DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Factbox: What is embattled British business group the CBI?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Below is some information about the CBI and its role:WHAT IS THE CBI? Founded in 1965, the CBI is Britain's top business lobby group. A not-for-profit organisation, the CBI says it represents 190,000 businesses employing nearly 7 million people, including many of Britain's biggest companies. In his speech, Sunak called the CBI "a valued institution in this country and a powerful voice for business". A spokesperson for NatWest said the bank had no confidence in the CBI's capacity to be a strong representative voice for British business at present.

[1/2] A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) logo is seen during their annual conference in London, Britain November 9, 2015. "While the CBI was not previously aware of the most serious allegations, it is vital that they are thoroughly investigated now and we are liaising closely with the police," CBI President Brian McBride said. Virgin Media O2 criticised how the CBI had dealt with the allegations. Aviva (AV.L) and two other insurers, Phoenix Group and Zurich Insurance Group (ZURN.S), also quit on Friday along with asset manager Schroders. Accountancy firm PWC suspended activity with the CBI, as has telecoms company BT Group, while bank Santander said it was reviewing its membership.

The consumer price index is expected to show core inflation rose 0.4% on a monthly basis (USCPF=ECI) and 5.6% year-over-year (USCPFY=ECI) in March. The two-year Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, rose 3.5 basis points to 4.043%. "We're just beginning to feel the pain of these much higher interest rates. The dollar fell after a strong U.S. jobs report for March showed a resilient labor market, adding to expectations of another Fed rate hike. The 10-year JGB yield fell to as low as 0.445%, its lowest since April 4, after hovering at 0.465% in the previous session.

☆ World stocks cling to upbeat mood, dollar stalls
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

European stocks added 0.5% (.STOXX), U.S. equity futures pointed to a positive Wall Street open , and Japan's blue-chip Nikkei rallied over 1% (.N225). Markets price in a roughly 70% chance of a May hike, having last week priced such a move as a coin toss. Traders still price in rate cuts by year-end as the economic growth outlook weakens, exacerbated by banking turmoil. U.S. March inflation data on Wednesday could provide the next steer for markets on the rate outlook. U.S. Treasury yields edged down on Tuesday, however, , with rate sensitive two-year yields 4 bps lower at 3.96%.

☆ Analysis: Rate rises pile pain on SME firms in U.S. and Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Chiara Elisei | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Summary SME vulnerability to rate hikes gone under radarUS, European credit conditions tighteningUK SMEs especially vulnerable -analystsLONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - U.S. and European small and medium-sized (SME) firms may be next to feel the pain of rapid interest rate rises, with analysts and investors warily watching for the impact of tighter credit conditions exacerbated by recent banking turmoil. In the U.S. the average rate that small businesses pay on bank loans rose from around 5% to 7.6% in 2022, and is likely to hit about 9.5% by mid-year, Jefferies analysts estimate. British SMEs, hurt by weak growth, double digit inflation and rising Bank of England rates, are seen as particularly vulnerable. "The Government needs to demonstrate that it is on the side of small businesses who are feeling stressed and under huge margin pressure," McTague added. HARD TIMESMeanwhile the rate of small business loan approval at big U.S. banks meanwhile fell in February for nine straight months and business loan approvals at small banks has also fallen, said online financing platform for small businesses Biz2Credit.

Markets have ramped up bets on further rate increases after the ECB has already tightened monetary policy by 3 percentage points since July. ECB President Christine Lagarde reckons a 50 basis points (bps) rate hike "is very, very likely". "The ECB is prioritising getting policy rates as high as needed and nothing else is as important," Pictet Wealth Management's head of macroeconomic research Frederik Ducrozet, said. Signs of economic resilience suggest ECB growth forecasts, also out on Thursday, could be revised upwards for 2023. Falling energy prices and a stronger euro, up around 6% in trade-weighted terms from August lows, suggest headline inflation forecasts could be revised lower.

Summary U.S. bonds set for worst month since SeptWild swings at start of year may continueLONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - March madness? After a euphoric January was followed by a somber February, with bonds and equities selling off as strong data renewed rate-hike bets, more wild swings could be next for world markets. February fallsData on Friday showing a key inflation U.S. gauge accelerated last month stoked rate hike bets. The ECB lifted its key rate by 300 basis points since last July to 2.5%. If upcoming data weakens, markets could resume their bullishness, Yardeni Research said.

