You may remember that last week we reported that 2018 was off to a really good start with our share price gaining 4.8% since the 1st of January and closing on Friday at a two-year high of 42,68 euros.

Well, this week went from good to great as our share gained another 1.5%,closing on Friday at a nine-year high of EUR 43.34. Ageas' share has not reached this height since 2009! Again this week the share price performance of financial services companies was supported by rising bond yields, pushed up by optimism over stronger economic growth and expectations of tighter monetary policy

Ahead of the publication of our full-year results, analysts started publishing their earnings previews. To reflect the strong boost in our share price, 4 of them increased their target price: MedioBanca from EUR 38 to EUR 39, ABN Amro from EUR 41.5 to EUR 43, HSBC from EUR 43 to EUR 44 and Credit Suisse from EUR 49 to EUR 49.50.

Yet, the strong increase of our share price since the beginning of the year seems modest compared to the one totalled by the share of our listed Chinese partner China Taiping Insurance Holding (CTIH): no less than 18% since the 1st of January, including over 5% this Wednesday after the publication of their 2017 gross premium income. As you know Ageas has a 25% stake in Taiping Life (TPL), the life insurance entity of CTIH.

Ageas NV published this content on 22 January 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 22 January 2018 12:19:04 UTC.

Original documenthttps://www.ageas.com/newsroom/good-great

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