Arabian Comet looks a Glorious bet to light up Goodwood July 30, 2015 THERE is nowhere that’s harder to back a winner than Glorious Goodwood. Like all major festivals the races are competitive, but unlike anywhere else you tend to get more hard luck stories and, in many cases, the best animal doesn’t actually win. Horses can often roll off a true racing line as they encounter the [...]
City Moves for 30 July 2015 | Who’s switching jobs July 29, 2015 Principal Global Investors The asset management firm has announced several appointments to its fixed income team in Europe. Mark Cernicky and Randy Woodbury (pictured) transfer to its London office. Cernicky has 15 years’ investment experience and is a managing director. Woodbury is a senior portfolio manager and trader. In addition, Nicolas Woodcock joins as senior [...]
The Prudential Regulation Authority has two new board members David Thorburn and Dr Norval Bryson July 29, 2015 The Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is about to get two new board members. The Bank announced the appointment of former Clysdesdale and Yorkshire Banks chief executive David Thorburn, and Dr Norval Bryson who's due to step down as deputy chairman of Scottish Widows and non-executive director of Lloyds TSB, effective from September 2015. [...]
Summer sizzler: Over £11bn of UK-focused takeover deals on horizon as market heats up July 28, 2015 The deals market sprang back into action yesterday, with four major takeovers unveiled after a relatively quiet month on the transactions front. Over £11bn worth of UK-focused takeovers are now on the cards, after Melrose agreed to sell portfolio company Elster for £3.3bn and pharma group Hikma bought a US drugs business for £1.7bn. GKN [...]
City Moves for 29 July 2015 | Who’s switching jobs July 28, 2015 KPMG Craig Steven-Jennings has been appointed partner in the professional services firm’s enterprise practice. He joins from KPMG’s South African firm and will be based in London. Steven-Jennings first joined its Cape Town office in 1999 and became an audit partner in 2005. Tokio Marine Kiln The insurance provider has promoted Paul Culham to the [...]
Dealmaking hopes snap five-day losing streak for the FTSE – London Report July 28, 2015 HOPES for corporate deal-making and robust corporate results offset market turmoil in China and worries about emerging-market growth yesterday. The FTSE 100 index closed up 0.8 percent at 6,555.28 points, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose one per cent. RSA Insurance soared 18 per cent on news Zurich Insurance was considering a takeover bid. [...]
The London commuter is a man in his forties working in finance or insurance July 28, 2015 Who is the average London commuter? He’s a man, probably working in finance or insurance, and likely to be in his thirties or forties. Thanks to new data broken out from the 2011 Census, we know a little more about who’s making those daily round trips – and how far they’re travelling. If you work [...]
UK GDP: London leads the way when it comes to economic growth July 28, 2015 Official data released today has shown that the UK economy bounced back in the second quarter of this year, growing by 0.7 per cent, up from 0.4 per cent in the first quarter and in line with economists' expectations. But which cities are the main drivers of this, and who reaps the rewards? Londoners lead [...]
Hiscox posts increased profit and premiums despite tough market July 27, 2015 INSURANCE group Hiscox reported an “excellent” start to its year yesterday, with premiums and profits up during the first six months of 2015. Gross written premiums jumped from £979m in the first half of 2014, to £1.1bn, while pre-tax profit increased to £135m from £125m. The company also said its retail business had delivered record [...]
City Moves for 28 July 2015 | Who’s switching jobs July 27, 2015 Cording Real Estate Group The real estate investment and asset management firm has appointed Philip Gittins as group finance director. He was most recently managing director of Saltgate’s Luxembourg operation. Gittins has worked in investment since 1987, and spent almost 20 years at Henderson Global Investors. Ingenious Asset Management George Moorey-Denham has been appointed business [...]