Broker snap: Panmure Gordon lifts Aviva price target
9th Aug 2010 11:05
Panmure Gordon is upgrading its earnings forecasts for Aviva after much better than expected interim results from the insurance giant last week. "On a market consistent embedded value (MCEV) operating profit basis we have increased 2010 forecast to £3,886m (+12%) from £3312m (-5%) driven by improv
Read moreSunday tips round-up: J Sainsbury, Rio Tinto, Aviva...
8th Aug 2010 09:03
The economic outlook is uncertain, but whatever the scenario, people still have to eat. Sainsbury's has become increasingly popular with consumers, the shares at 347p offer a decent 4.4% yield and there is always the possibility of a takeover from the Qatar Investment Authority, which bid unsucce
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes lower
5th Aug 2010 16:56
Blue chips closed lower on a mixed day for company results. Insurers rose on the back of figures from Aviva and RSA, but banks slipped back on Barclays' numbers. Disappointing unemployment data from the US also undermined confidence, while the decision from the Bank of England and ECB to keep inter
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Insurers please market
5th Aug 2010 15:40
Strong results from insurers are offsetting disappointing figures from other Footsie companies. Aviva reported a better-than-expected 21% rise in its half-year profit, while RSA Insurance Group announced revenue growth in all geographic regions and a 'resilient underwriting result' in what was a t
Read moreSector movers: Food stocks turn sour
5th Aug 2010 14:43
Investors have lost their appetite for food producers after a good day yesterday. Hovis bread maker Premier Foods gave the sector a lift despite posting a fall in profits and saying high wheat prices will hurt the full year figures. But investors have been digesting figures from Unilever, maker of
Read moreLondon afternoon: Insurers in demand
5th Aug 2010 14:23
Company results have divided opinion in the market today leaving the FTSE 100 in a mixed-up mood, while second-liners make decisive headway. Insurers are doing their bit to push the market higher with Aviva and RSA Insurance both firmer after releasing figures. Aviva reported a better-than-expect
Read moreAviva profit beats expectations
5th Aug 2010 08:46
Insurer Aviva is on the rise on Thursday after it reported a better-than-expected 21% rise in its half-year profit. Aviva posted an IFRS operating profit of £1.27bn in the first six months of the year, up from £1.05bn a year ago and higher than forecasts of £1.15bn. The group also grew sales for t
Read moreRBS reshapes Aviva partnership
5th Aug 2010 07:39
State-owned lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and insurance giant Aviva have confirmed that they are to renew their strategic partnership. RBS has signed non-binding heads of terms with a view to entering into a new distribution agreement with Aviva, replacing the current partnership arrangement
Read moreThursday preview: Barclays, Aviva, RSA, BoE rate decision
4th Aug 2010 17:32
On what may well be the busiest day of the year for company results the likes of Aviva, Barclays, Cobham, Randgold Resources, Rio Tinto, RSA Insurance, Schroders, Smith & Nephew and Unilever will be wrestling each other for prominent coverage. Investment analysts will be waiting to see whether Barc
Read moreLondon afternoon: Fire sale at BP continues
3rd Aug 2010 14:14
After yesterday's dramatic rise London is taking a pause for breath today and either digesting the steady stream of big company results already out this week or preparing for results from the giants of the insurance and banking sectors later this week. Insurance colossus Aviva , scheduled to releas
Read moreLondon close: Footsie fights back
3rd Aug 2010 09:28
Footsie fought hard to finish in the blue after easing back following yesterday's surge, and was just a whisker short of positive territory at trading's close. An improvement on Wall Street after a shaky start breathed life into London's leading share index. Insurance colossus Aviva , scheduled to
Read morePRESS RELEASE: Aviva USA Names Christopher Welp to Lead Insurance Operations
2nd Aug 2010 16:01
DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 02, 2010-- Aviva USA, part of Aviva plc, the world's fifth largest insurance group, has named Christopher R. Welp executive vice president / insurance operations for the Des Moines-based company. Welp currently serves as chief operating officer for ING's
Read moreUK Life Insurers To Post Higher 1H Earnings, Dividends
2nd Aug 2010 13:16
By Vladimir Guevarra Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)--Many of the U.K.'s top life insurance companies are expected over the next three weeks to report slightly higher first-half earnings and interim dividends, boosted by cuts in costs, a focus on margins and some recovery in sales
Read moreGroup Seeks Overhaul Of Global Business-Reporting Standards -FT
1st Aug 2010 23:36
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES A new coalition, which includes numerous businesses and corporations, as well as regulators, nonprofit group and securities exchanges, is working to create the framework of a standardized global reporting model for businesses, which it hopes to present to the Group of 20 by
Read morePRESS RELEASE: US$325 Million Reserve Financing Transaction for Aviva USA Corporation
13th Jul 2010 13:04
DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2010-- Aviva Life and Annuity Company ("ALAC") and Aviva Life and Annuity Company of New York ("ALACNY"), the principal operating subsidiaries of Aviva USA Corporation, a member of the Aviva Group, and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank ("Cr
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