Justice minister, DGA chief discuss partnership to boost digital judicial services    Netanyahu does not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders    US farmers are being squeezed – and it's testing their deep loyalty to Trump    Romania condemns 'irresponsible' Moscow after Russian drone breaches its airspace    Kirk's assassination is forcing US politicians to make difficult choices about their safety    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Final stage of Spanish Vuelta cycling race abandoned after disruption by pro-Palestine protesters    Mané fires Al Nassr past Al Kholood to keep perfect start as Ronaldo honored    Lacazette brace earns NEOM SC first Saudi Pro League win    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    Saudi liquidity grows 8.4%, reaching SR3.1 trillion in July 2025    Over 434,000 people acquire first aid skills during nationwide health campaign    Saudi Arabia's legislative advancement highlighted at International Conference on Judicial Training    Sudden swerving among 3 major causes of accidents in Riyadh in 2024    Princess Haifa emphasizes pivotal Saudi role in shaping future of tourism    Sahm Capital names Saudi Olympian Fayik Abdi as brand ambassador    SR9000 fine for copyright infringement using AI    King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times    Thousands pay their last respects to Giorgio Armani, private funeral on Monday    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Financial worries send shares to loss
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 10 - 05 - 2008

European stocks fell on Friday, racking up their first weekly loss in a month, after another round of downbeat financial earnings and a record high oil price weighed on the broader market.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 1.3 percent to 1,342.68 points, having fallen earlier by as much as 1.86 percent. This was the largest one-day fall in a month and snapped a three-week rally in the index.
Banks were the largest drag on the market, even though much of the negative news for financials was confined to the insurance sector.
US insurer AIG reported a record-breaking $7.8 billion quarterly loss on Thursday and financials were hurt by the prospect of big asset sales by Citigroup.
“We've had a couple of announcements, be it AIG after the bell yesterday or Allianz today or Swiss Re the day before, showing the aftermath of the financial crisis is still to show up in bank accounts, that's raised the question of how much capital needs to re raised to restore their Tier One capital ratios,” said Heino Ruland, a strategist with FrankfurtFinanz.
Allianz, Europe's largest insurer, said its Dresdner Bank until had posted a quarterly operating loss of 453 million euros, about the same level as the fourth quarter. Allianz said it could not give a meaningful forecast for earnings at the bank because of financial market uncertainty.
This comes at the end of a dismal week for Europe's insurers. Axa and Aegon both disappointed investors with their results, while Munich Re, Old Mutual, Royal & Sun Alliance warned market conditions would be tough.
The DJ Stoxx index of European insurers fell 3.5 percent this week and is down nearly 10 percent this year.
AXA was down 1.9 percent, Swiss Re lost 2.5 percent, and Royal & Sun Alliance fell 3.1 percent. Allianz shares were down 1 percent, having fallen earlier by as much as 2 percent.
But miner Kazakhmys was the worst loser in Europe, falling 6.7 percent after rejecting a takeover offer from rival Eurasian Natural Resources Corp.
Citigroup, the largest US bank, said it aimed to sell $400 billion of assets - nearly 20 percent of its total - over the next two to three years to become more efficient and profitable. “Over the past weeks, investors got the feeling that the credit crisis was easing, but a piece of news like that is sort of a wake-up call that reminds us that the storm is far from over,” said an analyst.


Clic here to read the story from its source.