Aviva ensures FTSE's gain

Aviva has gained 16p, or 2.2%, to 743.5p. The company said 2005 new life and pensions business rose 7.7% to £22.25bn, helped by sales in continental Europe. Analysts had expected full-year sales of £22.12bn, according to the mean estimate provided by the company. Dicom Group has advanced 16.5p, or 7.4%, to 239p. The company said it expects adjusted operating profit to increase for the fiscal year after reporting a 39% drop on first-half earnings. Yell Group has also climbed 3.5p, or 0.7%, to 545.25p. The company said nine-month profit rose 23% to £147.3m on sales at its UK Internet di...