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☆ UK's Direct Line appoints CEO after tough 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - British motor and home insurer Direct Line Insurance Group (DLGD.L) on Wednesday named Adam Winslow, a senior executive at Aviva (AV.L), as its CEO, seeking to reset after profits fell by 95% in 2022. Winslow, who is currently CEO of UK & Ireland general insurance at FTSE 100-listed Aviva, will join Direct Line in the first quarter of 2024. His appointment comes after Penny James, Direct Line's CEO for nearly four years, stepped down in January and Chief Commercial Officer Jon Greenwood was appointed acting CEO. Direct Line reported in March that its operating profit dropped 95% in 2022 after inflation drove up the cost of motor repairs and it warned that 2023 would be impacted by higher than previously expected claims inflation. Direct Line reports first-half 2023 results on Sept. 7.

Persons: Adam Winslow, Winslow, Penny James, Jon Greenwood, Sinchita Mitra, Eva Mathews, Huw Jones, Varun Organizations: Line Insurance, Aviva, UK & Ireland, Direct, Thomson Locations: British, Bengaluru, London

☆ Aviva CEO says we need to look at benefits of anti-obesity drugs over a long period of time
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | 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 EmailAviva CEO says we need to look at benefits of anti-obesity drugs over a long period of timeAmanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva, discusses obesity drugs and their potential benefits.

Persons: Amanda Blanc Organizations: Aviva

Yet a sharp drawdown in the excess savings created by COVID-19 could be a curve ball that slams into bullish sentiment. U.S. excess savings have fallen to around $500 billion from around $2.1 trillion in August 2021, the San Francisco Federal Reserve estimates. In Europe, Deutsche Bank reckons excess savings in Sweden, struggling to contain a property slump, have dwindled. Reuters GraphicsRUNNING OUTDefinitions for excess savings differ, but economists generally agree that this means savings that went beyond trend levels during the pandemic. Cardano chief economist Shweta Singh said U.S. pandemic excess savings are likely to be depleted by year-end.

Persons: Rachel Adams, Janus Henderson, Oliver Blackbourn, Shweta Singh, Guy Miller, Jamie Dimon, Ben, Eren Osman, Arbuthnot Latham, Janus Henderson's Blackbourn, U.S . Russell, Russell, Goldman Sachs, Blackbourn, Zurich's Miller, Simon Bell, Guilluame Paillat, Paillat, Naomi Rovnick, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Oxford, REUTERS, San Francisco Federal, Deutsche Bank, Reuters, Insurance Group, Ryanair, JPMorgan, Unilever, U.S ., London's, Bank of, Aviva, Thomson Locations: Britain, London, China, Europe, U.S, Sweden, United States, downturns, Australia

Companies Mirati Therapeutics Inc FollowNEW YORK, July 26 (Reuters) - The British billionaire Joe Lewis pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to orchestrating what prosecutors called a "brazen" insider trading scheme by passing tips about companies in which he invested to friends, private pilots and a former girlfriend. Two of Lewis' pilots, Patrick O'Connor and Bryan Waugh, also pleaded not guilty to related insider trading charges, after being accused of making millions of dollars in illegal profit from Lewis' tips. British billionaire and Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis exits the United States Courthouse in Manhattan, following his appearance on insider trading charges, in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. Insider trading has long been a focus of Williams' office, dating to 2009 when a crackdown began under one of his predecessors, Preet Bharara. Separately on Wednesday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil insider trading case against Lewis, O'Connor, Waugh and Lewis' former girlfriend Carolyn Carter.

Persons: Joe Lewis, Lewis, Valerie Figueredo, Nicolas Roos, Patrick O'Connor, Bryan Waugh, David Zornow, O'Connor, Waugh, O'Connor texted, Mirati, Amr Alfiky Mirati, Prosecutors, Damian Williams, Williams, Preet Bharara, Carolyn Carter, Carter, Gurbir Grewal, Luc Cohen, Jonathan Stempel, Jody Godoy, Chris Prentice, Chizu Nomiyama, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Mirati Therapeutics, Tottenham Hotspur, Aviva, Tavistock Group, Forbes, Tottenham, Prosecutors, United, REUTERS, U.S, Attorney, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: British, Manhattan, United States, New York City, U.S, New York, Virginia, South Korea

