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☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, JetBlue, Disney, Caterpillar, Super Micro and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Morgan Stanley downgrades Oatly to equal weight from overweight Morgan Stanley resumed coverage of the oats company and said it sees too many negative catalysts. " Morgan Stanley reiterates Tesla as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's sticking with Tesla despite a slew of negative data points in a recent investor survey. Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by Nvidia heading into earnings later this week. Morgan Stanley initiates CG Oncology as buy Morgan Stanley said shares of the bladder cancer company are "compelling." "We initiate coverage on Morgan Stanley Direct Lending with a Buy rating and $23.50 PT.

Persons: Morgan Stanley downgrades Oatly, Morgan Stanley, Tesla, Bernstein, Siri, it's, Disney, Ingersoll Rand, Rosenblatt, MSCI's, Goldman Sachs, Wolfe, Piper Sandler, Riley, Grainger, Northcoast, JPMorgan downgrades Holley Organizations: Apple, Nvidia, Disney, RBC, Aerospace, BAE Systems, Caterpillar, SMCI, Deutsche Bank, JetBlue, Alaska Air, ASM, Health, BrightSpring Health, Brunswick Corporation, Barclays, JPMorgan, Mizuho, Oncology, UBS, Morgan, Fund, Seaport, Booking Holdings, " Bank of America, AIG, Bank of America, General Insurance Locations: Silicon Valley, Alaska, Brunswick, MIBS, Texas, Europe, Asia

☆ Life insurers binge on US financing aimed at helping housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Koh Gui Qing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

It has been predominantly used by life insurers, because they need to boost their investment returns with cheap funding to meet long-term liabilities. They provide the cheap funding to banks and insurers in exchange for collateral to ensure they get their money back. Insurers are entitled to tap FHLB funding. Insurers’ borrowing from FHLBs picked up in 2008 financial crisis, as those that spread themselves thin with aggressive investments scrambled for cash. They did not explain why insurers need FHLB funding to invest in mortgages.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Ryan Donovan, CMBS, Lawrence White, White, Graphics JUICING, Cynthia Beaulieu, Cornelius Hurley, Hurley, FHLBs, ’, Michael Ericson, Jack Dolan, Koh Qui, Greg Roumeliotis, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, Loan, Federal Housing Finance Agency, of Federal Home Loan, FHLBs, FHLB, National Association of Insurance, New York University, MetLife Inc, Equitable Holdings Inc, Corebridge, Brighthouse Financial, MetLife, TIAA, Equitable, Graphics, Wellington Management, Boston University School of Law, Coalition, Silicon Valley Bank, First, American, of, Insurance Coalition, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Boston, Silicon, First Republic, Chicago, New York

☆ Aviva agrees to buy AIG's UK protection business for $563 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A pedestrians walks past the Aviva logo outside the company head office in the city of London, Britain March 7, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - British insurer Aviva (AV.L) said on Monday it had agreed to acquire the UK protection business of AIG (AIG.N) for 460 million pounds ($563 million). Aviva said it would buy the unit - known as AIG Life UK - from Corebridge Financial, Inc (CRBG.N), a New York-listed subsidiary of AIG. The transaction will add 1.3 million individual protection customers and 1.4 million group protection members, Aviva said, with the deal expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals. The deal would represent around a 5 percentage point cut to Aviva's group solvency II cover ratio, the company said.

Persons: Simon Dawson, Amanda Blanc, Iain Withers, Louise Heavens Organizations: Aviva, REUTERS, AIG, AIG Life, Corebridge, Inc, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British, New York

☆ Aviva to buy AIG's UK life insurance business for $563 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A pedestrians walks past the Aviva logo outside the company head office in the city of London, Britain March 7, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Aviva (AV.L) said on Monday it had agreed to buy the UK life insurance business of AIG (AIG.N) for 460 million pounds ($563 million), in the largest acquisition to date by the British insurer's CEO Amanda Blanc. Aviva said it would buy the unit - known as AIG Life UK - from Corebridge Financial, Inc (CRBG.N), a New York-listed company majority-owned by AIG. Corebridge was formed in 2021 when AIG spun off its life and retirement business and sold a portion of the company to Blackstone for $2.2 billion. AIG took Corebridge public in September last year, in a share offering that raised $1.7 billion.

Persons: Simon Dawson, Amanda Blanc, Blanc, Peter Zaffino, Corebridge, Iain Withers, Louise Heavens Organizations: Aviva, REUTERS, AIG, British, AIG Life, Corebridge, Inc, RBC, Blackstone, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New York, Singapore, United States

☆ Insurer AIG exceeds profit estimates on strong underwriting gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 4 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc (AIG.N) beat market estimates for first-quarter profit on Thursday, as record underwriting gains cushioned the blow from lower alternative investment returns. AIG, one of the world's biggest commercial insurers, said net premiums written in its general insurance for the quarter ended March grew 5% to $6.97 billion. Total consolidated net investment income rose 9% to $3.5 billion, partially offset by lower alternative investment income, AIG said. The New York-based company's general insurance underwriting income rose 13% to $502 million, its strongest first-quarter underwriting results, the insurer said. The general insurance accident year combined ratio was 88.7%, compared with 89.5%, a year earlier.

