Standard gives Life to the FTSE

Although Standard Life is not yet a member of the FTSE 100 - albeit it is expected to enter the blue chip stock index in September as it has sufficient market capitalisation - the firm has seen its share price rise 2.75p, or 1.1%, to 252.75p this morning, after it said sales increased to £745m from £624m a year earlier, beating the company's own estimate of £680m. This has helped to lift the share values of rival life insurers already listed on the FTSE 100 index, such as Aviva, Friends Provident and Prudential. Elsewhere, Anglo American has advanced 18p, or 0.8%, to £2.53p and BHP Bill...