Aviva chair buys shares post-AIG acquisitionColefax CEO and directors sell shares in tender offerSirius Real Estate CEO sells 500,000 sharesGeorge Culmer, chairman of Aviva (AV.), bought 110,675 shares at 396p for a total value of £437,799 on 25 September.The purchase comes as the UK insurer announced it was buying AIG's UK protection business for £450 million and almost a month after Aviva chie

Less than a month after Hurricane Ian, a large and highly destructive Category Four Atlantic storm which devastated large parts of Florida, estimates of its impact are rising rapidly.Initial forecasts put the cost of the storm at between $20 billion and $30 billion, but once the full extent of the damage to Fort Myers was appraised estimates soared to between $50 billion and $65 billion.The Financ

- Investors shrug-off raised dividend- Recession risks keep investors in caution mode- Analyst flags asset management 'success'German business park investor Sirius Real Estate (SRE) doesn't seem to be convincing the market despite solid full-year performance, a higher dividend and in-line guidance on current trading.Investors are clearly concerned about the economic backdrop and the shares were ma

For much of the past five decades a conventional balanced portfolio made up of 60% shares and 40% bonds has served its purpose.The rationale behind this approach has been that bonds cushion volatility and provide income, and act as a counterbalance during a bear market. Conversely stocks provide the capital upside during a bull market.More recently the two asset classes have become more correlated

In the end 2021 proved a rewarding year for stock markets as vaccines were rolled out and economies began to recover from the worst ravages of the pandemic. In the early part of the year, growth was shunned for value before bouncing back into fashion as the year progressed.On the whole, this was a volatile period, with investors contending with concerns over inflation and the rising interest rates

Leading UK shares ended lower on Wednesday but off their weakest level after Russian president Vladimir Putin said the country would increase the amount of gas it will send to Ukraine via Europe, reining in surging gas prices that contributed to market weakness.At the close, the UK benchmark FTSE 100 was 81 points, or 1.15%, lower at 6,995.87, above the session low of 6,946.The more UK focused FTS

London's major shares continued to plunge through late morning trading on Wednesday, even after supermarkets giant Tesco (TSCO) posted bumper profits. Investors are clearly worried increasingly about rising US bond yields and soaring energy prices that have been stoking inflation threats, and possibly, sooner than expected interest rate rises.Oil prices were camped above $82 per barrel after produ

London's FTSE 100 traded almost 1% lower at 7,007.53 early on Wednesday, even after supermarkets giant Tesco (TSCO) posted bumper profits, as rising US bond yields and soaring energy prices stoked inflation fears.Oil prices were camped above $80 per barrel after producers' cartel OPEC failed to increase output and natural gas continued to touch record highs, leaving investors fretting that rising

UK stocks edged lower into the close on Wednesday as investors awaited clues to the speed of a possible US rate rise from the publication of the latest meeting notes from the Federal Reserve.At 4.45pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 12 points or less than 0.2% at 7,169, with losses for miners offsetting gains for house builders after more strong data on home prices.COMPANY NEWSPersimmon (PS

UK stocks edged higher in early trading on Wednesday as any optimism generated by another batch of positive earnings updates was offset by concerns about the spreading Delta coronavirus variant.At 08.15am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 4.28 points, or less than 0.1%, at 7,185.39.The modest rise came after the release of inflation data, with the UK's consumer price index up 2.0% in July, miss

The gradual reopening of the UK economy has been matched in the property investment space by a similarly gradual reopening of open-ended real estate funds. This follows a long period when trading in numerous property funds was suspended due to the difficulty of valuing their holdings in the pandemic.There are mounting arguments that these vehicles are becoming 'uninvestable' thanks to the mismatch

UK stocks ended Monday's session in the red as the reopening of shops and pubs across the UK failed to generate much of a market reaction.Caution prevailed as many investors decided to hold off on any big decisions as first quarter earnings season picks up pace in the US.'UK markets have remained pretty subdued as they seemed to have priced in today's lockdown easing exuberance,' explained Danni H

UK stocks were ever slightly lower by lunchtime on Monday, even as local restaurants, bars and other non-essential businesses began to reopen, with sentiment uncertain amid global jitters over rising bond yields and lofty stock valuations.By lunchtime, London's blue chip benchmark index was off 22 points or 0.31%, at 6,894.2, with high street names weakening on reopening day as investors decided t

The FTSE 100 fell 0.69% to 6,868 in early trade on Monday despite optimism as non-essential retailers and pubs open their doors for the first time in months.Momentum in UK shares had been building ahead of today, with the index getting back to pre-pandemic levels last week. The midcap FTSE 250 index, which last week hit a record high, also fell this morning with a 0.46% drop to 22,148.Most retaile

UK stocks reversed their morning gains as markets worldwide wobbled after US legislators warned that a bi-partisan deal over up to $1,900 billion of government stimulus may take longer than expected.At the close the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 56 points or 0.8% at 6,639 as weakness in travel and financial stocks offset gains in retailers and utilities.Gold prices slipped 0.2% to $1,8

UK stocks gave up their early gains on Monday as a pick-up in merger and acquisition activity was offset by increasing worries over the new strain of the virus.By midday the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 20 points or 0.3% to 6,674 as weakness in travel and financial stocks offset gains in retailers and miners.Gold prices slipped 0.2% to $1,851 an ounce and Brent Crude gained 0.5% to $5

UK stocks opened ahead on Monday buoyed by mergers and acquisition activity but increasing worries over the new strain of the virus kept enthusiasm muted.Trading in Asia was positive with Japan's Nikkei 225 up 0.7% and China's SE Composite up 0.5%. Gold prices slipped 0.2% to $1,851 an ounce and Brent Crude gained 0.5% to $57.5 a barrel.The pound was 0.2% higher at $1.37. At 08:40 the FTSE 100 of

UK stocks tailed-off late on Monday as speculation increased that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would intensify lockdown restrictions during an evening address to the nation.That capped gains during an otherwise rampant reopening from the New Year holiday as Covid vaccine optimism pushed Brexit concerns to the margins.At the close, the benchmark FTSE 100 had come back from earlier near-3% gains to

UK stocks were rampant through Monday morning after reopening from the New Year holiday as Covid vaccine optimism pushed Brexit concerns to the margins.At midday, the benchmark FTSE 100 had jumped 2.75% to 6,638.03, accelerating opening trade gains in the first trading session of 2021 as the UK began vaccinating the population with the new Oxford University/AstraZeneca (AZN) jab.'UK markets certai

London's FTSE 100 firmed 1.7% to 6,567.70 early on in the first trading session of the new year as the UK began vaccinating the population with the new Oxford University/AstraZeneca jab and a rise in oil prices lent the blue chip benchmark some support.AstraZeneca (AZN) advanced 1.7% to £74.45 as the drugs giant also completed the sale of commercial rights to its hypertension medications Atacand