The rise of the expert patient has the power to transform the NHS February 12, 2015 The productivity of the NHS isn’t just important for our health. At 7 per cent of GDP, it matters for the whole economy. And this is why the next Parliament must see an efficiency revolution in the NHS, greater than any seen elsewhere or in the UK before. One important idea at the heart of [...]
Best of the Brokers for 12 February 2015 February 11, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com ABCAM Canaccord Genuity has raised its recommendation for Cambridge-based biotech firm Abcam to “hold” from “sell”. Analyst Julie Simmonds cited “a combination of a fall in share price and positive commentary on market conditions from peers.” ESURE Berenberg has downgraded Surrey-based insurer Esure [...]
Profits jump at Catlin ahead of XL Group deal February 10, 2015 INSURER Catlin Group made a profit of $488m (£320m) in 2014, up 13 per cent from the $432m posted in 2013. The Lloyd’s of London insurer also reported a 12 per cent increase in gross written premium, which grew from $5.32bn to $5.97bn, but combined operating ratio worsened, from 85.6 per cent to 86.8 per [...]
Lloyd’s of London insurer Catlin’s profits jump ahead of takeover by rival XL February 10, 2015 The figures Lloyd's of London insurer Catlin reported gross written premiums of $5.97bn (£3.92bn) for the year ending December 2014, which was up 13 per cent from $5.30bn (£3.48bn) a year earlier. It said the figure was slightly inflated by foreign currency exchange rates and an increase in the value of multiyear contracts written during 2014 in [...]
Golf Comment: Day can rival McIlroy for No1 and why we mustn’t give up on Tiger February 9, 2015 WHEN he burst onto the scene with two runners-up finishes at Majors four years ago, Australian Jason Day looked bound to quickly establish himself as one of the main players in world golf. Day has by no means faded into obscurity, but for all his talent, further near misses at the big events and plenty [...]
Tiger Woods’ ranking falls to its lowest point since 1996: Is he finished? February 9, 2015 Is Tiger Woods finished? The legendary golfer dropped to 62nd in the world – his lowest world ranking since 1996 – after pulling out of the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday. Woods' withdrawal came just a week after he recorded his worst 18-hole score as a professional in nearly two decades at the [...]
Lanacshire County Pension Fund enters Eurostar bidding war February 8, 2015 Lanacshire County Pension Fund (LCPF) has thrown its hat into the ring in the battle to buy the government’s 40 per cent holding in Eurostar. The £5.7bn fund, which invests on behalf of thousands of Lancashire’s local authority workers, is up against various international infrastructure investors to buy the stake, which is valued at £400m. [...]
City Moves for 09 February 2015 | Who’s switching jobs February 8, 2015 Cohn & Wolfe The communications agency has appointed Helen Ridgway as chief executive of technology agency AxiCom, which it acquired seven years ago. Cohn & Wolfe, in turn, is part of WPP. Ridgway co-founded AxiCom 20 years ago. Her client base includes Tyco and Microsoft Devices Group. Insight Investment Shankar Athreya has been appointed head [...]
Best of the Brokers for 09 February 2015 February 8, 2015 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com BT GROUP Besi Research reiterated its “buy” rating for the telecoms group, after incorporating the upcoming EE deal into its forecasts. The broker said “given the strategic opportunity and synergy potential”, the price being paid is fair, and added that BT’s dividend is [...]
Oil price drop: Bosses at top US firms won’t have their pay cut February 8, 2015 The dramatic fall in oil prices since the middle of 2014 will not affect the pay of those working at the top of the industry. According to compensation consultants and investors who spoke to Reuters, the chief executives at the largest oil companies in the US will not experience reductions in their total pay, [...]