News

* CEO says, "It's not been an easy market" (Adds CEO comments from call, share move)

Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, made a 19.9% return on investment last year, earning a record 1.69 trillion Norwegian crowns ($180 billion) as stock markets rallied, it said on Thursday.

The coronavirus epidemic is likely to have little impact on British insurer RSA's business, Chief Executive Stephen Hester said on Thursday, as the company's shares rose on a forecast-beating 2019 operating profit.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney called on London's money managers to help speed a transition to a low-carbon future on Thursday, aiming to usher in a new era where every professional financial decision takes climate change into account.

* Savings goal raised to 2.8 bln euros, shares up (Adds share reaction, analysts, details)

Lending to euro zone companies held steady at a two-year low last month even as household lending hit another post-crisis high, European Central Bank data showed on Thursday, underlining a growing rift in the bloc's economy.

Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, made a 19.9% return on investment last year, earning a record 1.69 trillion Norwegian crowns ($180.49 billion), it said on Thursday.

European shares fell again on Thursday, with travel stocks taking the biggest knock, as a jump in new coronavirus cases outside of China deepened fears of a pandemic that could dent global growth.

* London shares fall 5% after earlier Hong Kong gains (Adds management comment, updates share price)

Hong Kong stocks reversed earlier losses to end higher on Thursday, after Beijing indicated more support to bolster its economy pressured by the coronavirus outbreak. ** At the close of trade, the Hang Seng index was up 82.13 points or 0.31% at 26,778.62. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose 0.87%...