FTSE in modest rise as investors eye Fed April 24, 2012 The FTSE 100 saw a modest rally this morning led by banking and commodity stocks as investors looked for signs that the Federal Reserve will inject more liquidity into markets. London’s blue chip index was dented yesterday by uncertainty over who will be the next president of France, the collapse of the Dutch government and [...]
Aviva prepares to take a £1bn hit on US unit April 22, 2012 INSURANCE giant Aviva is expected to announce the sale of its American life assurance business next month, on which it will make a loss of £1bn. Chief executive Andrew Moss is set to announce the sale at an investor day on May 24 as part of a wider strategic overhaul of the company, according to [...]
Quins eye Tigers final rematch April 22, 2012 HARLEQUINS boss Conor O’Shea cannot wait to collide with Leicester again in the Aviva Premiership play-offs, despite seeing his team brushed aside by the Tigers over the weekend. A 43-33 bonus-point win for Leicester on Saturday lifted them to within a point of Quins at the top of the table with just one round of [...]
Tigers win will give Quins semi lift, says Easter April 19, 2012 HARLEQUINS No8 Nick Easter has urged the Aviva Premiership leaders to lay down a marker when in-form Leicester visit the Twickenham Stoop for tomorrow’s summit clash. Leicester, aided by the resurgent Toby Flood, look a sure bet to join already-qualified Quins in the semi-finals, following last week’s 35-21 win at Northampton, in which the fly-half [...]
Aviva reshuffle sees departure of three execs April 19, 2012 IGAL Mayer, the head of insurer Aviva’s flagship European business, has lost his job in a boardroom shake-up designed to “simplify” management and boost profits. Alain Dromer, head of Aviva’s fund management arm, and North American boss Richard Hoskins are also set to leave the firm, the insurance giant said yesterday. “The departure of the [...]
DMGT discusses a fresh new name April 19, 2012 With 74 per cent of its profits coming from its business to business activities, Jonathan Harmsworth’s Daily Mail and General Trust group is becoming increasingly less reliant on its national newspapers for its financial growth. So it comes as no surprise to the CAPITALIST to hear there have been some vigorous discussions within the DMGT [...]
O’Shea eyes home semi after Harlequins seal play-off place April 15, 2012 HARLEQUINS might be the first side to have secured an Aviva Premiership semi-final spot but director of rugby Conor O’Shea insists the job is only half done. O’Shea’s troops crept closer to the 26 May final at Twickenham on Saturday, when they comfortably saw off struggling Wasps 33-17 at The Stoop to clinch only their [...]
NBNK goes on offensive for Lloyds branches April 12, 2012 NBNK Investments has leapt back into the fray by sending in a new bid for 632 Lloyds branches, as the deal to sell them to the Co-op appears close to collapse. The bid, which values the package of assets at between £1.5bn and £2bn, is designed to make Lloyds think twice about continuing with its [...]
Aviva considering plans to sell £1bn US life insurance business April 12, 2012 INSURANCE giant Aviva is considering selling its US business, which is estimated to be worth around £1bn – but analysts say that regulatory conditions mean it may struggle to dispose of the division. Chief executive Andrew Moss reportedly told an investor conference that the company is open to offers for its American unit, which was [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 11, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Aviva considers plans for sale of US division Aviva is considering plans to sell its life assurance business in the US in a move analysts estimate could raise at least £1bn and mark an exit from one of the UK-listed group’s core markets. Andrew Moss, chief executive, told investment managers at a recent [...]