First-half results top estimates Bigger dividends and buybacks Indian unit to IPO later this year It has been a good year for shareholders in insurance giant Prudential (PRU), with the stock having gained over 50% to make it the sixth-best performer in the FTSE 100. Therefore, it was no surprise that although the group posted forecast-beating first-half results, the reaction was muted, with...

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...

It may not seem much to non-China watchers, but the Communist party's politburo has changed the wording of its stance on monetary policy for the first time since the 2007/8 financial crisis from 'prudent' to 'moderately loose'.Chinese and Hong Kong listed shares jumped, as did those of UK and European stocks which have large exposure to the region including miners Antofagasta (ANTO) and Rio...

London's FTSE 100 held modest gains around midday on Monday but there were mixed fortunes elsewhere in Europe, as the DAX 40 hit a new high while the CAC 40 faltered.The FTSE 100 index rose 13.07 points, 0.2%, to 8,300.37. The FTSE 250 slipped just 6.30 points at 20,765.27, and the AIM All-Share added only 0.18 of a point at 732.67.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 833.95, the Cboe UK 250 lost...

On 24 September, the PBOC (People's Bank of China) unveiled a major stimulus package to support economic growth, promote the expansion of consumption and investment and throw a lifeline to struggling industries and sectors.The central bank also announced a 800-billion-yuan ($114 billion) lending pool to help fund managers, insurers and brokers buy more stocks and initiate share...

Stock prices in Europe were in the red on Friday morning, despite the upbeat mood in New York after the Federal Reserve's 50 basis point rate cut earlier this week.The FTSE 100 index fell 36.33 points, 0.4%, at 8,292.39. The index is up around 0.2% so far this week. The FTSE 250 shed 86.37 points, 0.4%, at 21,076.34, and the AIM All-Share slipped 1.29 points, 0.2%, at 746.79.The Cboe UK 100...

Stock prices were lower in London at midday Wednesday as UK retail sales continued to fall in August, and while investors awaited second quarter earnings from tech firm Nvidia.The FTSE 100 index was down 9.17 points, or 0.1%, at 8,336.29. The FTSE 250 was down 36.43 points, or 0.2%, at 21,125.64, and the AIM All-Share was down 5.92 points, or 0.8%, at 773.26.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at...

Adjusted operating profit up 9% to $1.54 billion22 million shares repurchased for £150 millionFirst interim dividend of 6.84 cents, up 9%Shares in Asian focused insurer Prudential (PRU) were up more than 2% in morning trading to 677p as the firm reported a 9% rise in adjusted operating profit to $1.54 billion for the six months ending 30 June.The shares are down 21% year to date compared with...

Stocks in Europe were mixed on Wednesday morning as investors await results from tech titan Nvidia, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer heads to Berlin for talks.The FTSE 100 index opened up 2.19 points, or 0.1%, at 8,347.65. The FTSE 250 was down 4.36 points at 21,157.71, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.67 points, or 0.3%, at 776.51.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 835.07, the Cboe UK 250 was...

Prudential director buys sharesSerica Energy CEO loads upYouGov director also buys sharesGeorge Sartorel, non-executive director at life insurance giant Prudential (PRU), bought 8,000 shares at 725p for a total value of £58,000 on 8 July.Sartorel's move comes after the company announced a $2 billion share buyback programme on 24 June due to be completed no later than mid-2026.Prudential...

Initial $700 million tranche starts immediatelyCapital return larger than expectedDividend policy unchangedShares in Asian focused insurer Prudential (PRU) jumped more than 6% to 749.6 on Monday, topping the FTSE leaderboard after the firm announced a $2 billion return of capital via a share buyback.The buyback is expected to be completed no later than mid-2026 with the first $700 million...

Stocks in Europe were in the green at midday on Monday, although markets were feeling some nerves around elections in the UK, the US and France.The FTSE 100 index traded 33.76 points higher, 0.4%, at 8,271.48. The FTSE 250 was up 74.04 points, 0.4%, at 20,516.39, though the AIM All-Share fell just 0.34 of a point to 772.23.The Cboe UK 100 rose 0.4% to 822.88, the Cboe UK 250 climbed 0.6% to...

Stock prices in London were mostly in the green at the close on Wednesday, helped by economic data from the US amid ongoing discussions about the interest rate cut trajectory.The FTSE 100 index closed up 2.35 points at 7,937.44. The FTSE 250 ended up 39.75 points, 0.2%, at 19,753.64, and the AIM All-Share closed down 0.32 of a point at 742.08.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.1% at 793.01, the Cboe...

New business profit above forecastsMargins well ahead of estimatesShares close to multi-year lowsInvestors in Africa- and Asia-focused insurer Prudential (PRU) must be wondering what the firm has to do to win the market?s approval after a less than rapturous reception to better-than-expected full-year results.Having opened higher, within a couple of hours the shares were in negative territory...

Stocks in London were mixed on Wednesday morning, as inflation came in cooler than anticipated, ahead of interest rate decisions in the US on Wednesday and in the UK on Thursday.The FTSE 100 index opened down 7.59 points, 0.1%, at 7,730.71. The FTSE 250 was up 10.67 points, 0.1%, at 19,443.48, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.44 of a point, 0.1%, at 736.00.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.1% at...

London?s FTSE 100 outperformed at the start of the week, with oil majors dragging it higher, though gains were harder to come by elsewhere in Europe ahead of a key week of monetary policy announcements and economic data.The FTSE 100 index was up 20.42 points, 0.3%, at 7,655.51. The FTSE 250 was up 84.67 points, 0.4%, at 19,253.35, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.62 points, 0.2%, at 749.08.The...

Our 2023 picks have smashed it - achieving an average return excluding dividends of 20.6%, more than four times the return of the FTSE All-Share and better even than the MSCI World which is up 17.9% this year.This is all the more satisfying as the MSCI World index has been powered by the US 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks, whereas the Shares portfolio benefited from the inclusion of just one...

New business profit up 37%Underlying profit up 48%Asian focus justified by resultsFTSE 100 insurance group Prudential (PRU) posted a strong increase in third-quarter and nine-month earnings as sales in Asia rose despite the impact of a slowing global economy.However, mention of the 'challenging' current environment kept a lid on the shares, which dipped 2% to 878p at the open before recovering...

Shares rebound after weak showing earlier this yearResults slightly ahead of forecastsNew strategic targets impressShares in Asia and Africa-focused insurer Prudential (PRU) topped the FTSE 100 leader board with a gain of 4% to £10.26 after the firm posted better-than-expected first half results and revealed some of the key points of newly-installed chief executive Anil Wadhwani's strategic...

Given how hard it has been to pick winning stocks this year, due to the outsized gains enjoyed by a narrow collection of stocks in the US in particular, we are delighted with the performance of our 2023 Tips of The Year.Against a FTSE All-Share index which has basically gone nowhere, eking out just a 0.5% positive return at this stage, our basket of 10 stocks has returned an average of 23.3%...