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☆ 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

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) ended 0.6% higher, extending gains to the fifth straight day, its longest winning streak in nearly three months. Rate-sensitive technology stocks (.SX8P) were the top gainers on STOXX 600, jumping 1.7%, with IT provider Softcat (SCTS.L) advancing 5.3% after Citi raised it to "buy". Also supporting STOXX 600 were miners (.SXPP) rising 1.7%, as commodity prices won support from a weaker dollar. [MET/l]A faster-than-expected slowdown in U.S. inflation reinforced bets that the Fed could end its rate hikes soon after July. Shares of Swatch (UHR.S) rose 6.9% after the watchmaker reported record growth in the first half of the year.

Persons: Barratt, Pierre Veyret, Chris Zaccarelli, Matteo Allievi, Shreyashi Sanyal, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Janane Venkatraman, William Maclean Organizations: Federal, Citi, ActivTrades, Independent, Alliance, Swatch, Thomson Locations: Tech, U.S, Gdansk, Amruta, Bangalore

☆ European shares edge higher, but mixed data limit gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 13 (Reuters) - European shares edged higher on Thursday as U.S. inflation data fuelled hopes that the Federal Reserve was on the brink of ending its post-pandemic tightening cycle, although a raft of mixed economic data limited further upside. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) edged up 0.1% by 0708 GMT. Keeping a lid on risk sentiment was weak trade data from China, while on the other hand, Britain's economy contracted less than expected in May. Industrial stocks (.SXNP), which are sensitive to China-related news, were the biggest drags in the index. Reporting by Matteo Allievi in Gdansk and Amruta Khandekar in Bangalore; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Barratt, Matteo Allievi, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Federal, Swatch, Thomson Locations: China, Gdansk, Amruta, Bangalore

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Britain's largest homebuilder Barratt Developments (BDEV.L) warned it would build far fewer homes this fiscal year as rising mortgage rates and stubborn inflation hit demand, sending its shares down more than 5% in early trading on Thursday. The FTSE 100-listed firm said it expected to build between 13,250 to 14,250 units in the year ending June 30, 2024, down from 17,206 homes the year before. Average two-year fixed mortgage rates hit a 15-year high earlier this week. Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, said Thursday's trading update underlined the impact of rising rates on homebuyers, construction firms and other businesses linked to the housing market. High-end housebuilder Berkeley (BKGH.L) last month forecast a 20% drop in house build sales for its current fiscal year.

Persons: Barratt, Julie Palmer, Begbies Traynor, Suban Abdulla, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Kate Holton, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Thomson Locations: London, Bengaluru

[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

☆ 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

☆ Barclays seeks to stop being corporate banker to Odey Asset Management, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 2 (Reuters) - Barclays (BARC.L) is looking to terminate its corporate banking relationship with Odey Asset Management (OAM), the Financial Times reported on Sunday, predominantly due to sexual assault allegations against founder Crispin Odey. The British hedge fund has grappled with redemptions since the FT and Tortoise Media on June 8 jointly reported allegations by 13 women that Crispin Odey had sexually assaulted or harassed them over a 25-year period. OAM and Barclays did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside usual office hours. FT also reported earlier that the FCA had restricted the movement of cash and assets from OAM to restore order at the firm. Letters to OAM investors last week showed the manager has proposed to restructure two of its key funds as part of efforts to extract Crispin Odey from the business after the assault allegations.

