Stockwatch

The week's winners
Aon up 5.2%
AIG up 4.8%

The week's losers
Zurich Financial Services down 7.6%
Windsor down 6.7%
SVB down 5.9%

Optimists have spotted signs that stock markets might have hit bottom and could be about to turn.

Others aren't so sure.

Whatever the result of Tuesday's gains, all eyes will be on the markets at HLF group, the new name for Heath Lambert, in readiness for the company's long-awaited flotation.

Shares will go on offer at between 325p and 375p with the final price to be set on 11 July.

The price looks low enough to entice interest but there's no discounting the possibility of a last-minute market upset.

The flotation should give HLF a market capitalisation of about £440m, falling considerably short of the £1.3bn of Jardine Lloyd Thompson, the only other major listed broker.

HLF chief executive David Margrett has said that he'll use the £250m the flotation will raise to pay off debts incurred during a management buy-out.

He will also put £25m into the group's pension fund, filling in where falling markets have eroded its valuation and be on the lookout for acquisitions.

Analyst Chris Rathbone at Williams de Broë doubted that HLF could find much worth buying and it was too early for JLT to start quaking in its boots.