Aegon UK maintains pace with rivals on growth of 4%

Life and pensions business at Aegon UK picked up in the second quarter of the year to show a 10% advance on last year and lift first-half growth to 4%, in line with industry rivals.

IndigoVision confirms slowdown but profits still buoyant

Shares in IndigoVision plunged 19% after the company confirmed the rate of sales growth slowed sharply in the second half, although it confirmed it was still in line to triple its annual operating profits.

AP Moeller-Maersk reaps rewards from North Sea

Profits on AP Moeller-Maersk’s North Sea oil and gas business more than tripled in the latest financial year, providing further justification of the Danish giant’s decision to make a big investment in the mature province in 2005.

Matthews plays down losses at Friends Provident

Trevor Matthews, the former Standard Life executive who has taken the helm at troubled insurer Friends Provident, is confident his new company has a long-term future despite it falling into the red.

Allianz out of running to buy RBS insurance division

The list of potential suitors for Royal Bank of Scotland’s insurance division continues to dwindle, with German financial giant Allianz yesterday declaring that it had not made a bid for these operations.

Interest rates held at 5%

The Bank of England held interest rates at 5% today for the fourth straight month, and borrowing costs are expected to remain on hold for a while as policymakers balance slowing growth and rising inflation.

Barclays profits slump 33% as bank reveals £2.8bn write-down

Barclays today revealed a 33% first half profits slump as the bank suffered £2.8 billion of credit crunch write-downs.

	Standard Life model holds up in hard times
	Standard Life yesterday underlined the resilience of its new business model as it posted an 18% increase in underlying first-half profits, boosted to a 51% rise by its blockbuster £6.7bn annuity reinsurance deal with Canada Life earlier this year.

Standard Life profits rise 51%

Standard Life today said half-year profits rose 51% against a backdrop of continuing economic uncertainty.

IBM UK lands £1.35m in government grants

The IBM United Kingdom operation in Greenock, part of the huge US-based information technology company, has accepted a £1.35m Regional Selective Assistance grant from the Scottish Government to "safeguard" 613 jobs.

IMF lowers expectations for UK growth

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday slashed its forecasts for UK growth to 1.4% in 2008 and 1.1% in 2009, down from the 1.75% projected for each of these years as recently as May.

Time to chew over more unpalatable questions

Alf Young on Thursday: The International Monetary Fund’s latest take on the UK economy foresees growth of just 1.4% this year, falling to 1.1% in 2009. That’s not just down on the 1.75% the IMF had pencilled in for both years three months ago.

Grim outlook as ITV warns of ad slump

Analysts are bracing themselves for a sharp downturn in advertising revenues at STV owner SMG after ITV warned of a looming slump in the autumn.

Donaldson & Sons’ profits to hold up

James Donaldson & Sons, the venerable Scottish timber business, has seen sales to big national housebuilders fall by around a third in the current year providing further evidence of how the downturn in the sector is hurting suppliers.

Lonmin rebuffs ‘unwelcome’ takeover attempt from Xstrata

Lonmin, the world's third-biggest platinum producer, rejected a hostile takeover bid by Xstrata, the acquisitive UK-Swiss mining group, yesterday, insisting that the of $10bn (£5bn) cash offer undervalues the company's "unique assests".

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