Company
Aviva PLC
LON:AV.
Aviva is the world's fifth-largest insurance group and the biggest in the UK. Aviva is one of the leading providers of life and pensions products in Europe and have substantial businesses elsewhere around the world.
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FIVE at FIVE: Aviva rises on solvency boost; Centrica basks in ‘buy’ notes; Royal Mail Christmas strikes; FTSE 100; Parsley Box adds to AIM exodus
Here’s Proactive’s round-up of the top financial stories of the day, with helpful links taking you directly to the news
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Aviva expected to benefit from bulk annuity boom - RBC
In an upbeat sector review RBC Capital Markets forecast demand for bulk annuities should significantly exceed supply, underpinning expectations for an increase in volumes, written at better margins.
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Aviva: Do the splinters hurt Barclays Capital?
The fence-sitters at the UK investment bank do have a quite punchy price target for the insurer's shares
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Aviva results a mixed bag say analysts, but buyback and dividend attractions remain
General insurance provided encouragement but savings and retirement less so
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Aviva reports continued strong trading and plans further share buy-back
Amanda Blanc, group chief executive officer, said: "Trading is positive and our performance is consistently strong. We have had a good nine months due to our market leading positions, our customer focus and the clear benefits of Aviva's div
Aviva set for “significant” boost as insurers prepare to update life expectancy calculations
On 11 October 2022, the Institute of Actuaries (IofA) gave an initial indication that the high level of excess deaths this year could drive the record seven-month reduction in life expectancy
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Aviva, M&G and other blue-chip life insurers can withstand short-term shocks, says analyst
Pension schemes use interest rate derivatives to protect against interest rate falls and/or to match long-term liabilities, which greatly increased demands for collateral
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UK market swings provide 'greatest profit opportunities since the 1970s' say traders
On equity markets, the blue-chip life insurers and banks are down 11-15% over London's past five trading sessions
Pensions Regulator welcomes Bank of England intervention
Shares in large and small financial companies were under pressure due to worries about pension funds
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Aviva, Lloyds, Goldman and other City bosses meet new chancellor to hear plans
At the meeting were also bosses from Barclays, NatWest, HSBC, Legal & General, JP Morgan, UBS, Blackstone, Fidelity and Bloomberg
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Aviva's cash taps can stay on for years, suggests RBC
The Canadian broker reckons Aviva’s balance sheet is strong enough to support annual share buybacks of £450mln
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Market movers: BT hit by downgrade by Berenberg
A look at some risers and fallers on the market on Tuesday.
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Aviva: The shares have jumped 15% since last week's results. So, are they still worth a punt? Two leading banks deliver their verdicts
Citi and Credit Suisse, somewhat late the to party, provided their analysis
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Aviva hikes dividend 40% and plans year-end buyback
The insurance and pension provider boosted operating profit by 14% in the first half
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All eyes on US inflation, but before that Aviva, Pru, Deliveroo and TUI
Other results in London are expected from Admiral, Arix Bioscience, Gamesys, Quilter, TP Icap Group, while after-hours in the US there will also be results from Disney
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Disney, Pru, Aviva out on Wednesday but US inflation the main event
US CPI will set the mood for the rest of the week given the nervy backdrop
Aviva, L&G and Prudential go to the races
Next week will be crunch time for the latest crop of insurers when they will reveal what impact recent headwinds including rising claims costs have had on their earnings
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Aviva pays workers to financially help all workers on cost-of-living crisis
The insurance company wanted to give pro-rata payments to those earning below £35,000 but Unite has been pushing for salary hikes for all staff
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Aviva faces headwinds after weaker than expected start, says analyst
This week's update “cements our sense that the shares lack momentum near-term” said Deutsche Bank
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If stagflation emerges, buy AstraZeneca and Reckitt, avoid Aviva and BP says analyst
There are many classic defensive stocks on the more favoured side of UBS's 'stagflation protection list'
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Aviva is still seen as a ‘buy’ at UBS
With a 480p price target UBS sees close to 9% upside to the insurer’s market price.
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Aviva hails annuities and equity release business as star performer; reiterates dividend guidance
The general insurance business was blown off course by £70mln of costs from storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin
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Aviva, Burberry and British Land in spotlight on Wednesday
Aviva, Burberry, British Land, National Grid, Royal Mail and Fevertree are among the names in the diary for Wednesday.
