Sunday 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
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Mar 2014 09:07
Barclays: Nomura reduces target price from 305p to 285p staying with its buy recommendation. Investec lowers target price from 305p to 295p and keeps its buy recommendation. Ferrexpo: Westhouse Securities increases target price from 190p to 220p and reiterates a buy recommendation. F&C Asset Manag
Read moreSector movers: Strong results from Prudential boost life insurers
12th Mar 2014 14:40
Strong results from Prudential gave the life insurance sector a lift on Wednesday after the company impressed with a decent increase in the dividend as profits came in at the top end of analysts' estimates. Even though Prudential was the only life insurance stock to register gains in London, its w
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aviva rises after 2013 results impress
6th Mar 2014 14:49
Shares in insurer Aviva soared after investors celebrated a better-than-expected set of 2013 results as its turnaround under Chief Executive Mark Wilson saw encouraging progress. Operating profits rose 6% year-on-year to £2,049m, some 3% ahead of the consensus estimate of £1,988m. Panmure Gordon w
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pare gains ahead of ECB as BoE holds fire
6th Mar 2014 11:38
- BoE leaves rates on hold - ECB speculation ramps up ahead of decision - Crimea votes to join Russia, referendum set for 10 days - Aviva, Aggreko and Schroders jump after results techMARK 2,894.33 -0.17% FTSE 100 6,784.24 +0.13% FTSE 250 16,663.49 +0.30% UK stocks had trimmed earlier gains by Thu
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