Insurer

Bright Grey and Scottish Provident have bucked an 18 month downward trend as new business revenue and applications jumped significantly over the third quarter of the year.

Standard Life saw a marginal increase in gross inflows into its retail fee business in the three months to 30 September, as global financial markets volatility stunted investor sentiment.

Legal & General has credited diversification into non mortgage related business for strong individual protection results that boosted its third quarter performance.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been offered £4bn for its insurance arm by private equity group CVC Capital Partners.

The ABI is set to publish industry guidance to help insurers, brokers and comparison websites better identify insurance application form fraud.

Aviva has confirmed the prospect of long-expected job losses in its Irish operation with the announcement that 770 jobs are set to go from Aviva Ireland.

Smaller mutual societies could disappear due to the increasing burden of regulatory costs, Exeter Family Friendly has warned.

Insurer Scottish Life is sending cheques worth an average £350 to more than 17,000 former with-profits investors after discovering it underpaid them when their policies matured.

Provider LV= has said it hopes protection will not be made compulsory because it could leave individuals who need comprehensive cover under-insured.

The "diabolical" selling of protection back books needs to be regulated and restricted, with the new owners held accountable for the way the books are run, an industry expert says.