Aviva reports 'calm and stable' first quarter
15th May 2014 07:00
'Reassuring calm and stable' was the message set out by Aviva Chief Executive Mark Wilson in the insurer's first-quarter trading update, with the value of new business (VNB) growing solidly despite weather and regulatory developments. VNB - Aviva's key measure of growth in life insurance - improved
Read moreLegal & General the top pick in changing UK life insurance sector, says Berenberg
17th Apr 2014 12:51
Berenberg has said that Legal & General remains its 'preferred play' in the life insurance sector following the recent major shake-up of the annuity and savings markets in the UK. The broker called it a "brave new world" for the industry which will be transformed by the end of quasi-compulsory annu
Read moreAviva to simplify Italian joint venture structures
16th Apr 2014 07:47
Insurance giant Aviva has unveiled plans to restructure its life joint ventures in Italy, in a bid to simplify what is currently a complex structure. The FTSE 100 group has two joint ventures with UBI Banca, one 50% owned by Aviva and the other 50% owned by Aviva S.p.A., which is a joint venture b
Read moreAviva to dispose of stake in Woori Aviva Life Insurance
14th Apr 2014 08:51
Insurance giant Aviva has agreed to sell its entire 47 per cent stake in its South Korean business Woori Aviva Life Insurance (WALI) to NongHyup Financial Group (NHFG), it announced on Monday. WALI, which is majority owned by Woori Financial Holdings, has also agreed to sell its stake to NHFG as p
Read moreFCA appoints lawyer to conduct insurance leak investigation
9th Apr 2014 08:26
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has appointed an independent lawyer to conduct an investigation into leaked information about a review of the insurance sector. The regulator on Tuesday afternoon said it had appointed a partner at law firm Clifford Chance, Simon Davis, to conduct an inquiry, b
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Insurance, Sports Direct, Tesco
6th Apr 2014 08:57
The Financial Conduct Authority ignored Bank of England warnings that it had created a false market in insurance shares for more than five hours, the Sunday Times writes. A newspaper report that the FCA planned a clampdown on insurance policies going back up to 30 years caused shares of Legal & Gene
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Insurers lead upside after recent falls
4th Apr 2014 14:43
Insurance groups RSA, Resolution and Aviva all made decent gains, bucking the trend of recent times, hit by both the Budget statement and the Financial Conduct Authority's plans to review old insurance policies. Pearson was higher after Jefferies upgraded the publisher to 'buy' and raised its targ
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Sports Direct, Glencore, Prudential
3rd Apr 2014 07:19
Management at Sports Direct is licking its wounds after being forced into a second humiliating climbdown over a proposed reward scheme for its Chief Mike Ashley. Overnight institutional investors revolted against the proposal to hand Ashley shares worth more than 72.5m pounds. As a result the compan
Read moreLondon midday: Markets edge higher but gains limited
2nd Apr 2014 11:48
- Stocks extend three-week high - ECB, US data ahead - Antofagasta unharmed by Chile quake - Sports Direct extends gains on expansion potential techMARK 2,795.73 +0.42% FTSE 100 6,666.62 +0.21% FTSE 250 16,470.77 +0.39% The FTSE 100 had pushed into positive territory by Wednesday lunchtime, but ga
Read moreLondon open: Markets hold at three-week high
2nd Apr 2014 08:59
- Markets flat ahead of ECB, US data - Antofagasta operations unaffected by Chile quake - Domino's, ASOS impress with results techMARK 2,788.47 +0.16% FTSE 100 6,650.51 -0.03% FTSE 250 16,413.15 +0.03% UK stocks were flat at a three-week high on Wednesday morning as investors paused for breath ahe
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
2nd Apr 2014 08:48
Aberdeen Asset Management: Canaccord Genuity reduces target price from 540p to 460p, while its buy recommendation is kept. Anglo American: JP Morgan ups target price from 1260p to 1300p, while leaving its underweight rating unchanged. Aviva: JP Morgan raises target price from 528p to 570p maintain
Read moreLondon close: Stocks lower as investors tread cautiously
31st Mar 2014 16:58
- ECB under pressure to move on rates - Stocks erase gains but near three-week highs - Copper futures lower ahead of manufacturing PMIs - Small Russian troop pull back techMARK 2,764.65 +0.09% FTSE 100 6,598.37 -0.26% FTSE 250 16,273.72 +0.57% UK stocks ended the day slightly lower as investors op
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Babcock gains on nuclear contract
31st Mar 2014 14:00
Babcock International Group was the top riser on Monday after confirming the UK government has chosen the engineering company to manage the decommissioning of 12 nuclear sites. Rio Tinto and Anglo American gained after Credit Suisse named the companies as its top picks in the metals and mining sec
Read moreLondon midday: Gains erased after Eurozone inflation data
31st Mar 2014 11:37
- Eurozone CPI surprises to the downside - Stocks erase gains but at three-week high - Babcock gains on nuclear contract - Anglo, Rio lead miners higher after Credit Suisse comments techMARK 2,764.82 +0.09% FTSE 100 6,621.96 +0.10% FTSE 250 16,225.36 +0.27% UK stocks had erased gains by Monday lun
Read moreLondon open: Stocks at three-week high ahead of data-heavy week
31st Mar 2014 08:29
- Busy week for economic data - German retail sales rise, Eurozone CPI ahead - Insurance stocks rebound after heavy falls techMARK 2,778.57 +0.59% FTSE 100 6,657.68 +0.64% FTSE 250 16,276.97 +0.59% UK stocks were trading at a three-week high on Monday morning as investors began the week in a bulli
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