London pre-open: Stocks seen higher on upbeat US cues
3rd May 2016 07:28
(ShareCast News) - London stocks were expected to open in the black on Tuesday, taking their cue from a positive session in the US as traders return to their desks following the long bank holiday weekend. The FTSE 100 was seen opening 28 points higher than Friday's close at 6,270. On the data front
Read moreAviva increases stake in India venture to 49%
3rd May 2016 07:21
(ShareCast News) - Aviva said it has completed the acquisition of an additional 23% share in Aviva India from its joint venture partner Dabur Invest Corp. The acquisition follows recent regulatory changes which allowed Aviva to increase its shareholding to 49%, the maximum allowed under India's fore
Read moreBroker tips: Aviva, Diageo, Astrazeneca
12th Apr 2016 12:42
(ShareCast News) - Recent underperformance led analysts at Credit Suisse to remove Aviva from their Europe Focus List, but they expected the stock's price to close the gap versus its peers over the next few years. The decision to remove the stock from that list was triggered by the shares' breach of
Read moreCredit Suisse eliminates Aviva from Europe Focus List
12th Apr 2016 11:36
(ShareCast News) - Recent underperformance led analysts at Credit Suisse to remove Aviva from their Europe Focus List, but they expected the stock's price to close the gap versus its peers over the next few years. The decision to remove the stock from that list was triggered by the shares' breach of
Read moreDirector dealings: Hikma boss buys £600K worth of shares
5th Apr 2016 17:15
(ShareCast News) - The chairman and chief executive of Hikma Pharmaceuticals has purchased more than £600,000 worth of shares in the drugmaker. Said Darwazah bought 30,000 shares for 2,055.00p each, totalling £616,499.98 JP Morgan on Wednesday reiterated its 'overweight' rating on the stock and set
Read moreWednesday newspaper share tips: Legal&General, Inchcape
16th Mar 2016 15:16
(ShareCast News) - Worries surrounding Legal&General's capital position and future dividends appeared to be unjustified, The Times's Tempus said. The insurer's full-year capital surplus, on the basis of the European Solvency II requirements, printed at £5.5bn or about 169% of what it required to sup
Read moreSector movers: Financials pace gains, led by Aviva
11th Mar 2016 18:44
(ShareCast News) - Financials led gains at the end of the week in a delayed reaction to the barrage of easing measures unleashed by the European Central Bank in the previous session. On 10 March, the ECB ramped up its policy stimulus, which appeared to be crafted so as to stoke lending to the real e
Read moreFriday newspaper share tips: Aviva, Morrisons
11th Mar 2016 17:48
(ShareCast News) - Prudential is not the only insurer that has set aside a hefty stash of capital to deal with unexpected troubles. According to Aviva's full-year figures the company's solvency capital ratio, the difference between its reserves and what it might need, was at 180% by year-end, with a
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva leads as it beats expectations
10th Mar 2016 14:39
(ShareCast News) - The FTSE 100 was trading in the red on Thursday afternoon, as the markets were left to digest surprise stimulus moves from the European Central Bank. Aviva was leading the risers, after it beat forecasts with a 20% operating profit increase. The insurer also reported a solvency ca
Read moreAviva reports profit well ahead of expectations
10th Mar 2016 07:18
(ShareCast News) - Aviva reported operating profits of £2.7bn in a mammoth final results on Thursday, an increase of 20% on last year. It said the contribution from new acquisition Friends Life of £554m, and £103m of underlying growth more than offset foreign exchange headwinds. The firm's full-year
Read moreCredit Suisse adds to overweight position on insurers
9th Mar 2016 12:14
(ShareCast News) - Credit Suisse on Wednesday reiterated its upbeat stance on the insurance sector, adding to its 'overweight' position and recommended investors on "sustainable" yield plays. However, the broker pointed out how the sector was "very sensitive" to credit spreads - which were pricing i
Read moreAviva appoints ex-Goldman Sachs executive to board
8th Feb 2016 10:09
(ShareCast News) - Aviva has appointed Claudia Arney as an independent non-executive director with immediate effect. The FTSE 100 insurance and asset management company announced the appointment on Monday. Arney has a wide range of experience as both an executive and non-executive director across
Read moreAviva acquires RBC's home and motor insurance arm
21st Jan 2016 12:42
(ShareCast News) - Insurer Aviva's Canadian arm has agreed to acquire the home and motor insurance business of RBC Insurance for £281m. The deal, which is expected to enhance Aviva's operating earnings and increase Aviva Canada's gross written premiums by 20%, includes an agreement to continue exclu
Read moreBroker tips: BAE Systems, UK life assurers, Big Yellow
11th Jan 2016 13:19
(ShareCast News) - JP Morgan Cazenove believes 2016 will be a big year for defence stocks and has upgraded BAE Systems from 'neutral' to 'overweight'. The investment bank on Monday cited a major escalation in geo-political tensions as a reason why it will be a good year for the sector, as well as it
Read moreDeutsche Bank reviews UK life assurers; notes uncertain outlook
11th Jan 2016 12:07
(ShareCast News) - Deutsche Bank adjusted its ratings on London-listed life assurers as it took a look at the UK sector, saying the outlook was uncertain on a number of fronts. The bank said most UK life assurers continue to offer the potential for structural long-term growth with attractive dividen
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