Bravely on your behalf I grapple with Aviva

Akin to the complete geek I am, I had an answer when recently asked the question which sector was the most difficult to analytically appraise. Forget technology or even biotechnology, my pick would be insurance because unlike the other two areas - which overtly often require specific knowledge - it can sucker you into thinking you have it cracked only to bite you where it hurts in ways and means you barely understand. So onto Aviva (AV.) whose full year numbers came out earlier today – and which has been in the news over recent months for being naughty boys by trying to undertake a compulsory purchase of some of its expensive preference shares…

Aviva (#AV.) – argues having ‘delivered turnaround’, CEO Mark Wilson ‘steps down’

Aviva (#AV.) – currently “decided to take no action to cancel its preference shares”, claims “Aviva has listened”

Aviva (#AV.) – sells remaining Spanish businesses

Viva Aviva, as It's Always Nice to Have a £3 billion Cash Surplus to Fall Back on

Hello Share Swirlers. You may already know that I’m a supporter of big insurance groups. My Legal & General (LGEN) investment has risen by 210%, though it's taken five years or so to achieve it. My RSA investment has not been so successful, but it’s still a better performer than most in my bag.

Aviva (#AV.) – £340m sale of Friends Provident International

Viva Aviva as it Simplifies in the Hope of Raising Dividends & Making More Cash

Hello Share Swipers. Quite a few insurance policies of mine have been taken over by one firm which seems to flood the market these days. I refer to Aviva (AV.), a firm which knows a lot about generating cash.

Aviva (#AV.) – €475m sale of some interests in Spain

Aviva (#AV) FY EPS up 2% at 49.6p, DPS up 15% at 20.8p, confident statement

Viva Aviva – Don't Worry About the Floods This Prosperous Firm Will Rise to the Top.

Hello Share Spoolers. I've said a few times before that I feel confident investing in British insurers. As financial ventures they are in prime position to benefit from the long, slow rally from the credit crunch of 2008.

Tips of the year update #1: Aviva

Early August: whilst most think about upcoming or just passed holidays, the last couple of Ashes tests or – for the real geeks amongst you – the finer points of the Bank of England’s big data dump, my mind muses about the 2015 tips I published at the turn of the year.  Amusingly enough – as often these things fall – both my main tips reported yesterday: Aviva (AV/) and Randgold Resources (RRS).  I will come back on the world’s leading larger cap gold miner later after their conference call but first…the dull world of insurance.

Chris Bailey’s share tips for 2015 No 2 - Aviva

Hopefully I don’t need to elaborate on the observation that the global economy has a few problems otherwise at this stage of the economic ‘rebound’ from the dark days of 2007-9 interest rates would be going up.  This warped environment favours a different sort of share and – sorry to say for any current employees who will be impacted – but Aviva’s (AV.) cost cutting heavy takeover of Friends Life (FLG) is just the sort of story that has a strong chance of working next year. 

Aviva’s going to cost cut its way to success

There are not many more trading days left in 2014 so inevitably thoughts turn to 2015.  I don’t need to elaborate on the observation that the global economy has a few problems otherwise at this stage of the economic ‘rebound’ from the dark days of 2007-9 interest rates would be going up.  This warped environment favours a different sort of share and – sorry to say for any current employees who will be impacted – but Aviva's (AV.) cost cutting heavy takeover of Friends Life(FLG) is just the sort of story that has a strong chance of working next year.

Aviva (#AV.) launches formal 394p £5.6 bn offer for Friends Life

Bid for Friends Life by Aviva – it makes sense but should we buy Aviva shares?

The sheer scale of the proposed merger of Aviva (AV.) and Friends Live is a wonder to behold. It reminds us of the extraordinary degree of consolidation that has taken place in the life assurance industry over the last few decades.