☆ Zurich Insurance: Higher rates make market conditions more favorable
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailZurich Insurance CEO: Higher rates making market conditions more favorableMario Greco, CEO of Zurich Insurance, discusses the company's earnings and how macroeconomic conditions are affecting the business.

☆ End of easy-cash era is going to hurt
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - The end of the easy-cash era is over and its impact yet to be felt on world markets, hopeful that the pain of aggressive rate hikes and high inflation has passed. Reuters Graphics3/ GOING PRIVATEPrivate debt markets have ballooned since the financial crisis to $1.4 trillion from $250 billion in 2010. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics4/CRYPTO WINTERRising borrowing costs roiled crypto markets in 2022. Reuters Graphics5/FOR SALEReal estate markets, first responders to rate hikes, started cracking last year and 2023 will be tough with U.S. house prices expected to drop 12%. How the sector services its debt is in focus and officials warn European banks risk significant profit hits from sliding house prices.

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File PhotoJan 11 (Reuters) - Failure to tackle climate change and environmental degradation dominate the ranking of top risks facing the planet in the next decade, a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey of global risk specialists found. Failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change; natural disasters; biodiversity loss; natural resource loss and large-scale environmental damage dominate the top-10 ranking of global risks deemed most severe over a 10-year period. The WEF report raised the prospect of risks interacting with each other to form a "polycrisis", which it defines as a cluster of related risks with compounding impacts and unpredictable consequences. It cited big-power resource rivalry as having the potential to generate one such cluster of related risks. (For daily Davos updates in your inbox sign up for the Reuters Daily Briefing here.)

☆ Inflation crisis poses greatest near-term global threat, Davos survey warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A customer hands over an Egyptian pound banknote for a purchase at Al-Monira food market in the Imbaba district of Giza, Egypt, in January 2023. Egypt is one of many countries where consumers are struggling with sharply higher prices, highlighted by the World Economic Forum as the greatest global risk in 2023. The World Economic Forum's annual Global Risks Report highlights the cost of living crisis as the biggest short-term risk facing the world right now, with climate change as the biggest long-term threat. "We're looking at something that feels new, but at the same time eerily familiar," Carolina Klint, risk management leader for Continental Europe at Marsh, told CNBC's Joumanna Bercetche. The impact of the cost of living crisis on vulnerable populations are "very difficult to accept," Klint said.

☆ Global experts worry simultaneous crises could become the new norm
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Business executives, politicians and academics are bracing for a gloomy world battered by intersecting crises, as rising volatility and depleted resilience boost the odds of painful simultaneous shocks. Natural disasters and extreme weather events are seen as the next greatest risk, followed by economic warfare, failure to mitigate climate change and the polarization of society. The top five long-term risks were identified as failure to mitigate climate change, failure to adapt to climate change, natural disasters and extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse and massive refugee crises. Climate concerns topped long-term risks in a survey of global experts by the World Economic Forum. The World Economic Forum’s 2022 survey put “interstate conflict” near the bottom of a list of risks that had worsened since the start of the pandemic.

☆ The dark web's criminal minds see Internet of Things as next big hacking prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Elizabeth Macbride | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But 2022, say experts, may have marked an inflection point due to the rapid proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) devices. For the past decade, manufacturers, software companies and consumers have been rushing to the promise of Internet of Things devices. IoT devices are a key entry point for many attacks, according to Microsoft's Digital Defense Report 2022. "While the security of IT hardware and software has strengthened in recent years, the security of Internet of Things (IoT) … has not kept pace," according to the report. What many experts are anticipating is the day enterprising criminals or hackers affiliated with a nation-state figure out an easy-to-replicate scheme using IoT devices at scale.

