FTSE 100 close: London markets rally after ‘blockbuster’ Nvidia results as investors bet rates are nearing peak August 24, 2023 London markets stood out among global peers as investors bet that the Bank of England was nearing the end of their rate hiking cycle. The bluechip FTSE 100 index climbed 0.24 per cent to trade at 7,338.16 The midcap FTSE 250 index slipped 0.11 per cent to 18,206.37. Indexes in Paris and Frankfurt fell, having [...]
Aviva’s UK unit testing AI for ‘quicker solutions’ August 21, 2023 The head of Aviva’s UK unit has revealed that the insurance giant is experimenting with artificial intelligence across its business. Adam Winslow, CEO of Aviva UK & Ireland General Insurance, told the Insurance Post that virtual assistants and chatbots were the “obvious next step” for offering customers “quicker solutions to whatever their query is”. “There [...]
FTSE 100 live: London flat after inflation fall as Admiral and Aviva lead gains August 16, 2023 The FTSE 100 started Tuesday flat with investors still worried about a further rate hike by the Bank of England despite a drop in inflation. The capital’s premier blue-chip index opened low, fluctuating between 0 and 0.01 per cent in the first hour of trading, sitting at 7,388.08 by 09.45. Headline inflation dropped to 6.8 [...]
Aviva hikes dividend payout after profits boost August 16, 2023 Insurance giant Aviva has hiked its payout to shareholders today after posting a boost in profits in the first half of the year on the back of growth across the group. In its half year results this morning, the FTSE 100 firm said operating profits had grown eight per cent to £715m in the first [...]
FTSE 100 close: London subdued on quiet earnings day as YouGov mulls US listing August 14, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 started the week in subdued fashion, as a quiet earnings day was overshadowed by reports that YouGov is mulling a US listing. The capital’s premier blue chip index closed the day on 7,495.24 points, down 0.88 per cent, while the FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the domestic economy, was [...]
Shaftesbury secures £200m loan as property giant juggles debt arrangements August 14, 2023 Newly formed London property giant Shaftesbury Capital has launched a new 10-year loan of £200m secured against a portfolio of assets within the Carnaby estate. The major London landlord said the financing highlights the “attractiveness” of the company’s mainly retail and leisure portfolio to a “broad range of institutional capital”. The loan will sit alongside [...]
Aviva, L&G and Admiral to report next week as long-time insurance boss Sir Nigel Wilson eyes exit August 11, 2023 Investors will need to figure out the impact of new accounting rules next week as three of the country’s biggest insurers report their financial results. It will also be the final set of half-year results for Legal & General boss Sir Nigel Wilson, who is set to depart later in 2023. “Sir Nigel steps down [...]
IP Group boss: There have never been more stakeholders calling for Mansion House reforms August 2, 2023 Reforms to boost investment in the UK’s high-growth companies have support from across the sector, the boss of a FTSE 250 IP Group told City A.M. “There have never been more stakeholders across the sector – be it regulators, capital providers, the stock exchange and companies – saying that this is something which is important,” [...]
BT appoints first woman boss in 170-year history as Allison Kirkby to continue long-term fibre strategy July 31, 2023 BT has announced a successor for outgoing boss Philip Jansen, as Allison Kirkby, a former chief of Nordic telecoms giant Telia. The ailing British telecoms group appointed its first female boss in its 170 year history, who will take the reins from Jansen starting January 2024 “at the latest”. Jansen will continue to serve until [...]
Northern Triangle tech start ups should be prime targets for Square Mile investors July 31, 2023 British firms are having to turn to global sources of funding, when there’s capital here in the City we could direct towards homegrown start ups, writes Nicholas Lyons. THE recent report by the Treasury Select Committee on the UK’s Venture Capital industry should ring alarm bells for the City. The Committee found that for many [...]