Rugby union and rugby league compared ahead of Manchester showdown between England v Uruguay and Super League final October 9, 2015 England travel to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium to face Uruguay in a World Cup dead rubber this Saturday, their first excursion beyond Twickenham at the tournament. But you could forgive locals for averting their attentions to a different code of rugby as the Super League final between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors takes place across town. [...]
Aviva to cut 1,500 jobs in Friends Life takeover January 19, 2015 Aviva could axe up to 1,500 jobs as part of its £5.1bn acquisition of its rival Friends for Life, a move which would amount to 4.8 per cent of the combined companies' total work force. The FTSE 100 insurer said it is unable to provide specifics until the takeover completes, however it will try to [...]
One Undershaft: Plans to build the City’s tallest skyscraper and London’s second highest building revealed December 7, 2015 Plans to build the City’s tallest skyscraper and London's second highest building – rivalled only by the Shard – have been unveiled today. Singapore-based developers Aroland Holdings are seeking planning permission to build a 73 storey tower at One Undershaft in the City, between the Leadenhall Building and 30 St Mary’s Axe. Standing 309.6 metres [...]
UK pensions: Almost £3bn withdrawn from pension savings pots since April this year, HMRC reveals October 28, 2015 HMRC announced today that 251,000 flexible payments from pensions, totalling £2.7bn, had been made since the pension freedoms rules came into effect in this April. In the last six months, 146,000 people have made a withdrawal from their pension under the new rules. The figures also showed that the number of people taking flexible payments [...]
Aviva share price rises after full-year profit leaps and final dividend gets a 30pc boost March 5, 2015 The figures: UK insurer Aviva said full-year operating profit rose six percent to £2.17bn in 2014, slightly above forecasts of £2.15bn. It proposed a 30 per cent increase to its final dividend taking it to 12.25 pence per share, cheering investors and pushing the company's share price up six per cent to 564 pence per share at pixel [...]
HomeServe fixes up profit of £26.2m for 2015 half year results as customer numbers continue to rise November 17, 2015 HomeServe this morning revealed adjusted profit before tax of £26.2m for the six months ended 30 September 2015, up less than one per cent from £26m for the same period last year. However, adjusted profit before tax on a constant currency basis would have been £28m, an increase of eight per cent. Net debt for [...]
Aviva takes its client to court over an insurance contract capable of making him wealthier than the company itself March 2, 2015 Aviva France is fighting one of its clients in court over a life insurance contract that could make him a billionaire by the end of the decade. Called a Fixed Price Abitrage Life Insurance Contract, it was given to the now 25-year-old Max-Hervé George by his father when he was seven. It was the brainchild [...]
City Moves for 14 September 2015 | Who’s switching jobs September 13, 2015 IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT The specialist investment manager has appointed David Winborne as senior portfolio manager. He was previously a member of the in-house asset management team at Tesco Pension Investment. Winborne has also previously worked at Sarasin & Partners and Insight Investment Management. AVIVA INVESTORS John Osborn has been appointed real estate fund manager at [...]
Eddie Jones: New England head coach rules out overseas-based players rule change and addresses Chris Robshaw captaincy concerns November 20, 2015 New England head coach Eddie Jones has warned overseas-based English players they will not be offered a return into the national team under his leadership. When outlining his plans for the Red Rose, the Australian backed the RFU's controversial policy of only selecting players contracted to an Aviva Premiership club – a stance called into [...]
With Japan’s economy likely to have entered a technical recession, has Abenomics failed? November 8, 2015 Freya Beamish, an economist at Lombard Street Research, says Yes. Abenomics is failing, but the technical recession doesn't prove it so much as confirm Japan's exposure to China. In fact, Shinzo Abe has achieved some significant successes: strides have been made in improving corporate governance, although there is still a long way to go; the [...]