Insurer Aviva continued its poor recent run on Thursday as the FTSE fell marginally into the red in early trading.

The Chancellor should use the next budget to remove "nonsensical rules" governing pension scheme investment in taxable property, Rowanmoor Pensions says.

Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that few advisers are working on Inheritance Tax mitigation at the present time and yet, in reality, the credit crunch has generated the best environment for such planning for many years.

Standard Life has been criticised for closing one of its IFA support centres, despite the insurer saying service levels would not drop as a result of its strategic review of distribution.

London markets were mixed as the afternoon progressed, with the FTSE100 down just 2.35 points (0.06%) to 3,712.88 shortly before 3pm.

Quantitative easing measures, due to be introduced by the Bank of England today, will prove damaging to those approaching retirement, according to annuity providers.

Expats are feeling the effects of the credit crunch abroad yet 60% believe their economic situation is better than in the UK, according to Halifax International.

More than three quarters of IFA clients and institutional investors in traded life policies say they will be increasing their exposure to the asset class over the next year, suggests research from Managing Partners Limited (MLP).

JHP Training has received accreditation from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) for its Apprenticeship Providing Financial Services programmes.

Mirae Asset Management intends to launch two new Sicav funds into the European retail market.