Persons: Crispin Odey, Odey, AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Rishabh, Kevin Liffey, David Holmes Organizations: Barclays, Odey Asset Management, Financial Times, redemptions, Tortoise Media, Sunday Barclays, Financial, Authority, FT, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: British, Canada, Halifax, Bengaluru

☆ UK's Barratt looks to boost revenue with $212.6 mln homes sale deal with Citra
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 30 (Reuters) - Barratt Developments (BDEV.L) on Friday said it had agreed to sell 604 homes to Lloyds' (LLOY.L) private rental subsidiary Citra Living for 168.4 million pounds ($212.57 million) in cash, as Britain's largest housebuilder looks to diversify revenue. About 500 of the homes will be transferred to Citra's ownership by June 2024, while the remaining homes will be transferred the following year, Barratt said. The sale comes as the UK housing sector braces for a slower recovery due to persistent interest rate hikes which are set to hurt demand. Britain's biggest mortgage lender Lloyds launched its private rental business, Citra Living, in 2021 in a bid to find new revenue sources. "Our goal at Citra is to bring much needed high quality homes to the UK rental market ... Our partnership with Barratt helps us achieve that goal," Citra Managing Director Andy Hutchinson said in a statement on Friday.

Persons: Barratt, David Thomas, Andy Hutchinson, Eva Mathews, Rashmi Aich, Jason Neely Organizations: Barratt, Lloyds, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

LONDON, June 16 (Reuters) - Britain's ITV (ITV.L) is "actively exploring the possible acquisition" of production company All3Media, it said on Friday after Reuters reported the broadcaster's interest. One of Britain's leading independent production companies, All3Media is owned by Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) and Liberty Global (LBTYA.O). Sources told Reuters in a story released on Thursday that Warner Brothers could sell its All3Media holding while Liberty Global could retain a stake in a merged entity, which would comprise ITV Studios and All3Media. Speaking generally about its finances, ITV in March said that it had accessible funds of more than 1 billion pounds, comprising cash and undrawn debt facilities. In a potential deal, ITV would combine All3Media with the Studios business it has built to offset more volatile revenue from its advertising-dependent TV channels and new ITVX streaming service.

Persons: Kate Holton, William James, David Goodman Organizations: ITV, Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery, Liberty Global, Warner Brothers, ITV Studios, Thomson

Liberty Global could retain a stake in the merged entity, which would comprise ITV Studios and All3Media, the person said. Spokespeople for ITV, All3Media, Warner Bros. and Liberty Global declined to comment. Discovery and Liberty Global bought All3Media in 2014 for an enterprise value of about 550 million pounds. In a potential deal, ITV would combine All3Media with the Studios business it has built to offset more volatile revenue from its advertising-dependent TV channels and new ITVX streaming service. ITV Studios, which makes reality show "Love Island", grew revenue by 19% to 2.1 billion pounds and adjusted earnings by 22% to 259 million pounds in 2022.

Persons: Spokespeople, Amy, Jo Crowley, Paul Sandle, Elisa Martinuzzi, Hugh Lawson Organizations: ITV, Warner Bros Discovery Inc, Liberty Global, Warner Brothers, . Liberty Global, ITV Studios, All3Media, Reuters, Liberty, Warner Bros, JPMorgan, Discovery, Thomson

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) ended 0.4% lower after a survey showed the U.S. services sector barely grew in May, while factory orders rose less than expected. "There's a bit of profit taking after some of the moves we've had recently," said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. "The economic reports that we've gotten around the world (signal) a somewhat slowing economy." Shares of Indivior Plc (INDV.L) jumped 7.8% to top the STOXX 600 index after the drugmaker agreed to pay $102.5 million to settle a lawsuit for its opioid addiction treatment Suboxone. Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: we've, Steve Sosnick, Christine Lagarde, Joachim Nagel, Shreyashi Sanyal, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Richard Chang Organizations: PMI, Interactive, U.S . Federal, European Central Bank, Amazon.com Inc, Indivior Plc, Trendyol, Viaplay, Volvo, Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: U.S, Alibaba, Swedish, Sweden, Bengaluru

