Allianz Share Price Rises Amid Acquisition Spree

Allianz's share price has been steadily rising, closing at €441.60 on Friday, a gain of 0.7 percent from the previous day and just below its 52-week high of €443.80 set on August 6.

The Munich-based insurer is executing two major strategic moves simultaneously: acquiring HSBC Life Singapore for approximately €2 billion and increasing its stake in asset manager Pimco to at least 95 percent through a buyback of M Units valued at €1.4 billion, placing the valuation of Pimco at roughly €31.8 billion.

Two influential Wall Street houses, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, have reached opposite conclusions about Allianz's future stock price after reviewing its half-year numbers. Goldman raised its price target to €465 and reaffirmed a 'Buy' rating, while JPMorgan downgraded the stock to 'Neutral', lifting its target from €430 to €460.