☆ Johnson & Johnson's Kenvue spinoff revives hope that the IPO market may be opening
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The news that Johnson & Johnson had finally begun a roadshow for its long-awaited Kenvue spinoff elicited some satisfaction among IPO watchers. "The investor base is very familiar with the products," Matthew Kennedy, IPO market strategist at Renaissance Capital told me. In the 10 years from 2013 to 2022, about $55 billion was raised on average each year in the IPO market. But in 2022, the IPO market cratered. "Hopefully this will be a more rational IPO market," Rao told me, noting that IPOs have typically underperformed the market because of high initial prices.

☆ The fallout from empty offices is coming. Here's where investors could see the pain
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

As concerns about regional banks roiled markets, investors weighed another threat: commercial real estate. Also, layered on top of the property value pressure, are the tightening credit conditions brought on by the recent turmoil in the banking sector. There is no doubt this scenario is a toxic mix for the capital-intensive real estate industry. At the moment, many experts say the real estate market isn't causing trouble for banks, but fears about the financial system are likely worsening conditions in real estate because liquidity is being reduced. The biggest concern is seeing how many other companies join Brookfield , Blackstone and Pimco in handing back the keys on office properties, Clancy said.

☆ Goldman Sachs names 5 buy-rated stocks — giving one more than 70% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Some of those stocks are on the conviction buy list of the Wall Street bank, which has raised some of their price targets, giving them big upside. Clean technology stocks Goldman gave Israeli solar energy services firm SolarEdge Technologies a price target of $420, or nearly 50% upside, in a March 29 note. It says it maintains a "tactically more bullish view" on SolarEdge, which is also on Goldman's conviction buy list. Mercedes-Benz Goldman gave the automaker a price target of 96 euros ($105), or around 42% upside, in an April 6 note. Financial services and insurance stocks Goldman upgraded insurer Corebridge Financial's rating to buy, giving it a price target of $23, or potential upside of around 44%.

☆ Third Point's Dan Loeb makes a number of changes to his portfolio, including adding an insurer
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Third Point's Dan Loeb made a slew of moves to his portfolio last quarter, including building a new stake in a big insurer. Loeb said the company has undergone a massive overhaul since the financial crisis and is well positioned for profitable growth. Loeb said AIG has transformed into a property and casualty insurance pure play after the IPO of its retirement arm Corebridge Financial in September. "This is an important catalyst for the business," Loeb said. AIG 1Y mountain AIG Meanwhile, Loeb said he added to his Bath & Body Works position significantly last quarter.

☆ Third Point owns Salesforce stake, talks Bath & Body Works changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Third Point declined to comment on its stake, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. These firms have said publicly and privately that they would like to see changes at Salesforce. Third Point on Wednesday updated its own investors about other investments, including one in Bath & Body Works (BBWI.N) , where the firm hinted last year that it might mount a boardroom challenge. In the letter, Third Point's founder billionaire investor Daniel Loeb wrote that he sees a chance to work "constructively" with Bath & Body Works to "address its apparent governance issues and help it realize its significant potential." Last years biggest losers included Walt Disney Co and Amazon.com while Bath & Body Works counted among its biggest winners.

☆ AIG Terminates Interim Finance Chief Mark Lyons
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Kathryn Hardison | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

American International Group Inc. said it terminated Mark Lyons from his position as the interim chief financial officer and executive vice president, global chief actuary and head of portfolio management after the company became aware that he violated his confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations. AIG said it entered into a settlement agreement with Mr. Lyons. Mr. Lyons joined the company in 2018 and previously served as the CFO. Mr. Lyons couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. AIG said Sabra Purtill has been named interim CFO and Turab Hussain has been named the interim global chief actuary.

☆ These 5 stocks started trading in 2022, and analysts expect strong gains from them in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Virtually every corner of the stock market had a horrible 2022, including initial public offerings. The Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO) , which tracks the performance of newly-public companies, plunged 57% in 2022, notching its biggest one-year decline on record. Total proceeds from new companies going public dropped more than $7 billion in 2022, reaching their lowest level since at least 2013, Renaissance data showed. Despite a sluggish year for IPOs, analysts see big gains ahead for some stocks that started trading in 2022. CNBC Pro combed through the 2022 IPOs for companies covered by at least seven analysts, with the average price target implying upside of at least 15%.

