Standard Life H1 profits rise 71% to £353m

In its interim results released to the stock exchange this morning, the insurer says its European Embedded Value profit climbed to £353m, up from £206m at the corresponding point last year. New business contribution to profit climbed 66% to £151m for the period, from £91m last year. It also announced its interim dividend increased 5.6%, to 3.8p. UK life and pensions before tax EEV operating profit leaped 70% to £252m, from £148m in H1 2006. Net UK pensions inflows fell from £1.8bn in the first half last year to £1.5bn, while net life outflows were a little less in H1 2007, down from...