☆ European shares open flat; London leads on oil boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 5 (Reuters) - European shares opened flat on Monday as markets failed to catch the tailwind from a bounce seen last week, while London stocks led regional gains following upbeat performances by energy firms on the back of higher oil prices. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) held its ground at 462.46 points, while London's FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index led gains with a 0.5% climb. The European oil & gas sector index (.SXEP) rose 1%, buttressed by stronger oil prices after top global exporter Saudi Arabia pledged to cut production by another 1 million barrels per day from July. Shares of Indivior Plc (INDV.L) surged 11% to top the STOXX 600 Index after the drugmaker agreed to pay $102.5 million to settle a lawsuit for its opioid addiction treatment Suboxone. Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shreyashi Sanyal, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: FTSE, Saudi, Markets, U.S . Federal, Indivior Plc, Thomson Locations: London, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Indivior opioid settlement makes purer M&A case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Indivior (INDV.L) is one step closer to becoming a takeover target. Litigation risks have weighed down Indivior in the years following the company’s spinoff from Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) in 2014. The group still has lawsuits to settle over the same charges with insurers and patients. With its litigation risks easing, Indivior could soon lure larger cash rich pharmaceutical companies keen to access a market that is sadly showing no signs of decline. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Reckitt, Roche, Indivior, Aimee Donnellan, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Suboxone, AstraZeneca, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Twitter, Toyota, Thomson Locations: U.S

Companies Indivior PLC FollowJune 2 (Reuters) - Indivior Plc (INDV.L) said on Friday it agreed to pay $102.5 million to settle a lawsuit by dozens of U.S. states accusing it of illegally suppressing generic competition for its opioid addiction treatment Suboxone. Suboxone was approved for U.S. sale in 2002, and Indivior had the exclusive right to sell the treatment in tablet form until 2009. States said Indivior switched to an oral film version of Suboxone from a tablet version to extend its monopoly, just as generic manufacturers were poised to sell their own lower-cost tablets. Generic tablets obtained federal approval in 2013. Indivior expects to pay the $102.5 million in cash this month.

Persons: drugmaker, Indivior, Suboxone, Josh Kaul, Mariam Sunny, Jonathan Stempel, Maju Samuel, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Indivior, D.C, U.S, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Thomson Locations: Chesterfield , Virginia, U.S, Washington, Indivior's, Philadelphia, Suboxone, Wisconsin, United States, Bengaluru, New York

☆ British home prices to slip but won't come crashing down, Reuters poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Partly finished houses are seen on a new housing development under construction in Liverpool, Britain June 2, 2023. Yes, prices will fall this year but by single digits," said Tony Williams at consultancy Building Value. From peak to trough home prices will fall 7.5%, the median in the poll showed. "Persistent core inflation and wage pressures will prevent the Bank of England from cutting interest rates until 2024, which means mortgage rates won't fall any further until next year," said Andrew Wishart at Capital Economics. (For other stories from the Reuters quarterly housing market polls:)Reporting by Jonathan Cable; polling by Mumal Rathore and Anitta Sunil; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Phil Noble, Tony Williams, Andrew Wishart, BoE, Michael McGill, Barratt, Russell Quirk, Jonathan Cable, Mumal Rathore, Anitta Sunil, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of England, Capital Economics, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, Britain, Britain's, London

☆ UK's ITV commissions review after presenter resignation row
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - British broadcaster ITV (ITV.L) has commissioned an external review of presenter Phillip Schofield's resignation, the company said on Wednesday, after the 61-year-old admitted to lying about a relationship with a young worker. The probe was first reported by PA Media on Wednesday. "As you would expect we take the matter extremely seriously and have reviewed our own records over the weekend," a letter sent by McCall to government said, PA Media reported. The letter was sent to Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, and culture minister Lucy Frazer, PA Media reported. It said ITV had instructed a senior barrister to "carry out an external review to establish the facts".