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Aviva confirms share redemption process taking place today
Holders of ordinary shares and B shares will receive payment by 31 May, with ADS holders getting them a bit later to allow for the conversion from pounds to dollars
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Aviva to complete shareholder return process today and tomorrow
The process involves issuing a new B share for every existing share today and then redeeming them tomorrow for 101.69p apiece
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Defensives back in fashion, declares JO Hambro
“The valuation between defensives and cyclicals is now at the same extremity as it was after 9/11 and during the Lehman collapse in the financial crisis,” according to JO Hambro's UK Equity Income Fund
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Aviva to vote on tax-efficient return of capital next Monday
The idea of issuing free shares and then immediately buying them for 101p each seems like madness but there is method to the madness.
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Aviva tipped to return £5bn in capital by Morgan Stanley
The excess capital position should provide some downside protection to the share price
Aviva appoints Charlotte Jones as CFO
Jones previously served as chief financial officer of RSA Insurance PLC and as interim chief executive of RSA UK & International
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Aviva completes £1bn share buyback programme
The FTSE 100-listed insurer has committed to returning a further £3.75bn to shareholders
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Aviva ups its share buyback commitment as it seeks to pacify activist investor Cevian Capital
"Today we are announcing a total capital return to shareholders of £4.75bn, including the existing £1bn share buyback, delivering on our promise to shareholders by returning more than £4bn," said CEO Amanda Blanc.
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Aviva profits down but shareholders get big payday
High interest rates eat into companies equity but business sales give shareholders £4.75bn reimbursement.
Aviva Investors to hold bosses accountable if investee companies fail to deliver on sustainability
The asset manager also wants a closer link between executive pay and sustainability goals
Builders and building materials
Persimmon poaches Aviva CFO
Jason Windsor will be replacing current chief financial officer Mike Killoran
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Aviva set to increase share buyback
Aviva prepares to increase and extend its ordinary share buyback programme.
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Aviva completes exit from Italy with sale of life insurance business
The insurer has also sold completed the sale of its Polish business
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Aviva on track with cost savings and capital return to shareholders
The insurer has faced calls to return £5bn to shareholders from activist investor Cevian
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Aviva completes sale of Italian general insurance business to Allianz for £284mln
The insurance group said in March that it was exiting Italy
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Time to buy Aviva and other bargain European insurers says JP Morgan
Aviva and Beazley are the American bank's top picks in the sector.
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Aviva activist ups stake to over 5%
Aviva has cash to hand out following a whirlwind £7.5bn disposal programme
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Investment bank says its time to splash cash on Aviva shares
“We believe Aviva continues to offer highly attractive value," Deutsche said in a note.
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Aviva, Legal & General and Phoenix provide dividend assurance - but for how long?
Aviva, L&G and Phoenix offer juicy dividend yields (and not much else, critics would say).
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Aviva comes up short on operating profits but pledges to return up to £4bn by the end of 2022
There were lots of eye-catching numbers to focus on but operating profits came in shy of the market's expectations
Builders and building materials
Aviva and Persimmon to repay ground rent on unfair leases
Other housing developers and investors face legal action if they don't follow the lead of Aviva and Persimmon
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Aviva shareholder's activist approach better than a takeover says partner
Cevian announced it had taken a near 5% stake in the life and pensions group earlier this month
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Aviva and why some companies are wary of special dividends
Just five FTSE 100 companies have paid special divis this year: Admiral, B&M, Fergison, Rio Tinto, St James's and Tesco. Companies that would like their special divis back? IHG and IAG for two.
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Aviva told to pay out £5bn by activist investor
Aviva has sold eight businesses to raise £7.5bn but has not yet given a figure on how much of that will be handed back
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Aviva mulls shareholder payouts as £7.5bn disposal programme nears completion
"Our positive trading performance in the first quarter of 2021 reinforces our confidence"
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Aviva winds up its UK property fund
The asset management arm of Aviva said that despite the closures it remains firmly committed to the property sector
Aviva and M&G can grow through low interest rate backdrop, says JP Morgan
“We think Aviva offers potential to move up on the risk curve following its current restructuring"
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Aviva downgraded as UBS sees hard work starting now
Aviva is better placed than rival L&G, which UBS rates as a sell.
