Banks keep FTSE 100 above 6,100 level January 11, 2013 The blue chip index nudged up in early trading this morning – staying above the 6,100 level – as it consolidated overnight gains from the US, where the S&P 500 hit a five-year high. Financial stocks were bouncing about at the top of the FTSE 100 in early deals, with Barclays and RBS adding 1.8 [...]
Aviva sells off its Delta stake January 8, 2013 AVIVA is to sell its remaining stake in Dutch company Delta Lloyd, a disposal that forms part of a shake-up to turn around a flagging share price at Britain’s second biggest insurer. Aviva plans to sell all its 34.3m shares in Delta Lloyd, an amount equivalent to around 19.4 per cent of the Dutch insurer’s [...]
Strettle tipped for Six Nations England recall January 6, 2013 SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall believes Stuart Lancaster should be looking at David Strettle for his England Six Nations squad after the wing’s star turn against Sale Sharks yesterday. Strettle scored a second-half try and set up another for Charlie Hodgson against his former club as Saracens eased to a 32-12 victory over the [...]
Ageing Brits aim for longer career January 3, 2013 Passing the retirement age does not necessarily mean retiring, according to data released by Aviva this morning. Almost one in four 65-74 year olds continue to earn a wage, the insurance firm said, up from 18 per cent in 2010, a hopeful statistic for a country with a rapidly-ageing population. And younger cohorts seem to [...]
Boards ring the changes with new bosses January 1, 2013 SEVERAL firms including publisher Pearson and insurance group Aviva are ringing in the new year with a change of chief executive. Mark Wilson officially took the reins at Aviva yesterday, replacing Andrew Moss, who was felled by a shareholder rebellion over bonuses last May. New Zealand-born Wilson, who spent four years at the top of [...]
Best of the Brokers January 1, 2013 HANSTEEN HOLDINGS Peel Hunt rates the real estate investment trust “buy” and has a 79p target. The broker sees last week’s £60m industrial property acquisition as a classic deal for the firm, with low capital values and high yields coupled with asset management opportunities. VOLVO Morgan Stanley rates the carmaker “overweight” with a target of [...]
Aviva disposes of US operations in £1.1bn deal December 21, 2012 Insurer Aviva today said it had agreed to sell its US operations for $1.8bn (£1.1bn). Britain’s number two insurer, which will dispose of its US operations to Athene Holding, will retain its US asset management operations. The sale forms part of an overhaul launched by Aviva in July to offload 16 businesses aimed at bolstering [...]
Will you christmas shop this saturday? December 19, 2012 ELLA JENKINS | ACCENTURE No, I will be drinking mulled wine with my friends. I bought all my presents online this year to avoid the last minute shopping. In fact, the last one just arrived with the mail. JUDE AWANI | AVIVA Yes, I am late and still have to buy presents for my nephews [...]
Who’s switching jobs December 19, 2012 Kleinwort Benson Nick Bennett has been appointed head of private wealth management in the private bank’s Guernsey office. He joins from Schroders Private Banking, where he was most recently head of private banking in the Channel Islands. Bennett has also held roles at Lloyds TSB. Development Securities The property investment firm has appointed Marcus Shepherd [...]
Who’s switching jobs December 18, 2012 Adveq The asset management firm has promoted Sanjay Gupta to executive director. He joined in 2008 as a senior associate in its investment management team, and he is currently head of the Adveq Opportunity programme and leads its US buyout and turnaround investment activity. State Street Global Advisors The asset management division of State Street [...]