Admiral profits dented £33m by insurance regulation change August 14, 2019 Car insurer Admiral has taken a £33.3m hit to its profits following the introduction of changes to how compensation for those injured in accidents is calculated. The figures The government changed the Ogden rate, which governs how much insurers pay to people seriously injured in car accidents, in July. Admiral said the changes had cut [...]
The last resort: With travel operators running into trouble, here’s how to protect your holiday August 7, 2019 When you’ve spent hundreds or even thousands of pounds to escape to somewhere sunny for the summer holidays, you may have to stifle a scream when you find out that your travel operator has gone bust days before you were set to fly. This scenario will sound all too familiar to many families, after news [...]
Insurers voice disappointment as UK changes personal injury discount rate July 15, 2019 The insurance sector blasted the government today as it revealed plans to change the discount rate used to determine insurance payments for serious injuries in accidents from minus 0.75 per cent to minus 0.25 per cent. Read more: More price hikes to come as car insurance premiums climb The Ministry of Justice revealed the change [...]
Former UN climate chief calls for fossil fuel database July 1, 2019 Investors should be given more information about energy companies’ fossil fuel usage so they can steer funding away from activities that contribute to climate change, former UN climate change chief Mary Robinson has said. Robinson proposed the creation of “comprehensive, transparent database of all existing fossil fuel assets and reserves” in a collection of essays [...]
Bad debt insurance claims at highest since 2009 June 14, 2019 The number of insurance claims made this year by UK businesses facing bad debts has reached its highest level in ten years, figures published today show. In the first quarter 57 firms every day were helped by trade credit insurers, data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show. The high volume of claims is [...]
Sydney shares cheer Australia’s centre-right election triumph May 29, 2019 Australian share prices are on a roll after the shock election victory earlier this month of the ruling Liberal-Nation coalition. The centre-right government returned to power in Canberra despite consistent opinion poll leads for the opposition Labor Party. The ASX 200 index, comprising the shares of the 200 largest companies listed on the Australian Stock [...]
Brexit talks between the Conservatives and Labour set to close without a deal May 17, 2019 Cross-party Brexit discussions between Labour and the Conservatives are set to close without a deal, according to reports. Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will now move into a second stage of talks, aimed at agreeing a parliamentary process that could be used to reach a consensus. Labour are worried that a [...]
Boris Johnson confirms he will stand in Tory leadership election May 16, 2019 Boris Johnson today confirmed he will stand in a Tory leadership election to replace Theresa May. Read more: Labour hand May a Brexit deal lifeline by refusing to vote down her plan The former foreign secretary told an insurance conference: “Of course I’m going to go for it.” https://twitter.com/huwbbc/status/1129004670184304642 Speaking at the British Insurance Brokers' Association [...]
Follow the money: Brexiter Tories stuff their war chests ahead of leadership election May 10, 2019 The one thing that is always guaranteed to raise eyebrows in British politics – not least since the scandal that rocked this country exactly ten years ago – is MPs’ finances. Amid a greater focus on transparency, Commons members must declare money they earn outside of their salary as an elected representative. For some, this could be [...]
Financial institutions beware – big tech is moving into banking March 6, 2019 Despite Brexit uncertainties and stock market collapses, British banks concluded their 2018 earnings season with improved performance. Profitability increased thanks to cost drives, while balance sheets strengthened through derisking assets. Banks’ ability to grow revenue, however, remains a perennial challenge. The quest to growth may be harder in the digital age. In a recent report [...]