London close: Markets unfazed as central banks hold fire
7th Mar 2013 17:06
The FTSE 100 finished with moderate gains on Thursday as investors digested policy-rate decisions in both the UK and Europe. Matt Basi, the Head of UK Sales Trading at CMC Markets, said European stock markets experienced "jittery trade" with traders pausing for thought after the significant gains o
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva dives after slashing dividend
7th Mar 2013 15:04
Insurance giant Aviva was forced to slash to dividend after swinging into the red in 2012, after taking a 3.3bn-pound write-down on a disposal in the US. Aviva also said that its overall situation does not warrant bonuses for executive directors for 2012 or pay rises for 2013. Shares dropped sharply
Read moreSector movers: Aviva and Standard Life weigh on insurance sector
7th Mar 2013 14:34
A surprise dividend cut from Aviva meant that the life insurance sector was the worst performing category on Thursday as shares in the UK firm plummeted. The stock was down 11.6% at 318p in afternoon trade after the company swung to a loss after tax of £3.05bn in 2012, compared with a profit of £60
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain as BoE holds fire
7th Mar 2013 11:59
Stocks were making moderate gains by Thursday lunchtime despite the Bank of England (BoE) refraining from further easing to boost the UK economy. At noon, the BoE revealed that policy-makers had voted to maintain interest rates at their record-low level of 0.5% (where they have been since March 200
Read moreBroker tips: Aviva, Aggreko, Melrose
7th Mar 2013 11:32
Panmure Gordon it has downgraded its rating for insurance group Aviva from 'buy' to 'hold' after the company announced a surprise cut in the dividend on Thursday. "The clarification on the dividend may remove an issue that we believe has hindered Aviva's valuation, but we think the market will righ
Read moreBroker snap: Panmure Gordon downgrades Aviva after divi cut
7th Mar 2013 09:43
Shares in insurance group Aviva plummeted on Thursday morning after the company announced a surprise cut in the dividend; while Panmure Gordon thinks the move will remove some uncertainty, it has downgraded its rating for the stock from 'buy' to 'hold'. The 2012 full-year dividend was slashed by 27
Read moreLondon open: Fed comments provide support ahead of BoE, ECB
7th Mar 2013 08:43
The FTSE 100 held on to recent gains on Thursday morning ahead of central-bank policy decisions in the UK and Europe, as comments from the Federal Reserve provided some support. According to the Fed's Beige Book released last night, the US economy expanded at a "modest to moderate pace" at the star
Read moreAviva slashes divi after swinging to a loss in 2012 - UPDATE
7th Mar 2013 07:06
Insurance giant Aviva was forced to slash to dividend after swinging into the red in 2012, as it took a 3.3bn-pound write-down on a disposal in the US. Aviva also said that its overall situation does not warrant bonuses for executive directors for 2012 or pay rises for 2013. The insurer swung to
Read moreThursday preview: All eyes on the central banks
6th Mar 2013 16:30
Several FTSE 350 stocks will be reporting full-year results on Thursday but the markets' focus will undoubtedly be on central-bank policy decisions in the UK and Europe. The Bank of England's (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee is due to reveal its policy decision at midday. While the record-low rate
Read moreAviva continues to narrow its focus after another disposal
27th Feb 2013 07:13
UK insurance giant Aviva has sold its life and pensions operations in Russia in an effort to 'narrow' its focus. The company said on Wednesday morning that Aviva Russia had been sold to Blagosostoyanie, a non-state pension fund in Russia, for a total consideration of €35m in cash. Aviva said that
Read moreLondon close: Stocks tank after Fed wavers on QE
21st Feb 2013 16:40
Hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve weighed heavily on markets on Thursday with cyclical stocks bearing the brunt of the sell-off as traders looked to book some profits after a strong run in recent months. The FTSE 100 was boosted on Wednesday to highs not seen since January 2008 after minute
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BAE Systems rises on share buyback
21st Feb 2013 15:37
UK defence giant BAE Systems may have posted a fall in sales and earnings in 2012, but shares gained strongly after the company initiated a share buy-back worth 1.0bn pounds over the next three years. British supermarket Sainsbury has said no horsemeat was found in its beef products following 250
Read moreSector movers: Insurers and miners take a hit
20th Feb 2013 15:21
Insurance and resources stocks were taking a hit on Wednesday with some heavy falls from RSA weighing on the insurance sector and falling metals prices dampening the mining category. Full-year results from RSA came in broadly in line with analysts' estimates, but a 33% reduction in the dividend sur
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RSA dives after firm unveils dividend cut
20th Feb 2013 15:13
Full-year results from RSA Insurance were largely in line with estimates, with extreme wet weather in the UK and earthquakes in Italy contributing to a 5.9 per cent fall in operating profit. However, shares tanked after the firm unveiled a 33 per cent cut in its annual dividend due to the likelihood
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: InterContinental Hotels dives on falling RevPAR
19th Feb 2013 15:28
Holiday Inn owner InterContinental Hotels became the worst performer on the FTSE after saying that revenue per available room (RevPAR) had fallen 5.2 per cent in 2012. Nevertheless, strong growth in the US and cost cuts helped to produce a 10 per cent increase in operating profits. Vodafone Group
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