☆ Global shares slip, dollar soars vs yen on BoJ policy expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 19, 2023. The yen weakened 1.19% to 141.77 per dollar, while the dollar index , a measure of the greenback against major trading currencies, rose 0.31%. "None of them are happening with massive severity, but the longer we go on with higher rates, more and more that's going to come through," he said. BOJ policymakers prefer to scrutinize more data to ensure wages and inflation keep rising before changing yield control policy, five sources familiar with the matter said. "Markets were building up expectations which now look unlikely to play out," said Guillaume Paillat, a multi-asset manager at Aviva Investors.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, BoJ, Dow, Garrett Melson, Mullarkey, Patrick Spencer, Guillaume Paillat, Brent, Herbert Lash, Naomi Rovnick, Stella Qiu, Conor Humphries, David Holmes, Marguerita Choy, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Fed, ECB, Reuters, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Nasdaq, Investment, Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc, SLC Management, Baird, Microsoft, Apple, NYSE, Aviva Investors, Treasury, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Boston, London, MSCI's U.S, Europe, China, Sydney

Gold prices slipped as the dollar rebounded to its highest level in more than a week as investors prepare for next week's big central bank policy meetings, including the BoJ, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. The yen weakened 1.13% to 141.68 per dollar, while the dollar index , a measure of the greenback against major trading currencies, rose 0.36%. BoJ policymakers prefer to scrutinize more data to ensure wages and inflation keep rising before changing yield control policy, five sources familiar with the matter said. The report added there was no consensus within the central bank and the decision could still be a close call. As Japanese inflation has stayed above the BoJ's target, traders have bet on the central bank ditching its yield curve control program, a move likely to cause the yen to strengthen.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, BoJ, Garrett Melson, Patrick Spencer, Spencer, you've, Guillaume Paillat, Brent, Herbert Lash, Naomi Rovnick, Stella Qiu, Conor Humphries, David Holmes, Marguerita Choy Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Fed, ECB, Reuters, Bank of Japan, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Investment, Nasdaq, Baird, Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc, NYSE, Aviva Investors, Treasury, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Boston, Europe, China, London

☆ Aviva releases H1 2023 profit guidance, growth estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - Aviva (AV.L) said on Wednesday it expected to deliver around 700 million pounds ($907.20 million) in group operating profit in the first half of 2023, with full-year profit estimated to grow by 5-7% year-on-year. Aviva said the change principally reflected accounting changes to its annuities and protection businesses, with new business profit now being deferred over the lifetime of a contract. It added that the new accounting standards would have "no impact to strategy, capital generation, dividend guidance, or capital return outlook." "There is no impact on our dividend guidance for 2023 of around 915 million pounds, with low-to-mid single digit growth in the cash cost of the dividend thereafter," the company said. ($1 = 0.7716 pounds)Reporting By Sinead Cruise, Editing by Iain WithersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sinead Cruise, Iain Withers Organizations: Aviva, IFRS, Thomson

[1/2] British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt holds a Ministerial Statement at the House of Commons in London, Britain, June 26, 2023. The government rocked pension savers last September with a fiscal statement that drove government bond yields higher and forced pension schemes to scramble for cash, triggering a parliamentary inquiry into their investments. The government is under pressure to revitalise domestic investor interest in several industries considered key to Britain's growth, including fintech, biotech, life science and clean technology. Encouraging greater investment in growth assets will help younger savers but the reforms offer little hope to those retiring in the near term. Inflation continues to ravage Britain's economy, with rates running higher than in any other major rich country.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Richard Gnodde, Becky O’Connor, Jon Hatchett, Hymans Robertson, Andrew Bailey, Hunt, Anna Anthony, Sinead Cruise, Carolyn Cohn, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Aviva, Goldman Sachs, Public Affairs, Bank of England, Financial, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, City, PensionBee, Britain's

☆ Pension funds reform: Britain is banking on this $3 trillion cash cow to revive its economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —The UK economy badly needs a boost — and the government hopes the nation’s vast pension savings might deliver one. All UK workplace pension plans offer default funds, which savers who don’t choose their own investment strategy are automatically enrolled into. Measures to tap pension fund cash come at a crucial time for an economy suffering from stubbornly high inflation, depressed investment and feeble growth. UK pension funds’ exposure to domestic stock markets has fallen even more sharply: from 53% in 1997 to 6% in 2021. The combination of measures is likely to have “far-reaching” effects on the types of assets pension funds invest in, easing companies’ access to the capital they need to grow, he added.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Mercer, ” Hunt, Hunt, “, ”, Nicholas Lyons, Julia Hoggett, Nigel Peaple Organizations: London CNN, Aviva, London, European, London Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, EU, chipmaker ARM, House, of London Corporation, City of, Financial, New Financial, Pension, Lifetime Savings Association Locations: London, Britain, Frankfurt, Paris, New York, United States, United Kingdom, Edinburgh, City of London

