AXA: finding a resolution

Investment firm Resolution has seized another opportunity to consolidate the UK life market by acquiring the dedicated arm of French insurer AXA for GBP2.75 billion. With the UK life sector currently slow-moving and fragmented, this deal will help it move towards a more consolidated structure with a better pricing environment.

Published By Datamonitor

BA: pensions turbulence ahead

British Airways' [BAY.L] pensions deficit of almost GBP1 billion exposes the difficulties of assessing the financial robustness of any pensions scheme. As the company wrestles with the math, unions may be difficult to bring on board.

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Bank of America: aggregating with Yodlee

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Bank of Scotland: shared mortgage goes unappreciated

Bank of Scotland has been accused of profiteering from its 'Shared Appreciation Mortgage' product. Booming house prices have meant large profits for BoS, which takes a cut of any increase in the value of the policyholder's property. But although this investment did not work out well for investors, they'd have been left laughing had the market collapsed.

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Bank of Scotland: third time lucky with Halifax?

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Banks ill-prepared to benefit from UK life and pensions depolarization

Banks are expected to gain the most from the depolarization of the UK's life and pensions market. However, Datamonitor's Miikka Metsanvirta argues that contrary to expectations, banks will struggle to capture significant market share from the IFAs...

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Barclays/Bradford & Bingley: no marketplace for merger

Bradford & Bingley has an attractive distribution network among other features that makes it appealing for acquisition. This explains why it been targeted by major banks hungry to take advantage. With Barclays' initial GBP2.5 billion bid being thwarted due to stock market pressures, Bradford & Bingley's future still remains unclear.<BR /><BR />

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Barclays/Legal & General: bancassurance model of the future?

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Barclays: a big world grants a big profit

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Barclays: follow the bear

Barclays is set to axe 10% of its private banking staff. The causes are clear enough, and as stock markets plunge, Barclays is unlikely to be the last private bank forced into a rearguard action on costs.

Published By Datamonitor