Persons: Phillip Schofield's, Schofield, Carolyn McCall, McCall, Lucy Frazer, Paul Sandle, William James, Aurora Ellis Organizations: ITV, PA Media, Britain's, Ofcom, Thomson Locations: British, Britain

☆ FTSE 100 edges higher as NatWest, StanChart shares rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Domestic house prices rise in MayUK lowers stake in NatWest, shares climbDechra Pharma down after profit warningUS debt ceiling talks to resume after impasseFTSE 100 0.3%, FTSE 250 flatMay 22 (Reuters) - UK's blue-chip index edged higher on Monday, with NatWest shares rising after it agreed to buy 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) worth of its shares back from the government, although lingering uncertainty over the U.S. debt ceiling impasse weighed on overall mood. The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.3%, with bank stocks in the lead. Standard Chartered (STAN.L) rose 2.4% after Bank of America upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral". UK-listed stocks have traded in tight bands since late April as investors digested mixed corporate earnings, weakening outlook for commodity-linked stocks and standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling deal. ($1 = 0.7923 pounds)Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Confidence returning to UK housing market as asking prices jump: Rightmove
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Suban Abdulla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"One reason for this increased confidence may be that the gloomy start-of-the-year predictions for the market are looking increasingly unlikely," Tim Bannister, director of property science at Rightmove, said. Earlier this year, British house prices were forecast by sector analysts to fall by as much as 15% by mid-2024. Rightmove said mortgage rates had been stable on a week-to-week basis. Mortgage lender Halifax said earlier this month that property prices grew at the slowest annual pace in over 10 years in April. But rival Nationwide said prices rose by a monthly 0.5% in April after falling for the seven previous months.

☆ Tesco chair Allan to step down after inappropriate behaviour claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, prior to Friday's update from Tesco, Allan was due to seek re-election at the June 16 annual general meeting (AGM). Tesco said that pending the appointment of a new chairman, senior independent director Byron Grote will become interim chair and will chair the AGM. Earlier this month, the Guardian newspaper reported that Allan was facing claims of inappropriate behaviour from four women. Three of these allegations are vigorously denied by Allan, and for the other Allan unreservedly apologised for a comment he made, Tesco said. "While we have received no complaints about John's conduct and made no findings of wrongdoing, these allegations risk becoming a distraction to Tesco," Grote said.

Its Very Large Telescope is perched at 8,645 feet atop an explosive-flattened mountaintop, where the atmosphere is relatively stable and incredibly dry. is building a new telescope, the Extremely Large Telescope, which will be used for, among other purposes, hunting for exoplanets that might support life. On my way back to the residencia, I stopped and looked up at the billowing arch of the Milky Way. The Atacama, for all its emptiness, is not a void. The desert, in its dryness, keeps the dead and opens the sky.

[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 commodity-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) edged 0.1% lower, while the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) was flat as of 0814 GMT. "Gains in homebuilders is being counteracted by ex-dividend moves today," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG Group. Even as concerns over a potential U.S. recession have weighed on investor sentiment, defensive stocks such as pharmaceuticals as well as commodity-linked stocks have kept FTSE 100 afloat recently. Shares of Lloyds Group (LLOY.L), Unite Group (UTG.L) and Persimmon (PSN.L) among others were down between 1.7%-3% as the stocks traded ex-dividend. Reporting by Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Sohini Goswami and Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK house sales at pre-COVID levels after 'mini-budget' shock - Rightmove
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Suban Abdulla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Property website Rightmove (RMV.L) said the number of sales agreed between sellers and buyers was just 1% lower last month than in March 2019 as borrowing costs edged down from their leap after the September 'mini-budget'. However, while the total number of agreed sales had improved from being 21% below 2019 levels as recently as January, they remained down 18% when compared with March 2022. Real estate agents noted a "significant upswing" in buyer demand for apartments of all sizes, with agreed sales rising 10% from 2019, up from a fall of 11% at the start of 2023. London saw the most pronounced recovery in the broader market, with overall agreed sales increasing 11% compared to March 2019, and agreed sales of apartments 23% higher. Rightmove said a third of properties were reduced from their original asking price, up from 19% last year although in line with pre-pandemic levels.

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