Double broker downgrade hits shares in Aviva September 18, 2012 SHARES in insurance giant Aviva slumped four per cent yesterday after two leading analysts reduced their recommendations on the firm. Bank of America Merill Lynch (BAML) and Deutsche Bank both cut their forecasts after concluding that the company’s stock has risen too much since executive chairman John McFarlane announced a radical restructuring plan in July. [...]
BT opens wallet to sign Beeb’s Jake Humphrey September 18, 2012 A FTER a breakthrough 2012 that saw him shine as one of the lead anchors of the BBC’s Olympic coverage, the Beeb’s Formula 1 frontman Jake Humphrey has been snapped up by BT to present its Premier League offering from next season. Humphrey’s signing is the latest big money move from BT, after it shelled [...]
Panda-monium in Washington as investor fuels bearish boom September 18, 2012 BILLIONAIRE private equity investor David Rubenstein, co-founder of Carlyle Group, has added another string to his bow – as panda godparent. On Monday, Rubenstein got the latest return on his investment in the form of a new giant panda cub called Mei Xiang, which was born thanks to techniques developed at a facility in Washington [...]
FTSE feels pain from Spain as the Eurozone waits for a bailout plea September 18, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index eased for a second day yesterday, retreating further off recent six-month highs on uncertainty over whether steps taken by the US and Europe will be enough to kick-start the global economy. In UK’s top trading partner the Eurozone, a big hurdle is Spain. Madrid’s reluctance to make a formal request for [...]
London Welsh break Premiership duck in second half fightback September 16, 2012 LONDON Welsh picked up their first ever Aviva Premiership victory against Exeter Chiefs yesterday and head coach Lyn Jones admits they have come a long way since their opening day loss to Leicester Tigers. A last-gasp try from Ed Jackson and Seb Jewell’s subsequent conversion added to the drama at the Kassam Stadium as the [...]
Sarries can win plaudits as well as trophies, says flanker Fraser September 13, 2012 SARACENS flanker Will Fraser insists they will prove their critics wrong this season, delighting and dominating in equal measure as they bid to reclaim the Aviva Premiership crown. Sarries, who face Leicester Tigers at Wembley tomorrow, reached the play-offs last season but came in for criticism for failing to excite – an accusation Flanker believes [...]
BT adds rugby to its TV offering September 12, 2012 BT has secured a £152m deal for the rights to show Premiership rugby union matches on its TV service, in the latest aggressive move from the company after its shock grab of Premier League football rights. The four-year contract, which allows BT to show 69 live games a year from the start of the 2013-14 [...]
Who’s switching jobs September 12, 2012 Axa UK Yves Masson has been appointed to the position of chief executive of personal direct and partnerships at the UK division of the insurance and asset management group. He has worked at Axa since 1985, and was most recently chief executive of Axa Direct Assurance. Masson has also previously served as chief executive of [...]
City Moves | Who’s switching Jobs September 11, 2012 Arbuthnot Latham The private bank has appointed Liz Bottomley to the role of head of private banking. She most recently worked for Coutts, where she was senior manager and client partner in its international private banking division. Bottomley has over 25 years’ experience in the industry, and takes up her position with immediate effect. Old [...]
City Moves Who’s switching jobs September 9, 2012 RSA Caroline Ramsay has been appointed group chief auditor at the insurance company. She replaces Anne Jaeger, who has become chief risk and compliance officer for RSA Scandinavia. Ramsay joined the firm in 2007 as group financial planning and analysis director, and was most recently UK and Western Europe finance director. Signia Wealth The wealth [...]