Beazley and Lancashire shares rallyLancashire to pay a special dividendConduit Holdings shares drop 10%Given the succession of devastating storms which hit the US this autumn, investors in insurers covering catastrophe loss had every right to be nervous when it came to reporting season.In the event, two of the biggest UK-listed property and casualty insurers - Beazley (BEZ) and Lancashire Holdings

Firm had an ?excellent? 2023Cost ratio slightly above forecastsBuyback canceled as expectedInvestors in general insurer Lancashire Holdings (LRE) are probably scratching their heads this morning as to why their shares are down when the firm has just announced bumper results and a special payout.The shares opened flat at 672p but by mid-morning had fallen as far as 42p or 6% to 629p. OPERATI

Each year, natural disasters around the world destroy assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars.According to German reinsurance giant Munich Re (MUV2:ETR), losses incurred from natural disasters amounted to $270 billion last year with less than half that figure covered by insurance.For insurers, it is essential to have in-depth knowledge of risks and how they are developing in order to be able

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

Just when it seemed as if Russia's standing in the international community couldn't sink any lower, evidence of war crimes in Ukraine has seen the US and its allies take an even tougher line.As well as imposing harsher sanctions on Russian banks and state-owned enterprises, the US has proposed a blanket ban on all new investment in the country. The UK has done the same.'The goal is to force them t

Non-life insurance company Lancashire (LRE) extended its recent weak share price performance, now down more than 20% in the last six months, on a tepid response to full year results.The company, which slipped 0.8% to 536.5p on Friday, swung to an annual loss in 2021 as 'significant' weather and large loss events offset a jump in premiums.For the year ended 31 December 2021, its pre-tax loss was $5

It would be easy to dismiss the general or non-life insurance sector as an obscure and rather boring segment of the market. But this collection of companies are involved in exciting themes like cyber and offer some generous dividend yields to boot.THE SECTOR AT A GLANCEThe UK FTSE 350 non-life insurance sector is comprised of five stocks whose market capitalisations range from relative sector minn

Having underperformed the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 350 for the best part of 10 years, September 2020 saw the FTSE 350 banks index stop making decade lows and start to make short-term highs, much to the excitement of analysts and investors.As the market rotation towards value stocks took hold, the UK's unloved banks jumped sharply in the final quarter of last year.At the start of this year, the narrat

UK stocks gave up their day's gains at the close despite strong UK corporate results and forecast-beating numbers from Apple and Facebook overnight.The FTSE 100 benchmark, which had climbed more than 50 points by early afternoon to top the 7,000 level, finished the day in negative territory at 6,961 points.Although blue-chips such as Smith & Nephew (SN.), Unilever (ULVR) and Standard Chartered (ST

UK stocks traded higher at lunchtime supported by strong UK corporate results and forecast-beating numbers from Apple and Facebook overnight.The FTSE 100 benchmark climbed 51 points or 0.7% to 7,015 at 1pm, while the FTSE 250 made more modest gains, nudging 0.1% ahead to 22,465.01.Leading the gainers were blue-chips such as Smith & Nephew (SN.), Unilever (ULVR) and Standard Chartered (STAN), on th

The FTSE 100 rallied back above the 7,000-mark once again in opening trade after Apple and Facebook both smashed quarterly forecasts and the US Federal Reserve maintained its ultra-accommodative monetary stance, with investor focus now switching to a bumper day for UK earnings.The UK's benchmark was around 0.7% higher at 7,010.36 at 9am, while the FTSE 250 made more modest gains, nudging 0.1% ahea

There is a growing consensus that as the global economy recovers from the pandemic and long-term interest rates - such as the US 10-year Treasury yield and the UK 10-year gilt yield - start to move upward, investors need to increase their exposure to banking stocks.The thinking goes that as banks are large, geared, cyclical plays they should benefit as the economy improves. They can lend more mone

Shares in insurance group Hiscox (HSX) were the worst performers in the FTSE 350 index, slumping 130p or 13.4% to 850p, after the company reported a pre-tax loss of $268.5 million for the year to December compared to a profit of $53.1 million the previous year.Despite a resilient performance in terms of gross written premiums, which remained steady at $4.03 billion thanks to the firm's mix of big-

Helios Underwriting (HUW:AIM) is unique as an acquirer and consolidator of Lloyd's insurance market underwriters. So far the firm has bought 43 limited liability vehicles or LLVs, including some of the best Lloyd's Names as they were formerly known, as their owners age or decide to exit the business.Commercial insurance rates have soared in the last year as a result of coronavirus, meaning that th

UK stocks traded higher on Wednesday as mining stocks found favour thanks to a sharp rally in metals and commodity prices.In Asian trading the Shanghai Composite SE index surged 1.4% and Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.2%.Gold prices were 0.3% higher at $1,845 an ounce and Brent oil prices were slightly lower at $60.8 a barrel.At 12 pm the FTSE 100 was up 27 points or 0.4% t0 6,559 points, with

UK stocks opened higher on Wednesday after a clutch of positive corporate results and dividend resumptions.In Asian trading the Shanghai Composite SE index surged 1.4% and Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.2%.Gold prices were 0.3% higher at $1,845 an ounce and Brent oil prices were slightly lower at $60.8 a barrel.At 08.45 am the FTSE 100 was 14 points higher at 6,546 points.CORPORATE ROUND-UPPack

China reported an increase in the number of deaths from and cases of coronavirus, while the first patient has been diagnosed in London, news that gave investors the jitters on Thursday. The FTSE 100 traded down 0.9% at 7,468.37, with its heavy weighting towards commodity stocks, which are particularly sensitive to events in China, contributing to the weakness.Barclays (BARC) cheapened 2.8% to 174.

The FTSE 100 is down 0.2% 7,370.97, taking its cue from a poor showing overnight in the US. This followed commentary from the US Federal Reserve which suggests Donald Trump's advice to cut interest rates will be ignored.Oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) adds 1.7% even as it posts a 2% decline in first-quarter profit as strong contributions from trading and higher LNG and gas prices were unable to

Shares in insurance underwriters Beazley (BEZ), Hiscox (HSX) and Lancashire Holdings (LRE) have risen sharply this week after the industry got an early all-clear from regulators.The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its final report earlier than expected having concluded that its probe into pricing across the insurance underwriting sector found no evidence of 'risk of harm' to clien

Global testing and certification firm Intertek (ITRK) has delivered a reassuring 10-month trading update with revenues showing an improvement since June.However given the stock's premium rating investors have given the news a rather muted response, marking the shares up just 1% to £47.Thanks to a pick-up in sales at its two biggest divisions, Products and Trade, and more stable revenues at its sm