Zurich discovers what keeps Europeans awake at night
by Gill Montia
Story link: Zurich discovers what keeps Europeans awake at night
New research from Zurich finds that pressure at work/school, the financial crisis and concerns about family are most likely to be keeping Europeans awake at night. In the UK (45%) financial problems rank first for sleepless nights; in Portugal (50%) and Spain (64%) it’s the financial and euro crisis; for the Swiss (42%), Germans (40%), [...]
Performance of global stock markets at five year high
by Gill Montia
Story link: Performance of global stock markets at five year high
The number of stock markets worldwide to have provided a positive annual return to investors has reached its highest level since 2007, according to new research by Lloyds TSB International. In September 2012, 82% of the 39 countries tracked by the bank saw an annual rise in equity prices, compared with 8% a year earlier [...]
Innovative SMEs fail to check insurance
by Gill Montia
Story link: Innovative SMEs fail to check insurance
Aviva’s latest SME Pulse survey shows that small business owners are increasingly diversifying and innovating as they look to capitalise on summer events. The numbers of SMEs putting on sales and discounts or diversifying into new areas have increased in the last six months but according to Aviva, many are putting themselves at risk by [...]
Companies with women on the board outperform peer group
by Gill Montia
Story link: Companies with women on the board outperform peer group
A new report from Credit Suisse Research Institute claims that companies with at least one woman on the board have outperformed (in terms of share price) those with no women on the board, over the course of the past six years. They also exhibit higher return on equity, lower leverage and higher valuations. According to [...]
Poor head restraints increase whiplash claims
by Gill Montia
Story link: Poor head restraints increase whiplash claims
AXA believes hundreds of thousands of whiplash claims could be prevented each year with better head restraints and seats in UK cars. In a study carried out with motor research organisation, Thatcham, the insurer estimates that only 34% of cars on UK roads have head restraints and seats that would be categorised as “good” when [...]
Aviva: finances top stressor for US men and linked to weight gain
by Gill Montia
Story link: Aviva: finances top stressor for US men and linked to weight gain
A new survey by Aviva USA, in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, has found the primary factor contributing to stress for men in the US is their financial situation. The survey also reveals a strong correlation between high levels of stress and dramatic weight gain among US males. Two out of three men reported they were [...]
Only 15% of UK workers insured against ill-health
by Gill Montia
Story link: Only 15% of UK workers insured against ill-health
Only 15% of UK workers have any form of insurance against ill-health preventing them from earning a living, with just 7% receiving the insurance as part of their employee benefits package, new research from MetLife suggests. The insurance gap is at its widest for those aged 55 and over as only 12% of this group [...]
No pension plan in place for six million Brits over 50s
by Gill Montia
Story link: No pension plan in place for six million Brits over 50s
Over six million Britons aged over 50 (28%) have no pension plan in place and look set to rely on the state pension in retirement, according to LV=’s latest State of Retirement Report. Currently just 1.2 million people live solely on the state pension, which equates to an annual income of up to £5,587 and [...]
Long-term sickness rates alarm manufacturers
by Gill Montia
Story link: Long-term sickness rates alarm manufacturers
New research from the UK manufacturers’ organisation, EEF, indicates that the downward trend in sickness absence rates in the sector has plateaued. According to the latest EEF/Westfield Health report, the overall rate among manufacturers’ employees remained unchanged in 2011 compared with 2010, at 2.2%, and the average number of working days lost to absence held [...]
Equity release to become mainstream product
by Gill Montia
Story link: Equity release to become mainstream product
New research commissioned by LV= found that 86% of financial advisers questioned considered equity release to be a significant future growth area for their business, with more than half of this group already reporting an increase in client interest. Over two thirds of respondents believed pension shortfalls will be the main driver, while almost a [...]
Which? finds fault with aggregators
by Gill Montia
Story link: Which? finds fault with aggregators
Which? is claiming that the price you see isn’t always the price you pay, when it comes to buying insurance through aggregator sites. Having tested out 11 of the most popular sites, Which? found many of them using pre-selected answers and assumptions in their online forms and the consumer group warns that this can lead [...]
ATMs, smartphones and TVs could unlock pension top-up potential
by Gill Montia
Story link: ATMs, smartphones and TVs could unlock pension top-up potential
The UK’s pensions providers need to find new ways for people to top up and manage their pension payments, according to research from Friends Life. A study for Friends by the Future Foundation indicates that millions of Britons are keen to pay into their pensions using an ATM, making deposits in cheques, cash and by [...]
Investors more focused on income
by Gill Montia
Story link: Investors more focused on income
Investment professionals are seeing an increased focus on income among clients across most asset classes, according to new research from Aviva. In a recent survey, Aviva Investors’ multi-manager team asked fund managers based in the UK, US, Europe, Asia and Latin America for their views on the macro-economic environment, return expectations and client behaviour in [...]
RBS highlights data security weaknesses
by Gill Montia
Story link: RBS highlights data security weaknesses
New research from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has found that nearly one in five technology firms surveyed in the Thames Valley area have suffered a data security breach in the past 12 months. While just over half of respondents had a crisis strategy in place in case of a serious security breach, a quarter [...]
Retirement plans in tatters for one in five
by Gill Montia
Story link: Retirement plans in tatters for one in five
The UK is probably headed towards a perfect retirement storm, according to Standard Life. New research from the life and pensions provider suggests that one in five 45 to 65-year-olds who have made financial provision for retirement believe their plans are inadequate, due to the financial crisis. Of those still working, 6% don’t expect to [...]
Communication key to auto-enrolment success
by Gill Montia
Story link: Communication key to auto-enrolment success
Standard Life has come up with advice for government, employers and the insurance industry, aimed at making pension auto-enrolment a resounding success. In a new report, the firm claims that once a clear picture of the value of employer contributions and the tax advantages of auto-enrolment have been presented, 82% of workers warm up to [...]
Anti-money laundering slips on board agendas
by Gill Montia
Story link: Anti-money laundering slips on board agendas
Board level interest in anti-money laundering (AML) is being squeezed by other priorities, according to KPMG’s 2011 Global AML survey, with more firms risking “massive” fines. The study revealed a 9% drop in boards considering AML to be a high profile issue (from 71% in 2007 to 62% in 2011), as company chiefs focus on [...]
Company directors sidestep cyber security
by Gill Montia
Story link: Company directors sidestep cyber security
“Although there is growing awareness of the threats and risks in cyberspace, there is still limited understanding of the nuances of the debate.” According to new research from Chatham House, the directors of one large insurance company admitted they had no idea how they should manage or mitigate a cyber attack and had even less [...]
Retailers assess riot impact
by Gill Montia
Story link: Retailers assess riot impact
In a snapshot survey of retailers hit by the riots two weeks ago, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) found that shop owners lost over 7,500 hours of trading and reported 11,088 members of staff affected by the violence. The BRC carried out its email survey of members in the week commencing Monday 15th August and [...]
Brits opt for the “XL” family holiday
by Gill Montia
Story link: Brits opt for the “XL” family holiday
Esure has detected a growing trend among Brits as an increasing number of couples opt for the “XL” family holiday. According to the insurer, one in four families are now jetting off abroad in the company of at least six relatives, with over half of this group convinced they will save almost £400 by extending [...]
