August 2005/1

Investors rarely react well to steep profit falls, but shares in UK headquartered broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson group plc climbed 5.5 percent last week despite a 29 percent slump in trading profits.

A devastating fire totally destroyed a vital oil platform off India’s west coast on Wednesday (July 25) and killed at least 12 people.

Omega has walked away from a possible bid for fellow Lloyd’s insurer Hardy.