NAB snaps up Challenger unit August 18, 2009 National Australia Bank, the top lender in Australia, said yesterday it has agreed to buy Challenger Financial Services’ mortgage unit for A$385m (£192m) to up its market share. NAB said the deal would give it an additional A$4bn worth of residential mortgages. The acquisition follows its purchase of Aviva’s Australian businesses in June for A$825m, [...]
Fears over pace of economic recovery see FTSE stumble August 17, 2009 THE FTSE 100 fell 1.5 per cent by the close yesterday with mining, oil and banking stocks leading the losers, as global markets retracted amid concerns over the pace of global recovery. The index closed 68.96 points lower at 4,645.01, extending losses from Friday when it shed 0.9 per cent and marking its biggest one [...]
Aviva to launch property fund August 16, 2009 Aviva Investors, the asset management arm of the insurance group, is poised to launch a £250m fund to take advantage of the depressed commercial property market. Aviva’s real estate team, which is headed by chief executive Ian Womack, is understood to have begun contacting potential investors for the so-called “opportunities fund” ahead of an official [...]
The Pru raises its dividend as boss departs August 13, 2009 INSURER Prudential outpaced its rivals yesterday when it raised its interim dividend and reported a smaller-than-expected drop in first-half profit. The UK’s largest insurer said its operating profit fell eight per cent to £1.25bn on the widely recognised European embedded value measure (EEV) – which tracks future earnings from life insurance policies – compared to [...]
Catlin for 20 Gracechurch August 11, 2009 CATLIN, the biggest underwriter in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, has made an offer for a 120,000 sq ft space at 20 Gracechurch Street. In what is the second biggest City property deal this year City A.M. can exclusively reveal the insurer will be paying around £45 per square foot for 15 years. It [...]
International Power leading the way for defensive stocks August 11, 2009 THE LARGE cap index shed 1.1 per cent yesterday, knocked by weakness in heavyweight banks, miners, and oils, but defensive stocks were back in favour once again. The FTSE 100 was 50.86 points lower at 4,671.34 by the close of the session, weakening for a second day after hitting a 10-month closing high of 4,731.56 [...]
Funds buy up UK property August 10, 2009 PROPERTY fund managers are storming back into the UK market, believing the correction has now ended and bricks and mortar assets are looking cheap. Managers believe the collapse of the property bubble has created a wealth of investment opportunities, with Henderson’s Herald fund and F&C’s Commercial Property Trust both diving back in to the UK [...]
Bank inflation report due as City heads for holiday season August 9, 2009 With the streets of the City emptying as weary workers head for sunnier climes, the torrent of company results slows to a trickle this week, but the markets will be scrutinising the Bank of England’s quarterly inflation report. The Bank, which releases its report on Wednesday, is expected to predict that inflation will stay low [...]
Aviva plans Dutch listing of Delta Lloyd August 6, 2009 INSURER Aviva saw its shares rocket yesterday after it said profits recovered strongly in the first half as it unveiled plans to offer 25 to 30 per cent of its Dutch unit Delta Lloyd to markets in a move that could raise €1bn (£855m). Shares of the firm surged by 9.7 per cent after the [...]
Bank decision boosts market as the bankwagon rolls on August 6, 2009 THE LARGE-CAP index closed higher yesterday, driven by strength from banks after the Bank of England (BoE) surprised markets by expanding its quantitive easing plan to £175bn. The FTSE 100 closed 43.40 points higher, or 0.9 per cent, at 4,690.53, after hitting a fresh 2009 intraday high of 4,729.58 following the BoE announcement. The BoE [...]