Amlin’s profits battered by strong pound and hail storm catastrophe losses August 18, 2014 Lloyd’s of London insurer Amlin saw its pre-tax profit fall eight per cent for the first half of 2014, with a strong pound and higher than usual catastrophe losses behind the dip. Pre-tax profit fell to £148.5m from £161.4m in the same period a year ago, the FTSE 250 company said in a statement yesterday. [...]
City Views: Has the insurer met analyst expectations? August 18, 2014 HARI SIVAKUMARAN ORIEL SECURITIES The half-year results show better- than-expected profit before tax, despite foreign exchange volatility. The group highlights that the potential for margin still exists, but it remains to be explained why the company continues to grow strongly in reinsurance lines where rates are under pressure. JOANNA PARSONS WESTHOUSE SECURITIES We see these [...]
Women paid £9k less than men and must work until they are 80 to earn the same August 18, 2014 The pay gap between men and women is an astonishing £9,096 on average per year, or 23 per cent, according to new figures released today. Despite attempts to ensure equal pay between the genders, women can still expect to earn less than their male colleagues for the same job, with the gap widest at age [...]
Russian and Ukrainian officials open truce talks in Berlin August 18, 2014 RUSSIAN and Ukrainian ministers are to meet in Berlin today to discuss a possible ceasefire, at talks which will also be attended by ministers from France and Germany. Ukrainian foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, will be joined by Frank-Walter-Steinmeier of Germany and France’s Laurent Fabius at a meeting called to [...]
Yes to independence would see Scotland leave the UK forever August 18, 2014 If Scotland votes “Yes” to independence on 18 September, it will be leaving the UK forever with no opportunity to rejoin, Danny Alexander has warned. The chief secretary to the Treasury and head of the UK’s effort to persuade Scots to stick with the United Kingdom, told The Sunday Telegraph: “It is not like a [...]
Obama gave go-ahead for US airstrike on dam August 18, 2014 The White House said yesterday that President Barack Obama had authorised US air strikes in Iraq to help retake control of the Mosul Dam, which had been held by Islamic State (IS) Sunni jihadis. “The failure of the Mosul Dam could threaten the lives of large numbers of civilians, threaten US personnel and facilities… and [...]
Morgan: government proud of record on female employment August 17, 2014 A MINISTER has hit back at a damning report which levels heavy criticism at the coalition for its record on female employment. The Fawcett Society research suggests that under-employment of women has nearly doubled since 2008, with 371,000 women having moved into self-employment, an occupation the campaign group claims is traditionally poorly paid. Hitting back [...]
Small business boom in line to create 1.9m new jobs this year August 17, 2014 THE UK’s small and micro businesses are responding to the growing economy and are set to create 1.9m new jobs this year, each paying on average £14,405. The jobs could potentially add £27bn to the UK economy in small business wages. Figures from insurer Direct Line also show that 400,000 home-based businesses are taking on [...]
Health and safety watchdog is accused of impartiality over fees August 17, 2014 THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the body responsible for ensuring businesses stick to strict guidelines and protect their employees, is accused of impartiality over the fees it charges to UK companies. The fee for intervention scheme allows the HSE to charge businesses that breach its code, with few challenging the payments. Laura Cameron, a [...]
Infrastructure is neglected August 17, 2014 A REPORT from a leading UK industry group has warned that political stalling and poor forward planning has dramatically hampered the country’s record as an attractive place to invest. Manufacturers’ association, the EEF, is calling for a UK infrastructure authority to put right years of underinvestment in roads, railways and airports. EEF business policy adviser [...]
