Latest news with #Aviva
The 42
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: Leinster v Scarlets, URC quarter-final
Teams Sounds like there won't be any late changes at the Aviva. For Leinster, Garry Ringrose misses out with a minor calf injury and Tommy O'Brien is nursing a knock to his foot. With Robbie Henshaw out for the rest of the season, Jamie Osborne partners Jordie Barrett in midfield, while Jimmy O'Brien makes his 100th Leinster appearance on the right wing. Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (Captain). Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley. Jordie Barrett arrives at the Aviva. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Dwayne Peel's Scarlets have found form at just the right time, sneaking into the play-offs after impressive wins in the last couple of months — including one over a different-looking Leinster outfit in Llanelli. The Welsh region have a youthful side, particularly in the backline, where Johnny Williams is the elder statesman at just 28. Fullback Blair Murray will be among their dangermen from fullback, while the likes of Vaea Fifita and Taine Plumtree will hope to make their presence felt up front. Scarlets: Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee, Sam Costelow, Arhie Hughes, Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (Captain), Taine Plumtree. Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page Leinster's Jack Conan, referee Hollie Davidson and Scarlets' Josh Macleod during the coin toss. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Scottish referee Hollie Davidson is the woman in the middle for today's encounter.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘Mud matters' – research shows saltmarshes are significant carbon store
Saltmarshes are 'significant' carbon stores, but are at risk from rising sea levels, new research reveals. A report from conservation charity WWF in partnership with insurance giant Aviva highlights the important role of saltmarshes around the UK's coasts in tackling climate change and protecting coastal communities. The report reveals findings from a solar-powered 'carbon flux tower', funded by Aviva, which measures the exchange of key greenhouse gas carbon dioxide between the air and the saltmarsh on the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire. It is a technique already used to monitor carbon capture and releases in other vital habitats such as woodlands and peatlands, but has now been adapted and applied to saltmarsh, with the Ribble Estuary producing the first results from a new network of towers. The data show the habitat is a significant 'sink' or store of carbon dioxide, and while there are seasonal fluctuations in storage and release of the gas, the amount absorbed during the spring and summer outweighs what is released during the autumn and winter months. WWF and Aviva are calling for saltmarshes to be included in the UK's 'greenhouse gas inventory' – the official record of the country's emissions and removals which is used to track progress towards reducing climate pollution to zero overall, known as net zero. The two organisations argue that including saltmarshes would improve national reporting and help unlock funding and policy supporting the habitat's protection and restoration. Experts warn that 85% of the UK's saltmarshes, which provide wildlife habitat, carbon capture and natural flood management through slowing the movement of seawater inland, have been lost since the mid 19th century. The remaining habitat plays a 'crucial role' in shielding coasts from rising seas and storm surges, helping protect assets worth more than £200 billion in England and Wales, the report said. But with climate change driving rising sea levels, the new report, produced in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the RSPB, assesses how the country's remaining marshes are faring as waters rise. To find out if saltmarshes were able to maintain their height above sea level, the conservationists set up a network of surface elevation tables, which measure how marsh height changes over time, across six UK saltmarshes. The assessment found that generally saltmarshes were gaining height, although the results varied by region. Marshes in areas such as Chichester and The Wash in East Anglia appear to be expanding, while those in North Norfolk and the Ribble are showing signs of struggling in the face of rising sea levels, the report said. Tom Brook, ocean conservation specialist at WWF, said: 'The results are in, and mud matters. Saltmarshes are powerful natural allies in the fight against climate change – storing carbon, protecting our coasts and supporting rich biodiversity. 'As extreme weather and rising sea levels put more people and places at risk, the case for protecting and restoring these habitats has never been stronger. 'This research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that saltmarshes are not just ecologically important but essential to building a resilient, net zero future.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is EPR Properties (EPR) Outperforming Other Finance Stocks This Year?