☆ Zurich Insurance boosts ambitions with new financial targets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Logo of Zurich insurance is seen at an office building in Zurich, Switzerland August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannZURICH, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Zurich Insurance Group (ZURN.S) aims to boost its business operating profit after tax return on equity (BOPAT ROE) to above 20% by 2025 and generate compound organic growth in earnings per share of 8% per year in new 2023-2025 targets it unveiled on Wednesday. It also aimed for cumulative cash remittances in excess of $13.5 billion and a Swiss Solvency Test (SST) ratio of at least 160% while keeping its dividend policy, it said ahead of an investor day. Reporting by Michael Shields, Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ.AX) on Monday said it would contribute A$42 million ($28.10 million) to settle a class action lawsuit brought by law firm Slater & Gordon (SGH.AX) in 2020 over the sale of three consumer credit insurance products. The class action was filed against ANZ, QBE Insurance Australia (QBE.AX), OnePath Life, and OnePath General Insurance alleging that the entities made customers believe their policy payments were "compulsory or provided value to them", according to the law firm's website. ANZ said the settlement contribution is covered by a provision held as of Sept. 30. QBE Insurance, and OnePath Life and OnePath General Insurance, which are indirectly held by Swiss firm Zurich Insurance Group (ZURN.S), did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. ($1 = 1.4948 Australian dollars)Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Three of Australia's 'big four' banks settled separate class action lawsuits for A$126 million ($84.51 million) with Slater & Gordon (SGH.AX), who took the banks to court two years ago over sale of credit insurance products, the companies said on Monday. Law firm Slater & Gordon in 2020 filed class action lawsuits against Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX), Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX), and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ.AX) on behalf of around one million customers. ANZ, along with QBE Insurance, and OnePath Life and OnePath General Insurance, indirect units of Swiss firm Zurich Insurance Group (ZURN.S), will pay a total of A$47 million to their customers under the settlement, with ANZ contributing A$42 million, Slater & Gordon said. Westpac would pay A$29 million, subject to court's approval. ($1 = 1.4910 Australian dollars)Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Insurers face potential losses of up to $60 billion from Hurricane Ian, which ravaged Florida and the Carolinas in September in what could be the second-largest natural catastrophe loss in U.S. history. Zurich sees its overall catastrophe loss ratio for the first nine months around two percentage points above long-term trends. Zurich holds an investor day next week when it will set out its 2023-2025 targets. Quinn said the targets will likely be tougher, after "robust premium increases" helped the insurer's recent performance. Zurich announced a 1.8 billion Swiss franc ($1.83 billion) share buyback programme at half-year results, which Quinn told an earlier media call would likely kick off in the fourth quarter.

☆ Zurich Insurance CFO: The retail market might start responding to inflation next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailZurich Insurance CFO: The retail market might start responding to inflation next yearGeorge Quinn, CFO of Zurich Insurance, discusses its third quarter earnings, the challenges it faces and the inflationary outlook.

☆ Morning Bid: Red wave
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The "red wave", however, showed up in markets. The S&P 500 (.SPX) fell 2% on Wednesday and the dollar seemed to catch a bid from a wave of cryptocurrency selling. Bonds rallied with the risk-averse mood, which opens the door for disappointment as U.S. inflation data comes into focus later on Thursday. Share markets fell around Asia, with MSCI's broadest ex-Japan index (.MIAPJ0000PUS) down 1%. European futures fell 0.6%.

☆ AI in Insurance: How three forward-looking insurers are infusing AI into their front, middle, and back offices
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Insider Intelligence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Insider Intelligence details AI use cases within the insurance industry, and explores potential risks to this tech. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to be contacted by Insider Inc. and receive emails from Insider Intelligence and eMarketer (e.g. And insurers are integrating AI implementations across their front, middle, and back offices in order to fend of tech-savvy startups. To help insurance professionals navigate this digital transformation, Insider Intelligence put together the AI in Insurance Report. The report assesses the business impact of insurers that choose to implement AI in their front, middle, and back offices.

☆ The rich can use offshore life-insurance policies to pass down everything from stocks to yachts to their kids tax-free. Here's how it works and why the Senate is targeting it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The richest of the rich can use life insurance to avoid estate and income taxes. Life insurance is probably the least sexy area of financial planning. Private-placement life insurance is a little-known tax-avoidance tactic. When structured correctly, PPLI policies can be used to pass on assets from stocks to yachts to heirs without incurring an estate tax. A 40% federal estate tax applies to estate values topping $12.06 million for single people and $24.1 million for married couples.

Search resuls for: "Zurich Insurance"

21 mentions found