☆ AIG subsidiary files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 14 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc said on Wednesday its subsidiary, AIG Financial Products (FP), had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to complete the wind down of a business unit that was a central figure in the 2008 financial crisis. AIG Financial Products largely ceased operations in 2008, and its bankruptcy will not have a material impact on AIG or on life and retirement insurer Corebridge Financial Inc (CRBG.N), which AIG recently spun off, AIG said. AIG Financial Products issued the credit default swaps that put AIG on the hook for billions of dollars in losses during the collapse of subprime mortgage markets, according to court documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. AIG Financial Products has no ongoing operations or employees of its own, but it maintained a small portfolio of financial products after largely shutting down in 2008. It owes more than $37 billion to its parent company AIG on loans related to the 2008 crash, according to court documents.

☆ Insider buying: This CEO bought roughly $5 million of his stock after an activist investor lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The CEO of medical device company Masimo bought roughly $5 million of stock over the past week, adding to his stake shortly after a lawsuit from an activist investor. Masimo : CEO Joe Kiani made two groups of purchases worth nearly $5 million in total on Nov. 11 and Nov. 14. Corebridge Financial : director Alan Colberg bought about $688,000 worth of stock on Nov. 10. Cogent Communications : director Marc Montagner bought roughly $549,000 of stock on Nov. 9. The purchase of Cogent stock by Montagner is the largest ever insider purchase for the internet service provider.

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Apple, Costco, DoorDash, Berkshire Hathaway & more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Bank of America reiterates Synchrony as buy Bank of America said the financial services company is a "hidden" beneficiary of the PayPal-Apple partnership. Bank of America downgrades Funko to neutral from buy Bank of America said in its downgrade of Funko that it sees a "challenging" holiday for the toy company. Oppenheimer upgrading DoorDash to outperform from perform Oppenheimer said it sees improving margins for the food delivery company. Bank of America reiterates Northrop Grumman as a top pick Bank of America said the company has a "best in class" space business. Oppenheimer reiterates Walmart as buy Oppenheimer said investors should buy the dip heading into Walmart earnings next week.

☆ Insurer AIG profit slumps on hurricane costs, lower investment returns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 1 (Reuters) - Insurer American International Group Inc (AIG.N) on Tuesday reported a more than 39% decline in quarterly profit as investment income fell by more than $1 billion and losses from Hurricane Ian pushed up catastrophe bills. read moreAIG - one of the world's biggest commercial insurers - reported $600 million of catastrophe losses in the quarter, out of which about $450 million was attributable to Hurricane Ian, the insurer said. Total consolidated net investment income fell 28% to $2.7 billion, hurt mainly by lower alternative investment income. The metric excludes catastrophe losses, and a ratio below 100 signifies that the insurer earns more from premiums than it pays out in claims. read moreReporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Reuters, citing sources, had reported in April that the stock market flotation could value Mobileye at as much as $50 billion. "Most companies don't have the grit needed to blaze a trail with all this public market volatility." IPOs by U.S. technology companies have sunk to their lowest levels since the global financial crisis of 2008, as several companies have shelved plans for their listings in the country. read moreTech IPOs this year have raised $507 million, according to Refinitiv data, the lowest amount that has been raised through flotation since 2000. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and BofA Securities are among underwriters of Mobileye's offering.

☆ Blackstone invests $500 mln in Resolution Life as part of asset management deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 12 (Reuters) - Blackstone Inc (BX.N) signed a partnership deal to manage certain investments for Resolution Life and has agreed to invest $500 million in the life insurance group, the companies said on Wednesday. The asset manager has been executing a similar playbook in recent years, looking to boost its assets under management (AUM) by adding insurance investments in its portfolio. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterIt also has a similar partnership with annuities and life insurance provider F&G, a unit of Fidelity National Financial Inc (FNF.N). With backing from Resolution's existing investors, Blackstone will also aid Resolution in raising another $2.5 billion of equity capital to help "rapidly scale its growth". Founded in 2003, Resolution acquires and manages portfolios of life insurance policies.

Sept 29 (Reuters) - Initial public offerings by U.S. tech companies have sunk to their lowest levels since the global financial crisis of 2008, as stock market volatility, soaring inflation, and interest rate hikes have soured investor sentiment towards new listings. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterUS tech IPOs total proceeds in first three quartersAnalysts interviewed by Reuters said a steep drop in stock market valuations has deterred tech firms from pursuing stock market launches. "This is a terrible backdrop for IPOs, in particular tech IPOs, which rely on bull markets and momentum investors to bolster their market entries." The Renaissance IPO index, which captures the largest and most liquid U.S IPOs, has slumped 50.4% this year, compared with the S&P 500 index's drop of 23%. YTD performance of the Renaissance IPO index and S&P 500 indexShares of Corebridge Financial Inc (CRBG.N), which launched the largest IPO in the U.S. this year, were trading about 4% below its offer price of $21 on Wednesday.

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