For those looking to find strong Finance stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is EPR Properties (EPR) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Finance sector should help us answer this question. EPR Properties is a member of the Finance sector. This group includes 857 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #7. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group. The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. EPR Properties is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPR's full-year earnings has moved 1.5% higher within the past quarter. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend. Based on the latest available data, EPR has gained about 24.8% so far this year. Meanwhile, the Finance sector has returned an average of 5.3% on a year-to-date basis. This means that EPR Properties is outperforming the sector as a whole this year. Aviva (AVVIY) is another Finance stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has returned 41.5%. Over the past three months, Aviva's consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 6.6%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Breaking things down more, EPR Properties is a member of the REIT and Equity Trust - Retail industry, which includes 21 individual companies and currently sits at #87 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has lost an average of 5.1% so far this year, meaning that EPR is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns. Aviva, however, belongs to the Insurance - Life Insurance industry. Currently, this 16-stock industry is ranked #134. The industry has moved +1.3% so far this year. Investors with an interest in Finance stocks should continue to track EPR Properties and Aviva. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report EPR Properties (EPR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Aviva PLC (AVVIY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Labour's pension changes actually save you an extra £6,000?
The government says millions of workers could get a £6,000 boost to their retirement fund as a result of wide-ranging pensions reforms. On Thursday, Rachel Reeves revealed more details of the Pension Schemes Bill, which will pave the way for the creation of more so-called "megafunds" managing at least £25 billion in assets within the next five years. Earlier this month, 17 major workplace pension providers signed a voluntary agreement called the Mansion House Accord, with a view to boosting pension returns. Aviva and Legal & General are among the providers who have committed to invest at least 10% of their workplace pension portfolios in assets like UK infrastructure, property and private equity by 2030. The government says the agreement will be good news for those who have defined contribution (DC) pensions - the most common type of private pension in the UK. Here's what the reform means in real terms — and how likely it is that savers will gain a £6,000 pension boost. A defined contribution (DC) pension is a type of pension scheme where you (and if it's a workplace pension, your employer) contribute money into a personal pension pot. The money you and your employer contribute is invested by your pension provider. The value of your pension at retirement depends on how much has been paid in and how well the investments perform. Pension providers typically invest in a mix of assets, including stocks and shares (also known as equities), government and corporate bonds, property, and commodities, like gold and cash. This mix is chosen to balance risk and reward, meaning that your pension will benefit from long-term growth while also managing potential losses. Labour says the changes will benefit defined contribution (DC) pension savers by harnessing higher potential net returns available in private markets. According to the government, the signatories to the accord have said that £252 billion of assets are subject to the pledge. Helen Morrissey, the head of retirement analysis at financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown, said that while "there needs to be an element of flexibility" around the £6,000 uplift, the "increased efficiency" of the reforms looks like a positive step to boost defined contribution members' pots. She told Yahoo News: 'Markets can go up and down and this can have an impact on a member's pot. "However, these reforms look to enable schemes to invest in asset classes that were previously closed to them and there is potential for increased returns as a result. "The key to this will be access to a stream of high-quality opportunities and the government has committed to helping schemes deal with barriers that have previously stood in their way. "Increased efficiency will also help boost member pots. One of the key benefits of scale is that it enables schemes to drive down costs and the impact assessment shows this can have a material impact on the size of pension," she added. It is a combination of these increased efficiencies that will reduce pension fees, as well as the higher returns that the government has used to calculate the £6,000 figure. However, Sir Steve Webb, a former pensions minister, cautioned that the sum was "marginal at best", telling the inews that savers would need to start paying into their pensions from the age of 22 and never miss a year until retirement to potentially secure the maximum amount. When factored into the total size of the average retirement pot and how long they are used for Sir Steve said it is probably worth under £10 a week on your final pension. He added: "None of this factors in the costs of some of the other measures which they are proposing, which include creating a new process for the consolidation of micro pots, which will cost a lot of money to administer, and