☆ UK set to ease stock market listing rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hunt will also seek to roll back a European Union-era securities law, Treasury said. UK is set to approve recommendations in Rachel Kent's Independent Research Report, paving the way for a new "Research Platform" to provide a one-stop-shop for firms looking for research experts, the statement added. UK had last year announced the launch of the Investment Research Review - an independent review of financial services investment research and its contribution to UK capital markets competitiveness, headed by Kent. The approval also sets the way for potentially removing unbundling rules – an inherited EU law that requires brokers to charge a separate fee for research. "We will not countenance tax cuts if they make the battle against inflation harder," the newspaper quoted Hunt as saying.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, UK's, Hunt, Rachel, Hogan Lovells, Rishi Sunak's, Nilutpal, Chris Reese, David Gregorio, Shri Organizations: Finance, UK's Treasury, Treasury, Investment Research, Financial Times, Aviva Plc, Phoenix Group Holdings, City of London Corporation, FT, Thomson Locations: Union, Kent, Bengaluru

☆ Insurers’ net-zero club looks easy to shun
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Global insurers are looking to re-write the rules to salvage their net-zero club. The once 30-strong U.N.-backed Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) unveiled ambitious decarbonisation targets in January, but now has only 12 companies left, including Italy’s Generali (GASI.MI) and Britain’s Aviva (AV.L). As a result, the club may effectively allow insurers to postpone that deadline. But the move may simply raise more questions around NZIA’s raison d’être: insurers may be better off simply publishing their own path to decarbonisation. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Italy’s, Pamela Barbaglia, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Global, Zero Insurance, Britain’s Aviva, Allianz, AXA, Tokio, Republican, Glasgow Financial Alliance, Twitter, KKR, Thomson Locations: May, Ukraine, China

☆ Exclusive: Insurers look to ease UN climate alliance rules after member exodus - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Tommy Wilkes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The U.N.-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) is set to remove a six-month deadline for members to publish greenhouse gas emissions targets alongside other changes to make membership less prescriptive, the sources said. The hope is to "steady the ship" and create space for ex-members to consider returning later, they said. The changes under discussion have not been finalised, the sources said, and it's not clear how the alliance would deal with insurers that drag their feet in publishing targets. Remaining members believe the NZIA still has a valuable role, and point to methodologies it developed for assessing and reporting on underwriting-linked emissions. France's AXA, which chaired the NZIA before quitting in May, last week published its first emissions goals for its insurance portfolio.

Persons: Italy's, Peter Bosshard, Bosshard, Canada's Beneva, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Greg Roumeliotis, Simon Jessop, Emelia, David Evans Organizations: Zero Insurance Alliance, United, Zero Insurance, AXA, Tokio, Republican, Glasgow Financial Alliance, Aviva, Alliance, Insurance Australia Group, France's AXA, Thomson Locations: United Nations, London, United States, U.S

☆ As downturn fears grow, Bank of America names 8 global stocks to ride out a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bank of America has named the European companies whose stocks are expected to perform robustly in the face of a possible economic downturn. It comes amid increasing signs that the European economy could be headed for a period of extended recession. Bank of America's proprietary Style Cycle model also shows that the region is facing a "recession phase." The forward cash yield measures how much cash a company is expected to generate for its shareholders over the next year compared to its current market price. The cash yield also includes returns through buybacks.

Persons: Intesa Sanpaolo, Paulina Strzelinska Organizations: of America, of, KBC, Eni, Nordea Bank, Barclays, Aviva, BNP, Bank, America's Locations: Europe, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Repsol, Spain, United Kingdom, France, buybacks, industrials

Markets fell at the start of the new trading week as investors remained jittery over the economic outlook. The benchmark Stoxx 600 index closed 1% lower Monday, with almost all sectors in negative territory. "In that time, I think investors have really struggled to build any love for the rally. Asia-Pacific markets traded lower as investors digested China's central bank decision to cut its one-year and five-year loan prime rate. U.S. markets were closed for the Juneteenth holiday on Monday, but stock futures ticked lower overnight as investors looked ahead to a shortened week of trading.

Persons: Sunil Krishnan, Krishnan, CNBC's, That's Organizations: European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, Aviva Investors Locations: Asia, Pacific

An internal Union Investment document seen by Reuters shows that the firm received just 30 responses to its outreach. Although consumer goods manufacturers are particularly exposed, other sectors that import goods associated with deforestation, including commodities houses and industrials companies, will also face scrutiny. Consumer goods makers are counting on technology such as satellites and artificial intelligence to help eradicate deforestation from their supply chains. Several large consumer goods companies say they are close to meeting their ambitious zero-deforestation goals. "The EU rules make deforestation a financial risk as well as an environmental risk."

