FTSE remains flat as takeover moves are offset by weak Japanese survey August 16, 2010 BRITAIN’S top shares closed flat yesterday as concerns over economic recovery after weak data from Japan offset firmer miners, led up by Vedanta Resources which made its play for a controlling stake in Cairn India. The FTSE 100 ended up 0.66 points at 5,276.10, having closed up 0.2 per cent on Friday. “Investors continue to [...]
Mall owner disposes of four sites August 16, 2010 THE Mall Fund, a major investor in shopping centres in the UK, yesterday offloaded four sites for £135.9m. The fund, set up by Capital & Regional and Aviva Investors in 2002, sold the shopping centres to clients of Rockspring Property Investment Managers as part of its drive to cut debts. The Liberty 2 Shopping Centre [...]
Aviva investors tell RSA to up £5bn offer August 15, 2010 INVESTORS in Aviva have said rival RSA must increase its £5bn offer if it wants to walk away with the insurer’s property and casualty business. Aviva immediately rejected the surprise offer for its general insurance arms in the UK, Ireland and Canada, made in a letter from RSA chairman John Napier last month. There are no [...]
Aviva rebuffs £5bn bid from RSA August 13, 2010 INSURER RSA has approached rival Aviva about buying its general insurance operations in the UK and elsewhere for £5bn, Sky News has reported. Aviva declined to comment, while RSA was not immediately available. The approach was immediately rejected by the Aviva board, and there are no ongoing discussions between the companies, accoring to the report. [...]
Standard Life profit up on overseas expansion August 11, 2010 INSURER Standard Life reaped the benefits of growth at its overseas division to post higher interim profits. Operating profit before tax from continuing operations rose ten per cent from last year to £182m, helped by growth overseas in areas such as Canada and India. Net inflows rose 71 per cent to £5.3bn, while the company [...]
Investing with a conscience has the potential for long-term rewards August 10, 2010 THE need for responsible investment has never been more relevant in the wake of the BP Deepwater disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and multinational oil companies’ controversial activities in the Canadian tar sands. Responsible investment has traditionally been seen as a domain for militant activists and students whereby stocks that do not meet certain [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF August 10, 2010 Simmonds leads British 1-2 SWIMMING: Lizzie Simmonds led Britain to a one-two finish in the 200m backstroke at the European Championships in Budapest yesterday. Gemma Spofforth took silver as Simmonds, the world No1 at 200m this year, sealed gold in a time of two minutes 7.04 seconds. Earlier in the day, Britain’s Liam Tancock battled [...]
Banks boost FTSE past the 5,400 mark after quiet day August 9, 2010 FINANCIAL stocks boosted the UK’s leading share index yesterday, rallying from falls in the previous session following weak US jobs data and supported by energy markers which gained in tandem with crude. The FTSE 100 was up 78.13 points, or 1.5 per cent, at 5,410.52, having closed 0.6 per cent lower on Friday, albeit in [...]
Aviva sees its profit leap as slashes costs August 5, 2010 AVIVA increased its market capitalisation by almost three quarters of a billion pounds yesterday, after its London-listed shares soared on better-than-expected half-year profits. Aviva shares, which have underperformed the sector over the course of the year so far, added 7.18 per cent over the day to close at 394.3p, valuing the group at £11.06bn. The [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF AVIVA’S RESULTS? August 5, 2010 BARRIE CORNES | PANMURE GORDON These were great figures pretty much across the board. The life operation was the star performer, driven in part by improving new business margins – specifically in the UK, where the 3.4 per cent margin was very impressive and benefited from a favourable product mix, with a shift to annuities [...]