Santander

Santander could provide a further £1bn of its own capital to help shore up Alliance & Leicester's balance sheet, in addition to the £1.25bn of shares it is providing, according to Morningstar.

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) says it hopes advisers and brokers will continue to be at the heart of Abbey's business plans after its owner Santander announced plans to merge the company with Alliance & Leicester (A&L).

The expected smooth presidential transition next week will boost Russian markets in the near-term, Santander says.

Santander Asset Management UK has launched its new Multi-Manager Emerging Markets fund.

Santander Bank has confirmed it will set up two UK insurance businesses, Santander Insurance UK and Santander Insurance Services UK, in the first quarter of next year.

Santander Asset Management has appointed Melanie Newton as an equity dealer in its UK equities team.

John Kelly, the man behind the group's multi-manager proposition, has left Abbey to pursue other opportunities.

Santander Asset Management has recruited four managers in a bid to fortify its UK equity team.

Abbey's wrap proposition is to rebrand as James Hay Wrap on 30 October, and will infuture rely on core software from InfoComp.

Norwich Union yesterday stopped imposing exit penalties on with-profits pension holders who delay their retirement dates and Friends Provident is considering whether to follow suit, says the Daily Telegraph .