which will presumably increase pension costs." "They're clearly aiming to provide a 'retail' message to go alongside all this talk of multi-billion-pound pension schemes, but to be honest, this £6,000 figure is marginal at best.' The reforms enable pension funds to invest in major infrastructure projects and private businesses, which historically have delivered higher returns. The plan covers retirement savings for the majority of UK workers in two ways. Firstly, there are the 86 different local authority pension schemes, which provide for more than six million people in their retirement, the majority low-paid women. The £392bn in these schemes will be merged from eight pools to six asset pools by next March, reducing overheads and maximising returns. Local investment targets will also be agreed for local authority pension schemes for the first time, the Treasury said. Secondly, defined contribution schemes currently worth £800bn, covering millions of other private and public sector workers across the country, will also be consolidated. This will reduce management fees and operational costs, and boost savings for savers. Because of this, by 2030, the government says there should be more than 20 pension funds worth more than £25bn, in contrast to the current 10 available. While the move was agreed earlier this month, the government has now introduced a legislative back-stop, which will allow it to push through the new rules if insufficient progress is made by the end of the decade, according to the BBC. The 17 providers who have signed up are: Aegon UK, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, NatWest Cushon, Nest, now:pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People's Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The Pension Schemes Bill is due to be heard during this term of Parliament.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Insurers and businesses call for injury guidelines reform as 17% rise planned
Insurers, business lobby groups and the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) have called for an overhaul of how personal injury awards guidelines are set, amid concern that a planned 16.7 per cent hike to payouts will widen the gap with other European jurisdictions when it comes to whiplashes and other minor injuries. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan 's officials are working on draft legislation that would bring about the increase, which has been put forward by the Judicial Council under an awards guidelines regime that came into being four years ago. A Supreme Court ruling last year confirmed that the council had the power to set guidelines, as long as they, and any changes, are rubber stamped by both Houses of the Oireachtas. A number of insurers and business representative groups have used a Department of Finance public consultation on future insurance reforms to register concerns about the planned blanket increase to personal injury awards, the frequency with which they are reviewed and the extent of powers the judiciary has. READ MORE Aviva Insurance Ireland said that while the 2021 guidelines brought down overall injury awards, the going rate for minor neck injuries where recovery is made within six months is up to €3,000, 5½ times higher than that in the UK. 'The large disparity is before the 16.7 per cent increase proposed by the Judicial Council, which, if introduced, will make the gap even larger,' Aviva said. 'Comparing Aviva's claims in the UK and Ireland, attritional claims like whiplash represent 30 per cent of the cost of motor insurance premium in Ireland compared to 10 per cent of premium in the UK in 2024 and lower still in Europe.' 'We estimate that the cost of implementing the 16.7 per cent increase is €74 million, which ultimately will be paid for by customers.' Aviva , Allianz Ireland and Insurance Ireland each called for the guidelines to be benchmarked against European countries. 'Legal expenses and award levels for lower-value claims remain disproportionately high and are not aligned with those observed in the UK and other European jurisdictions,' said Allianz. 'Before any inflationary adjustments are made to the personal injuries guidelines, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive benchmarking exercise with our European counterparts to ensure a proportionate and evidence-based approach.' Alliance for Insurance Reform, a lobby group for business and civic organisations, said the periodic review of awards should be extended from three to seven years. 'The guidelines ought not to be both reviewed and subsequently applied by the judiciary,' the alliance said in its submission to the Department of Finance. 'Rather the former responsibility should be delegated to an independent commission comprising a variety of members, reflective of the many stakeholders and policy considerations involved.' Small business lobby group ISME also called for judges to be removed entirely from the setting of awards guidelines. It claimed, in addition, that 'there is too much judicial discretion improperly exercised in favour of losing plaintiffs' in the injury cases that end up in court. The IRB said the current three-year review cycle does not allow guidelines to be embedded. It suggested it should be extended to five years. It also called for clarity on what happens if the Houses of the Oireachtas does not approve amendments. 'Under the current guidelines model, there could be several versions of the guidelines in use dependent on whether a claim has already been assessed or if legal proceedings have been initiated,' it said. 'A situation cannot exist whereby the same injury, the same claim, that has been rejected within the Injuries Resolution Board goes into the court system and a different set of guidelines is used to value compensation.'