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Aviva sells Polish arm to Allianz for €2.5bn
Chief executive Amanda Blanc said the board plans to make “a substantial return of capital” to shareholders
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Aviva forecast to dole out cash returns equal to 20% of market cap
Berenberg forecasts £1.5bn of cash returns in the 2022 financial year and another £1.5bn for 2023
Aviva won’t invest in Deliveroo £8bn IPO over workers’ rights concerns
"A lot of employers could make a massive difference to workers’ lives if they guaranteed working hours or a living wage, and how companies behave is becoming more important”
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Aviva eyes cash handouts after record year in savings and retirement
As well its French and Italian businesses, Aviva also sold its operations in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Turkey
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FTSE 100 finishes in the drink as big cap miners take a hit
The UK's index of leading shares finished down nearly 25 (24.59) points, or 0.37%, at 6,650
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Aviva continues portfolio review as it exits Turkish business for £122mln
The insurer is planning to focus on its strongest activities in the UK, Ireland and Canada
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Aviva plans to cut dividend by a third and grow it from there
“As we simplify Aviva's portfolio, we will deliver further value to shareholders by returning excess capital above 180% solvency cover ratio, once our debt leverage target ratio has been reached,” said new boss Amanda Blanc
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FTSE 100 closes lower, little to be thankful for as US markets take break
At the close, the UK blue-chip index was 25.16 points, or 0.4% lower at 6,362.93, above the session low, but well below the opening peak
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Aviva, Britvic, and Severn Trent set for Thursday spotlight
The insurer, drinks firm and water utility were all among the notable names in Thursday's diary.
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Aviva continues to slim down with sale of Italian life subsidiary
“We will continue to be decisive as we seek to transform Aviva for the benefit of our shareholders,” said boss Amanda Blanc
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Aviva agrees £1.6bn divestment of a majority stake in Singapore business
"The sale of Aviva Singapore is a significant first step in our new strategy to bring greater focus to Aviva's portfolio."
Aviva up as it reinstates dividend but profits suffer from coronavirus claims
Aviva said it is reviewing its dividend policy going forward
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Aviva, ITV and Serco Group results in Thursday’s spotlight
Aviva, ITV and Serco Group are all among the notable names in the diary for Thursday.
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Aviva promotes non-executive director to top role as CEO Tulloch retires
Amanda Blanc is replacing Maurice Tulloch, who is retiring for family health reasons after a year in the role
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Aviva shows little impact from coronavirus so far
The life insurer’s solvency ratio fell to 182% at the end of March, above the top end of its target range but down from 206% three months earlier
Aviva, RSA and other insurers cancel dividend payments due to coronavirus
Also including fellow FTSE 350 pair Direct Line and Hiscox, the insurers all assured that their capital, liquidity and funding positions remain strong
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Aviva, Standard Life, L&G join rush to suspend UK property funds
Independent valuation firms have said it is impossible to accurately value property given the major economic uncertainty due to the coronavirus
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Aviva bumps up profits and promises to take “robust action”
Operating profit for 2019 was a record £3.2bn, up 6% on the previous year after a stronger second half
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Aviva dividend pessimism drives downgrade by Barclays; Prudential 'top pick'
Aviva was downgraded to ‘equal weight’ as analysts now view excess distributions to shareholders as “significantly less likely”
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Citi downgrades Aviva to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ after cutting target price by 10%
The US bank’s target price was reduced to 414p from 460p primarily driven by around a 1% increase in cost of capital for those of its businesses it values on a DCF basis
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Aviva leaves investors underwhelmed with "slow burn" strategy
"Fundamentally Aviva strategy calls for a slow burn story that requires consistent execution versus the more aggressive action regarding the shape of the group that some were hoping," said analysts at Citi
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Aviva disappoints with decision not to sell Chinese business
The FTSE 100 insurer said retaining the business would provide the most value for shareholders, however, it is still considering options for its operations in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia
Aviva weighs Asian exit as life and asset management toil in first half
Tulloch said the board had also “considering a range of options” for Aviva's Asian businesses, saying the unit has “excellent growth and earnings potential”
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FTSE 100 closes higher as risk-on investor mood returns, trade war fears fade
"Chinese exports and imports in July both came in better than expected, and that added to the feel-good factor," noted analyst David Madden.
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ShoreCap undercover digging finds insurers not quite walking the talk, upgrades Hastings
Broker upgraded Hastings Group to 'buy' as it would be most affected by a pricing upturn in the motor insurance market
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No pain no gain: will Aviva's strategy reversal provide a new lease of life?
Aviva said that while the combined life and non-life operations had led to some new business wins it had increased complexity and not delivered expected efficiency benefits.
