Aviva announces Delta Lloyd terms
19th Oct 2009 15:09
Insurance giant Aviva is set to earn more than €1bn from its proposed spin-off of a large part of its Dutch financial services subsidiary, Delta Lloyd. The insurer announced on 5 October that it would be sell a minority stake in Delta Lloyd and has now confirmed that it will sell 42% of the company
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Property plays boosted by broker upgrade
19th Oct 2009 15:01
Property stocks are among the best performers today after a positive note on the sector from Evolution Securities, which has upped its ratings for British Land, Liberty International and Segro. Miners are going well on higher metal prices, led by the two bid antagonists Anglo American and and Xstr
Read moreSector movers: Broker boosts property stocks
19th Oct 2009 14:55
Real estate stocks are going well after a cheery note on the sector from the broker Evolution Securities. British Land, Liberty International and Segro, all of which have been upgraded by Evolution, are posting good gains. The life insurance sector is in the red, with Aviva the heaviest faller. I
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares consolidate gains
19th Oct 2009 14:39
After racing off to a fast start leading equities have largely consolidated the gains made in the first hour of trading. Property stocks are among the best performers after a positive note on the sector from Evolution Securities, which has upped its ratings for British Land, Liberty International
Read moreLondon midday: More gains for Footsie
19th Oct 2009 12:14
Mining and property stocks have sparked another strong morning for the FTSE 100 index. Miners Fresnillo, Kazakhmys, Vedanta, Anglo American, Xstrata and Antofagasta are leading the way. Property stocks are lifted by a positive note on the sector from Evolution Securities, which has upped its rat
Read moreLondon close: Sainsbury leads retreat
7th Oct 2009 17:03
After yesterday's 2.26% gain on the Footsie the blue-chip index took a small step backwards today, with half an eye on the US market where the third quarter results season is about to get underway. Supermarket chain Sainsbury was the worst performing blue-chip as sales growth figures disappointed.
Read moreHodges to head Aviva UK
6th Oct 2009 11:46
Life insurer Aviva is bringing its UK businesses under one chief executive, Mark Hodges, currently head of the UK life insurance business. Forty four year-old Hodges, with Aviva since 1991, will also lead the general insurance business, which has been reshaped by Igal Mayer, from 1 January 2010. M
Read moreLondon close: Footsie puts on late spurt
5th Oct 2009 17:16
Having been lethargic all day leading shares put on a late spurt in London, after receiving a transatlantic boost in the form of better than expected data from the US services sector. Miners featured prominently among the top performers, helped by bullish comment from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners on the march
5th Oct 2009 12:16
Miners feature prominently among the top performers, helped by bullish comment from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). RBS has upgraded Antofagasta from 'sell' to 'buy'. RBS reiterated its 'hold' rating for Eurasian Natural Resources but has raised its price target from 670p to 850p. Royal Bank of Scotl
Read moreLondon midday: Shares still sluggish
5th Oct 2009 12:13
Equities are in sluggish mood on the first day of trading this week and the leading share index sits just below the 5,000 point level. Life insurer Aviva is the heaviest faller in the FTSE 100 after it confirmed it is to sell a minority stake in its Dutch insurance business Delta Lloyd through a fl
Read moreLondon open: Quiet start for Footsie
5th Oct 2009 08:43
London has made a cautious start with markets still seemingly unsettled by last week's US jobs data. Over here, Aviva has confirmed it is to sell a minority stake in its Dutch insurance business Delta Lloyd through a float on Euronext in Amsterdam. No more details were released, but weekend reports
Read moreLondon pre-open: Heading higher
5th Oct 2009 07:22
Expect a partial recovery from Friday's sell-off as investors, looking as higher US futures prices, continue to buy on the dips. London is set to start about 20 points higher, according to City sources, while early indications are that Wall Street will add about the same when it opens later. Over
Read moreAviva to sell Delta Lloyd stake
5th Oct 2009 07:07
Life insurance group Aviva has confirmed it is to sell a minority stake in its Dutch insurance business Delta Lloyd through a float on Euronext in Amsterdam. No more details were released, but weekend reports had suggested Aviva would sell between 30-40% of Delta and value it at about £4bn. In a b
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: BAE Systems, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland
5th Oct 2009 06:19
BAE Systems is prepared to settle the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) six-year investigation into allegations of bribery in Africa and Eastern Europe, but will not do so "at any cost". The defence contractor is understood to be keen to resolve the issue, one way or the other, to draw a line under the
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: BAE Systems, Aviva, Lloyds Banking
4th Oct 2009 10:09
Directors of BAE Systems rejected a £300m settlement of a Serious Fraud Office investigation after receiving advice they would leave themselves open to civil lawsuits for a misuse of shareholders' funds. The offer, made by the SFO in recent weeks, came after lengthy talks over a plea bargain deal t
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