ADM.L - Admiral Group plc

GRAPHIC-UK Plc's discount steepens as political crisis over Brexit deepens

Growing worries about Britain crashing out of the European Union and a general election that could usher in a new government and major changes to UK Plc have steepened the discount for London-listed companies with exposure to the domestic economy. Shares in London-listed companies that make the bulk of their revenue in Britain have suffered since the June 2016 referendum on European Union membership.

LIVE MARKETS-Fiscal stimulus in Germany: how likely, how big?

DAX hits fresh day low, down 0.8% * Euphoria over tariff relief ebbs * Balfour Beatty on track for best day in 17 years after results Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Danilo Masoni. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: rm://danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net FISCAL STIMULUS IN GERMANY: HOW LIKELY, HOW BIG?

UPDATE 3-FTSE 100 sinks to two month low on recession fears

Britain's FTSE 100 tumbled to its lowest in more than two months on Wednesday after the yields on 10-year U.S. and UK government bonds fell below two-year equivalents for the first time since the financial crisis, signalling mounting fears of recession. The FTSE 100 index, already under pressure from weak Chinese economic data, ended down 1.4%, with losses across all but one sector.

BUZZ-Admiral rises on firm H1 profit; biggest pct gain on UK's FTSE 100

UPDATE 2-Admiral's H1 pretax profit up 4% despite Ogden rate hit

British insurer Admiral on Wednesday posted a 4% rise in first-half pretax profit helped by the release of money put aside for claims written in previous years. Admiral, one of Britain's largest motor insurers, reported a pretax profit of 220 million pounds ($265 million), up from 212 million a year earlier and topping the 197.1 million in a company-supplied poll of 13 analysts. "Profit growth, even if modest, is more exciting considering the 33 million pound Ogden headwind," David Stevens, group chief executive officer, said in a statement.

BUZZ-Top of the Street: Swiss Re, UK P&C Insurance

RPT-GRAPHIC-Brexit woes deepen pain in domestically-focused UK stocks

Shares in London-listed companies that make the bulk of their revenue in Britain plunged in recent months as worries about a disorderly Brexit have deepened, while stocks with foreign exposure have beaten the blue-chip benchmark. Domestically focused UK stocks have been shunned by many investors since the June 2016 referendum on European Union membership, and the prospect of a staunch Brexiteer replacing Theresa May as prime minister has exacerbated that trend. JP Morgan's UK domestic plays index that tracks about 30 UK stocks that make all or most of their revenue at home took a turn for the worse in mid-April, when the Brexit deadline was extended to Oct. 31 and the prospect of a leadership change increased.

LIVE MARKETS-Breaking ranks: no Brexit wobble for UK midcaps

* STOXX 600 +0.4%, FTSE 100 outperforms +0.6% as sterling plunges * Burberry has best day ever after results * Weaker euro lifts euro-zone bourses * FTSE 250 defies fresh Brexit worries, pound drop Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Thyagaraju Adinarayan. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: thyagaraju.adinarayan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net BREAKING RANKS: NO BREXIT WOBBLE FOR UK MIDCAPS (1631 GMT) Aside from some notable moves in individual stocks (Burberry and easyJet are standouts), one of the most significant moves today was in London. The exporter-heavy FTSE 100 outperformed its European peers while sterling plunged as investors scrambled to price in a higher chance of the country crashing out of the EU as the two candidates vying to be next PM tried to outgun each other on taking a harder stance on Brexit.

LIVE MARKETS-Industrials out of fashion

Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: thyagaraju.adinarayan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net INDUSTRIALS OUT OF FASHION (1458 GMT) Industrial stocks are among the most unloved going into the earnings season with analysts sharply cutting profit estimates and fund managers shunning the sector. The dislike for industrial stocks is also evident among money managers: Bank of America Merrill Lynch's fund manager survey released earlier showed investors' take on the sector reversing to a 36% net underweight in July from net 15% overweight in June. With the EU capital goods sector trading at a premium to the wider indices (see below), any small disappointment in earnings is likely to lead to a sharp fall in stock prices.

BUZZ-Hastings slumps 6.5% on estimate of discount rate hit

UPDATE 3-UK motor insurer Hastings warns of hit from discount rate change

British motor insurer Hastings warned on Tuesday of a $10 million hit to its profits from a change in the discount rate used to calculate compensation for personal injuries, with rivals expected to follow. Hastings' shares fell nearly 5%, among the biggest falls on the FTSE mid-cap index, after the company said it would take an 8.4 million pounds ($10.5 million) pre-tax charge in 2019, in response to Britain's decision on Monday to change the so-called Ogden rate to minus 0.25% from minus 0.75%. The change follows lobbying from motor insurers, whose profits were hit by a cut in the rate from 2.5% in 2017.

UPDATE 2-UK deals blow to insurers with change to discount rate

Britain will change the discount rate used to calculate compensation for personal injuries to minus 0.25% from minus 0.75%, disappointing insurers who were hoping for a higher rate to limit the money they must set aside to cover payouts. The decision by the ministry of justice follows a review in response to lobbying from motor insurers, whose profits were hit by the move to cut the so-called 'Ogden Rate' from 2.5% in 2017. UBS analysts said insurers had been expecting a rate of around 0.5% and had moved to setting their reserves based on a rate of 0%.

Cost of British car insurance rises in second quarter-survey

The cost of an annual comprehensive motor insurance policy in Britain rose 3.5% in the second quarter of 2019, lifted by a rise in the cost of claims, a survey on Monday showed. The average premium for a comprehensive policy is now 789 pounds ($988.85), according to the latest index from price comparison site Confused.com, compiled by insurance broker Willis Towers Watson. Companies such as Admiral, RSA, Direct Line , esure and Hastings provide cover in Britain’s highly competitive motor insurance sector.

UPDATE 2-FTSE 100 hits 10-month high as sterling slips

Britain's main share index scaled a more than ten-month high on Tuesday driven by gains in internationally exposed stocks that benefited from a weaker sterling. The FTSE 100, whose components book a major chunk of their revenue from overseas, gained 0.8% and hit its highest level since August 2018. The more domestically focused mid-cap index, the FTSE 250, edged 0.1% higher but was subdued as the pound slipped after a survey showed Britain's construction industry suffered its worst month in more than 10 years in June.