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, Henrik Pontzen, Pontzen, Janus Henderson, Jonathan Toub, haven't, Snorre Gjerde, Christophe Hansen, Magdi Batato, Kit Kat, Nestlé, David Croft, Reckitt's, Arild Skedsmo, Richa Naidu, Kate Abnett, Matt Scuffham, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, EU, Germany's, Investment, Unilever, ESG, Union Investment, Nestle, Pepsico, Danone, L'Oreal, KLP, Aviva, Fidelity International, Reckitt, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Uruara, Para State, Brazil, NBIM, Nescafe, London, Brussels

☆ Biden, McCarthy work to shore up support for debt ceiling bill ahead of House vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and White House officials worked to shore up support for a bill that would raise the debt ceiling and cut government spending, as the House prepared to vote Wednesday night on the legislation. Large blocs of Democrats are also expected to vote against the bill, albeit more quietly. Raising the debt ceiling will require that the bill passes both the GOP-majority House and the Democratic-controlled Senate, a reality that made a compromise deal unavoidable. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Wednesday morning that she would vote against the bill on the House floor. Other groups, like the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and the center-left New Democrat Coalition, have praised the bill.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Patrick McHenry, McCarthy, Joe Biden, Steve Ricchetti, Shalanda Young, Aviva Aron, Dine, John Podesta, Pramila Jayapal Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Republican, GOP, CNBC, Democratic, Treasury Department, House Democrats, White House, Management, National Economic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, New Democrat Coalition

"It's principally around the costs of labour, logistics and energy and what our suppliers see in their own production bases," finance chief Graeme Pitkethly said. On Thursday, Unilever said it had raised prices by 10.7% in the first quarter. "People are looking towards the second half of this year for some relief in costs - we'll see if that actually plays out," Richard Saldanha, a fund manager at Unilever and Nestle investor Aviva, said. "Clearly these companies are still displaying a pretty decent ability to push pricing ... Unilever is able to manage what is still a very elevated cost environment." Reporting by Richa Naidu Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ An executive coach who worked with Nelson Mandela and the last leader of the Soviet Union, says CEOs must realize they will always upset 'a large bunch of people every day'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

René Carayol, an executive coach for more than 20 years, said CEOs can never make everyone happy. He told Insider the chief executive role is "the toughest job in the company." Carayol has a high-profile list of clients, including world leaders and CEOs at Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies. He's advised four former CEOs of Barclays Bank and even former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. Inherent and implicit in the role is you are upsetting a large bunch of people every day.

☆ 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.

☆ What should you do with your 401(k) when you switch jobs? Experts weigh in
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Millions of people switch jobs every single year, and millions of 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts fall by the wayside as a result. We asked experts what most retirement savers should do if they have multiple old retirement accounts scattered around — here’s what they had to say. Keep track of your old 401(k) accountsTry and keep good records of your 401(k) accounts, including account numbers. Roll over your 401(k) accounts earlyRollover your old 401(k) accounts early to avoid confusion and potentially maximize returns. How to roll over an old 401(k) planYou can often roll over your 401(k) to an IRA online.

☆ Why a European stock index is crushing its US peers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

By comparison, the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the United States has climbed 2%. Those “growth” stocks gave investors a stake in firms that were on track to expand their businesses quickly and generate hefty returns. Now, investors are more drawn to “value” stocks: companies thought to be trading at a discount based on their financial performance. That’s been a “near-perfect combination” for European stocks to beat their US peers, he added. Economists at the Fed predict the United States will fall into a “mild” recession as a result of the recent banking crisis.

☆ Black and Tans: Biden confuses All Blacks rugby team with brutal police force
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —President Joe Biden made a gaffe during his visit to Ireland on Wednesday as he confused a rugby team with a controversial 1920s-era British police force. Biden was speaking at the Windsor Bar in Dundalk, Ireland, when he appeared to mistake New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans, a brutal force deployed against rebels during the Irish War of Independence. He received the Irish team tie after they won against New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago in November 2016. “See this tie I have, this shamrock tie?” Biden said. He personally called the Irish rugby union team to congratulate them when they defeated New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in 2021.

☆ Aviva Investors: This has been a very unloved rally so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | 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 EmailAviva Investors: This has been a very unloved rally so farSunil Krishnan, head of multi-asset funds at Aviva Investors, discusses banking turmoil, earnings revisions and where stocks could trade for the rest of this year.

Several major finance companies also voluntarily reported ethnicity pay data for the period. The majority of major finance firms nonetheless made progress in narrowly closing their gender pay gaps, according to their disclosures. ETHNICITY PAY GAPSHalf of the 20 finance firms reviewed reported varying detail on ethnicity pay gaps, with some including insurer Phoenix doing so for the first time. Where pay gaps were further broken down by ethnicity, they showed the largest pay disparities were between Black and white employees. All the employers said in their pay gap reports they were taking steps to improve diversity, particularly at senior levels.

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