moreLondon close: Japan gloom stifles rally
11th Mar 2011 16:41
The devastating earthquake in Japan this morning overshadowed today's trading but shares struggled to climb into the blue and finished just a few points short. The tsunami resulting from the earthquake has already killed a large number of people in Japan, with police in the port of Sendai reporting
Read moreSector movers: Insurers shook by earthquake
11th Mar 2011 14:37
The nonlife insurance sector has been hit by worries over the possible effects of the Japan earthquake. Omega Insurance, Amlin and Chaucer are suffering losses of 5% or more. The damage caused by the earthquake and possible after-effects are difficult to assess at this stage. Insurance underwrite
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rally runs out of steam
11th Mar 2011 14:29
An attempt at continuing the late-morning rally fizzled out over the lunch time session, but prices are not as soft as might be expected given the array of bad news out there, such as the Japanese earthquake, the Libyan situation and the continuing concerns about European sovereign debt. The insura
Read moreJapan quake kills hundreds
11th Mar 2011 08:20
Markets around the world were hit by this morning's massive earthquake in Japan, with insurers hit hard as investors attempt to assess the cost of damage wrecked by the tremor and resulting tsunami. The UK non-life insurance sector fell back with Amlin , Catlin and Chaucer finishing lower. Life ins
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