Stocks in Europe were higher on Monday afternoon, despite political uncertainty in France, while gold reached a record high and stocks in the US are set to open in the green amid dovish Federal Reserve expectations. The FTSE 100 index climbed 14.32 points, 0.2%, at 9,222.53. The FTSE 250 was up 141.48 points, 0.7%, at 21,717.02, and the AIM All-Share added 6.79 points, 0.9%, at 772.42. The...

Operating profits increase Cash generation disappoints Rebranding as Standard Life After a strong run year-to-date, life insurer and asset manager Phoenix Group (PHNX) met profit-taking after posting a mixed first-half trading update. The shares fell as much as 43p or 6.4% to 627p before stabilising around 637p for a loss of 32p or nearly 5%, leaving them with a gain of 25% since January. >...

Stocks opened higher at the start of the week, with gold performing well in the aftermath of Friday's US jobs data, while focus was on Japan and France amid political uncertainty. Japan's prime minister announced he will step down and the future of his French counterpart hangs in the balance also. In the UK, eyes remain on Westminster after UK PM Keir Starmer last week completed a reshuffle of...

Although it was overshadowed by president Trump's latest tariff climb-down, the recent updated Mansion House Accord ? backed by the PLSA (Pension and Lifetime Savings Association), the ABI (Association of British Insurers) and the City of London Corporation ? was a key moment for UK financial markets and pension savers. No fewer than 17 of the UK's largest pension funds voluntarily agreed to...

According to the latest Dividend Monitor report from Computershare, which looks after the share registers of 900 companies, total UK corporate dividend payments fell 4.6% or £700 million in the first quarter of this year to £14 billion. The decline was mainly due to lower one-off special dividends and a handful of large cuts from firms such as Burberry (BRBY) and Vodafone (VOD), which halved...

Burford team invest $17.5 millionPhoenix director raises £538,000 LXi execs cash in for £47 millionTop executives at litigation finance firm Burford Capital (BUR:AIM) invested a total of $17.5 million (£13.5 million) in the company's shares earlier this month through its deferred compensation scheme, with chief executive Christopher Bogart committing to 630,249 shares at a cost of £6.65...

Firm hits operating cash target early£300 million of annual surplus cashDeleveraging top priority for nowInvestors in Phoenix Group (PHNX) received a welcome lift in the value of their holdings after the insurer and pension provider revealed it had hit its cash generation target early and was raising its three-year profit targets.The shares added 33p or 6% to a three-month high of 557p, their...

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Monday, with Phoenix Group leading the way among large-caps, but defence technology firm Qinetiq slumping in the FTSE 250 as it grapples with tough trading conditions.Market focus this week will be on a slew of central banking decisions, with the Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Bank of Japan announcing rate decisions.On Monday, eyes will be on a US...

1H cash generation up 19%Cash surplus £3.5 billionInterim dividend up 2.5%Investors appeared less than wowed by the first-half update from pensions and savings provider Phoenix (PHNX) despite the group posting double-digit growth in cash generation and raising its interim dividend.The shares dropped 15p or 2.5% to 562p making Phoenix the worst performer on the FTSE 100 to kick off the week. ...

It's said there are only two certainties in life ? death and taxes ? and as it stands the world is steadily getting older, with not enough births or young people coming through to offset the increasing ranks of the middle-aged and old-aged.Moreover, according to the United Nations' latest World Populations Prospects study which came out earlier this year, the global population is likely to...

Stock prices in London closed lower on Wednesday, as European markets brace themselves for political instability in the run-up to UK and French elections.The CAC 40 in Paris took the biggest hit on Wednesday, ahead of the snap election in France on Sunday.The FTSE 100 index closed down 22.46 points, 0.3%, at 8,225.33. The FTSE 250 ended down 65.33 points, 0.3%, at 20,298.10, and the AIM...

Record cash generation last year2025 target hit two years earlyShares still yield 10% after rallyInsurer Phoenix Group (PHNX) delighted investors with its full-year results which showed it hitting its 2025 growth target two years early and introducing a new progressive dividend policy.The shares jumped as much as 8% to 526p taking them to the top of the FTSE 100 leader board. ...

With all the hype around technology stocks, and AI (artificial intelligence) in particular, the UK life insurance sector is probably a long way down the list of investors' priorities right now, yet for value players as well as income seekers there is plenty to like.On one hand, the unrecognised value of the cash flows from their existing businesses could far outweigh their current valuations...

At 5.75%, the yield on JOHCM UK Equity Income (B8FCHK5) is the second highest it has ever been, according to fund manager Clive Beagles. You have to go back to the global financial crisis in 2008, when stock markets collapsed, to find a higher yield on the fund.'I find that staggering because the balance sheets of our companies are in a miles-better place than in 2008,' he says. 'We only own...

Insurers preferred to banksAirlines out but two-way trade in internet retailHousebuilders get benefit of the doubtIt is always fascinating to see which stocks are the most popular in terms of order flow and value traded, and for anyone who wants to find it this information is freely available on the AJ Bell website, relating to the activities of its customers.BANKS OUT, INSURERS INOver the...

- Shares drift despite better first half results- Sun Life deal already discounted- Interim dividend increased by 3%Shares in insurance group Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX) drifted 1% lower to 675p despite the group announcing first half results which were ahead of consensus expectations.The muted share price response may reflect the fact that the market has already factored in the benefits of...

-Phoenix Group offers 8% dividend yield-Recent share price performance has disappointed-2021 cash generation levels will be difficult to sustain, and contingent on new dealsInsurance company Phoenix Group (PHNX) offers investors a dividend yield of just more than 8% based on consensus forecasts.Full-year results (14 March) were impressive.Phoenix delivered £1.7 billion of cash generation in...

Shares in insurance group Phoenix Group Holdings (PHNX), rose 1.5% to 635p following the announcement of better than expected full year results for 2021.The market is likely to be encouraged by the new progressive dividend policy.For 2021, Phoenix generated an operating profit of £1.23 billion, up from £1.20 billion in 2020, reflecting the contribution of a full year of profit from its...

The rapid growth of exchange traded funds over the last decade means investors now have plenty of choice when tracking major investment themes.ETFs take the headache and risk out of trying to pick the best active managers while also offering lower costs and good liquidity. They can also provide diversification in certain assets which are harder for retail investors to access such as bonds,...

London's blue chip benchmark closed Friday's session 1.2% lower at 7,466.07 points, while the FTSE 250 finished almost 1% down at 21,643.3, rounding off a volatile week for markets as investors fretted over inflation and rising interest rates as well as the threat of conflict in Ukraine.Despite higher yields, banking stocks dragged on the blue chip benchmark with HSBC (HSBA) off 1.9% at...