Aviva growth boosts FTSE

Aviva has risen 3.73% to 820.5p after it beat analyst expectations with a 29% rise in 2005 operating profit thanks to a strong performance by its general insurance unit. The company says it is confident of further growth in 2006. The strong showing has buoyed peers such as Prudential, up 1.15% to 614p, and Royal & Sun Alliance, 2.13% higher at 132p, at a time when there is already speculation about a takeover in the sector. Rising copper prices have boosted mining stocks with Kazakhmys rising 1.97% to 907p and Xstrata gaining 3.02% to 1,810p. Improved crude oil prices have helped h...