Banking giant Barclays (BARC) is bid up 2.3% to 240.5p as CEO Jes Staley reports a surprise increase in its core capital ratio, a key measure of financial strength, up to 12.4% versus the 11.8% envisaged by analysts.Barclays' capital boost came from increased profits amid a huge reduction in provisions for fines and rebuilding the balance sheet. The optimistic Jes Staley also says Barclays is 'jus

The FTSE 100 opens 0.6% higher to 6,872.31 points on Thursday following hints that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates this year.An improving jobs market is driving confidence at the US' central bank.In company news, a 2.4% rise in the price of oil to $45.34 draws investors to blue chip commodity stocks. BHP Billiton (BLT) leads the gainers by improving 4.5% to £10.98, followed by silv

Life insurer and savings provider Hansard Global (HSD) is expected to post a positive third quarter update on 12 May. The Isle of Man-based company beat consensus in the second quarter when sales improved 136% to £36.8 million and further growth is expected in the three months to 31 March. Analysts forecast 78.8% revenue growth to £108.4 million for the year to 30 June 2016.Another quarter of gr

An almost 100% rise in new business sales sends affluent investor-focused financial services provider Hansard Global (HSD) 8.7% higher to 112p on Thursday morning.The global expansion of its distribution network helped the company book £56.4 million of new business in the six months to 31 December. This was 92% higher than a year earlier.In the three months to 31 December new business premiums we

London equities make fractional gains in early trade on Thursday with rising miners and oilies only just outstripping falls among utilities, financials and pharmas. European markets are modestly firmer overall, following drops on Wall Street and across Asia after the Fed Reserve held its benchmark interest rate overnight.The FTSE 100 index nudges just a point or two higher to 5,990, although mid c

Dividend cuts this year have hit income investors hard but there are still a number of attractive shares with decent yields, according to analysts at N+1 Singer.Markets may be inefficiently pricing some dividend scenarios, the N+1 Singer team argue, providing investors with a way to profit from a 'dividend surprise' rally when results are announced.A dividend surprise can take many forms, the anal

Life assurance and savings provider Hansard Global (HSD) looks a solid, high income stock as management reveal first quarter sales (July to Oct) are 'significantly' ahead of those recorded in the same period a year earlier, according to an update on 23 September.The Isle of Man-based company is forecast by Panmure Gordon to pay a huge 9.1p a share dividend, equivalent to an 8.3% yield on the curre

George Osborne is getting radical and it looks like bad news for life insurers. After the Chancellor abolished the compulsory buying of annuities for retirees from April he went a step further in the Summer Budget by slashing tax relief on higher earners' pension contributions. He hints that further changes to the way people save for their retirement are to come and they could hit pension provider

London shares continue their weak run in early trade on Friday as investors cast wary eyes towards the Greece debt saga and OPEC's meeting later today. Supermarkets and retailers are on the back foot, matching losses overnight on Wall Street. The FTSE 100 index dips close on 50 points, or 0.5%, to 6,811, declines largely matched by UK midcaps.Mobile phones giant Vodafone (VOD) is among the leading

Small caps are out of fashion. Year-to-date the FTSE AIM and FTSE Small Cap indicies are down 16.7% and 2.7% respectively against a FTSE All-Share down just 1.1% and a FTSE 100 off 0.8%. As a result, pockets of value are beginning to open up in the small cap space which creates opportunities for savvy investors.We have identified a quartet of sub £250 million cap companies which not only enjoy di

A significant profits recovery is on the cards at life insurer Hansard Global (HSD). The Isle of Man-based £121.8 million cap is set to record a £15.8 million pre-tax profit for the year to July 2015, according to broker Panmure Gordon, after litigation, the closure of its European business and provisions for higher tax charges saw profits retrench 22.4% to £8.3 million in 2014. The loss of a m

A significant profits recovery at life insurer Hansard Global (HSD) should be the catalyst for a re-rating of the stock.The Isle of Man-based £121.8 million cap is set to record a £15.8 million pre-tax profit for the year to July 2015, according to broker Panmure Gordon, after litigation, the closure of its European business and provisions for higher tax charges saw profits retrench 22.4% to £8

Confirmation that US telco AT&T (T:NYSE) will not bid for mobile network giant Vodafone (VOD) sends shockwaves around the market and slices 4.8% off the UK group's shares to 221p. The US company is now prevented from making an offer for six months, although the bar would be lifted if a third party swoops.FTSE 100 oil and gas firm BG (BG) falls 14.9% to £10.68 as it downgrades expectations for 201

Thomas Cook (TCG) warns of a slow start to its winter booking, triggering a 7% drop in its share price to 144.7p. In contrast, TUI Travel (TT.) advances 2% to 363.4p after increasing full-year underlying operating profit growth guidance. The group is now confident of achieving at least 11% growth on a constant currency basis.Bookmaker Ladbrokes (LAD) falls 9.5% to 170.2p after flagging up further