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FTSE 100 closes higher led by defensive stocks
Footsie closed up 39 at 7,259, while mid-cap cousin FTSE 250 went the other direction, shedding over six points to close at 19,065
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Aviva and CMC Markets in spotlight for busy Thursday
Investors look forward to a strategy update from Aviva's new boss, meanwhile, they are braced for CMC Markets results after the recent profit warning.
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Aviva says Tom Stoddard will step down as its chief financial officer by mutual consent from 30 June
The insurer said Jason Windsor, currently chief financial officer of Aviva UK Insurance, will become the group’s interim chief financial officer on 1 July 2019
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US jobs data, ECB policy decision to make for up meagre flow of corporate news in coming week
Asides from the macro news, the Week Ahead also brings the latest quarterly FTSE indexes reshuffle, a strategy update from insurer Aviva, and results from Auto Trader
High FTSE yields point to 'dividend slaves' that may cut payouts
Grace Jones' Slave to the Rhythm might well have been about the pressure of a progressive dividend policy: 'Build on up, don't break the chain; Sparks will fly when the whistle blows'
Debenhams to close 22 stores next year as part of CVA plan
Several London-listed REITs have Debenhams stores on their books
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Aviva’s UK insurance business boss to depart, just weeks after missing out on top job at the blue-chip firm
The FTSE 100-listed group said Briggs - who was previously boss of Friends Provident which Aviva took over in 2015 - will remain with the insurer until October 23 to support an orderly transition
FTSE 100 closes marginally down after treading water through the day as Parliament breaks for Easter after Brexit extension
Holiday cheer as airline stocks gain on hopes holidaymakers will put Brexit concerns aside for summer
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WH Smith investors are hoping for dividend boost
Less of a newsagent nowadays but could WH Smith be set to increase payouts to shareholders.
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Retailers Tesco and ASOS to provide the main corporate excitement in coming week
Also on the retail front, WH Smith and Dunelm will issue updates as well in the Week Ahead, while on the macro front an ECB rate decision and US FOMC meeting minutes are also due
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Legal & General higher as JPMorgan ups stance to ‘neutral’ from ‘underweight’ following de-rating
The US bank's analysts noted that L&G’s management has continued to deliver on growth plans, supported by a growing annuities business and consistent positive net inflows in asset management
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Aviva warns it will be tough to maintain profit growth seen in 2018 amid Brexit uncertainty
“Given current uncertainties, including the unknown future impacts of Brexit on the economies of the United Kingdom and Europe, our near-term outlook entering 2019 is more muted than our outlook a year ago,” said chief financial officer Tho
FTSE 100 closes lower after European Central Bank strikes downbeat note
"Brutal cuts from the ECB as GDP growth for 2019 is cut from 1.7% to 1.1%. With this in mind, it seems like any possible interest rate raises are all but completely ruled out until likely 2021," declared Jordan Hiscott, the chief trader at
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Insurers Aviva and Admiral in Thursday’s results spotlight
Results from Aviva, Admiral, Greggs and Premier Oil are all in the diary for Thursday.
Why FTSE 100 bosses need longer than five years to show their worth
They get more than twice the amount of time given to Premier League managers, but Hargreaves Lansdown’s Russ Mould reckons they can only be judged after eight years
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Aviva appoints new chief executive ahead of full year results
Maurice Tulloch, who has been with Aviva since 1992 and joined the board in June 2017, will become chief executive with immediate effect
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Insurance will be the corporate key in coming week, though US jobs data should be biggest draw
The Week Ahead brings updates from the likes of Aviva, Direct Line, L&G and Admiral, while investors can also bet on Paddy Power Betfair and GVC Holdings
Be Heard makes strong start to 2019 after year of transformation
"The group has had a good start to the year," chairman David Morrison said.
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RBC upgrades Aviva to ‘Top Pick’, says buy before new CEO takes control
In a note, the bank’s analysts said the incoming CEO would be able to “take advantage of the key growth areas of the UK market” which would likely drive up the share price
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Aviva chief executive Mark Wilson to step down next April
Both Wilson and the insurer said he had “successfully completed” the turnaround he had been brought in to deliver and that the time was right for someone else to take the reins
Unilever withdraws plans to scrap dual listing and relocate out of UK
The FTSE 100-consumer goods giant said the proposal had “not received support from a significant group of shareholders” after it outlined the plans in September
FTSE 100 closes sharply lower as sterling gains and miners weigh
The UK blue - chip index finished down 99.8 points at 7,318, while FTSE 250 was also lower