London midday: Insurance stocks push markets higher, but banks fall
26th Mar 2014 11:42
- FTSE 100 at highest since March 11th - Insurers provide a lift, Standard Life and Phoenix in focus - Lloyds drops after government sale, RBS downgraded - ECB, PBoC stimulus hopes and US data drive gains techMARK 2,787.86 +0.51% FTSE 100 6,630.79 +0.39% FTSE 250 16,273.83 +0.75% UK stocks were at
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest start predicted for FTSE
26th Mar 2014 07:24
UK stocks are set to slide slightly higher this morning, tracking gains seen in the US overnight and following a number of significant company news releases early on. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open six points higher than yesterday's close of 6,604.89. A larger-than-expected rise in c
Read moreLegal & General wins 3bn-pound bulk annuity deal
26th Mar 2014 07:06
Financial services firm Legal & General has won a bulk annuity arrangement with the ICI Pension Fund covering 3bn pounds of its liabilities, the largest ever bulk annuity policy arranged by a pension scheme in the UK. It is thought that bulk annuities, which accounted for 70% of the company's own a
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds climbs on rating upgrade
24th Mar 2014 15:48
Investec has upgraded its rating for Lloyds Banking Group from 'hold' to 'buy', telling investors that "it is safe to go back in the water", prompting a strong rise in the share price. "After a 10% 10-week pull-back, we again see reasonable value for a low-risk stock. Upgrade to 'buy'," the broker
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Life insurers, energy companies, supermarkets
23rd Mar 2014 15:45
The chief executives of some of Britain's biggest life insurers have asked regulators to intervene after the Chancellor's announcement of dramatic changes to the pensions market, the Sunday Telegraph said. The insurance bosses have contacted the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulat
Read moreLondon close: Positive finish to week as miners charge higher
21st Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes up 15 points at 6,557 - Feb UK public sector borrowing slightly ahead of forecasts - Eurozone consumer confidence higher than expected techMARK 2,790.85 -0.34% FTSE 100 6,557.17 +0.23% FTSE 250 16,160.11 -0.35% The City ended the week on a positive note, with mining stocks providing
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners jump after recent declines
21st Mar 2014 14:55
Mining stocks were performing well throughout today's session as bargain hunters stepped in following recent weakness in the sector. At Thursday's close, the FTSE 350 mining sector had lost more than 11 per cent over the last four weeks. Anglo American, Antofagasta, and precious metals producer Fres
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks at six-week low after hawkish comments from Yellen
20th Mar 2014 12:01
- Yellen comments rattle markets on tightening fears - FOMC tapers asset purchases by another 10bn dollars/month - Next impresses with full-year results - Changes in Budget continuing to affect stocks techMARK 2,788.04 -1.09% FTSE 100 6,500.19 -1.11% FTSE 250 16,174.99 -1.00% UK stocks dropped sha
Read moreLondon open: Stocks drop after hawkish comments from Yellen
20th Mar 2014 08:21
- Yellen says rate hike could come six months after QE ends - Fed continues to taper by 10bn dollars a month - Next impresses with full-year results techMARK 2,804.74 -0.50% FTSE 100 6,546.18 -0.41% FTSE 250 16,267.89 -0.43% UK stocks fell on Thursday morning, following a sell-off on US and Asian
Read moreLondon close: Impact of Budget felt on FTSE
19th Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 32 points at 6,573 - Focus on Budget, unemployment remains unchanged - Jan Eurozone construction output up by 1.5 per cent techMARK 2,818.76 +0.56% FTSE 100 6,573.13 -0.49% FTSE 250 16,338.84 -0.09% UK stocks finished today's busy session in the red as investors digested the Ch
Read moreLegal & General says annuity changes will have 'far-reaching consequences'
19th Mar 2014 16:06
FTSE 100 Legal & General (L&G) on Wednesday issued a statement admitting that the changes to the annuity market announced in Chancellor George Osborne's Budget would have 'far-reaching consequences'. The group said the impact would be felt in the accumulation and decumulation of pension savings for
Read moreOsborne unveils radical changes to UK pensions
19th Mar 2014 15:55
Shares of Hargreaves Lansdown are at the top of the leaderboard, after the Chancellor today announced that savers will soon benefit from a new breed of tax-free ISAs. From July 1st 2014 investors will be able to put up to £15,000 pounds worth of stocks or bonds into what have been denominated as Ne
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Resolution falls on broker downgrade
19th Mar 2014 15:45
Legal and General fell sharply after Osborne announced in today's Budget that there will be a "radical change" to the pension system, as a result of which half a million people will no longer have to buy an annuity, Elissa Bayer, Senior Investment Director at Investec Wealth & Investment explained.
Read moreSector movers: Housing stocks rise, insurers fall after Budget
19th Mar 2014 14:03
Household goods and home construction stocks were making gains on Wednesday in the aftermath of George Osborne's 2014 Budget, in which he unveiled a number of stimulus measures to boost activity in the housing market. However, the life insurance sector was trading in the red as investors reacted ne
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Bank of England, Protectionism, Listings
19th Mar 2014 07:08
The central bank must focus on both financial stability and inflation. To concentrate just on the latter could turn into a dangerous distraction. In particular, officials must watch against excessive risk-taking amidst an environment of predictably low interest rates, as occurred before the last fin
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