FTSE 100 index rises on hopes of US – China trade war breakthrough January 18, 2019 The FTSE 100 is up more than one per cent this morning on hopes of a breakthrough in trade talks between the US and China. The index was boosted by hopes of progress in the trade war, which were sparked by news reports suggesting that the US is considering reducing tariffs on Chinese imports. Read more: Markets lift [...]
Flawed cyber insurance policies could lead to years of litigation January 17, 2019 The majority of cyber insurance policies on the market are riddled with flaws and may not pay out in the event of a data breach or hack, according to new research. A review by insurance governance company Mactavish of dozens of off-the-shelf cyber policies identified a litany of flaws. Mactavish chief executive Bruce Hepburn said: [...]
Over-50s insurer Saga set to meet profit expectations after sales cruise forward January 16, 2019 Saga, the insurer and package holiday provider for the over-50s, reported overall profitability is in line with expectations today despite a “challenging” market. Forward sales for cruises have been strong, the company reported, with its ship the Spirit of Discovery, which will set sail in June this year, reaching 69 per cent of the sales [...]
Parent trap: the child benefits system has ended up punishing the very people it was designed to protect January 16, 2019 For high-flying parents who earn more than £50,000 a year, the child benefit system will seem ridiculous. You go through the effort of applying for the benefits (over the course of a year, this amounts to £1,000 for the first child, and £700 for each additional child), only for the money to be clawed back [...]
Aberdeen Standard Investments makes $13m investment in digital insurance company Singapore Life January 15, 2019 Asset management firm Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) has announced it will invest $13m (£10.1m) in digital insurance company Singapore Life. The minority equity investment will build on ASI’s existing strategic relationship with the company beyond the management of its fiduciary assets. Singapore Life is the first fully digital insurer in Singapore, and aims to become a [...]
Mark Kleinman’s big predictions for the Square Mile in 2019 January 11, 2019 Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP exit, Unilever’s HQ U-turn, Melrose’s swoop for GKN: 2018 was a year full of surprises in the City. And while forecasting might be a fool’s errand, here are 10 predictions for the year ahead. •Theresa May will decisively lose next week’s “meaningful vote” on Brexit: that’s not a punt that will [...]
Insurer Axa to shift jobs to Dublin in Brexit move January 10, 2019 Insurer Axa is moving staff to Ireland in the light of the UK’s impending exit from the EU. Chief executive of the French insurer Thomas Buberl told reporters today that Axa’s recently acquired XL unit had already made plans to move staff to Ireland from the UK before its takeover by Axa last year. Buberl [...]
Former Lloyd’s of London CEO Inga Beale joins London First board January 10, 2019 Dame Inga Beale, who became the first female chief executive of Lloyd’s of London in 2013, has joined the board of business campaign group London First. The City veteran will assume her role at London First with immediate effect, having announced her departure from Lloyd’s last year. Read more: Lloyd's of London appoints successor to Beale [...]
US insurer Metlife appoints new boss after stock slumps following spin-off January 8, 2019 US insurer Metlife today appointed one of its senior employees as chief executive to take over from the current holder of the role Steve Kandarian. Michel Khalaf, the head of the company’s US and Europe, Middle East and Africa business, will take the reins from 1 May when Kandarian retires. Kandarian has led Metlife for eight [...]
Rothesay plans £3.5bn takeover of Swiss Re division January 5, 2019 Insurance company Rothesay Life is planning a £3.5bn takeover bid for a unit of Swiss Re, derailing plans to list it on the stock market. Rothesay approached reinsurance firm Swiss Re a few weeks ago about the possibility of buying ReAssure, the company's British closed books division, according to Sky News. The company plans to a make a [...]