As households cut spending, the big beasts of insurance need to get up to speed October 7, 2022 When the economy is fragile, sectors must adapt. This is a truism repeated again and again because it is the nature of financial growth and innovation. As household budgets shrink, customers are shopping around for better deals – for food, for bills and almost all other outgoings. Insurance is no exception, though it is unique [...]
Aviva Investors eyes build-to-rent earnings as it bolsters European team October 3, 2022 Aviva Investors is looking to develop a build-to-rent portfolio in Spain worth €500m (£438m), having recently built out its European real estate investment team. It is the second build-to-rent venture by Aviva Investors and its first in continental Europe, following its partnership with Packaged Living for 195 homes in the West Midlands, UK. The asset manager [...]
Socially conscious insurer Lemonade makes first entry into UK market October 3, 2022 New York insuretech company Lemonade Inc today launched in the UK market with a view to disrupting Britain’s centuries-old insurance sector with its socially-conscious, AI-driven business model. The digital insurer aims to break the “cycle of distrust that plagues the insurance industry” with its pledge to cap its margins at 25 per cent by donating [...]
Economic headwinds risk leaving UK’s small businesses underinsured September 29, 2022 The headwinds facing the UK economy risk leaving small businesses underinsured, Aviva has warned. Inflation, supply chain disruption, and labour shortages could leave UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at risk of facing huge bills, if the insurance policies they have fail to cover the actual costs repairing buildings or replacing assets, the insurance giant [...]
Bank of England chief economist warns of ‘significant’ response to market turmoil September 27, 2022 The Bank of England’s chief economist today rushed to calm the City by promising a “significant” response to the UK market turmoil. Huw Pill said it is hard “not to conclude” the Bank must hike interest rates steeply at its next meeting on 3 November after markets were rocked by chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s tax cuts and [...]
IMF “monitoring developments” in UK after currency fall and mini-budget September 27, 2022 The International Monetary Fund gave Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss a slap on the wrist this evening, with a spokesman saying it did not “recommend large and untargeted fiscal packages” amid inflation concerns. The warning from the IMF comes after another day of currency fluctuations, triggered by a so-called ‘mini budget’ of tax cuts announced [...]
Kwarteng tells City bosses that ‘we are committed to fiscal discipline’ September 27, 2022 Kwasi Kwarteng has told a group of City bosses today that the government is committed to “fiscal discipline” as the chancellor tries to calm markets and reassure the Square Mile. Kwarteng told them that “we are confident in our long-term strategy to drive economic growth through tax cuts and supply side reform”, and that he [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile? September 7, 2022 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every morning. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Lombard Odier Investment Managers Lombard Odier Investment Managers has built out its UK wholesale team with a fresh sales director. George Guest, who stepped into the London-based role at the end August, will be responsible for promoting [...]
What are the best FTSE 100 dividend stocks for September 2022? August 30, 2022 In this new inflationary reality, the best FTSE 100 dividend stocks are not just those which are highest yielding, but also those which are most likely to continue to pay their dividends through what could become a severe recession. The FTSE 100 is by its nature defensive, down a mere 1% year-to-date. But with the downturn almost [...]
Woman wins tribunal against Swiss Re over executive’s sexist comments August 25, 2022 A former underwriter at Swiss Re has won an employment tribunal against the world’s biggest reinsurance company, after a senior executive at the firm told her: “If I had breast like yours, I would be demanding too.” Julia Sommer, a political risk underwriter at the Swiss insurer, is now set to receive a payout, after [...]