Pru announces stong start to 2005

Britain's second largest insurer says UK and Europe sales were also up 12% on the first quarter of 2004 at £208m. Prudential’s group finance director, Phillip Broadley, says the figures show a strong start to the year and says the Group will continue the momentum builtup in 2004. Double figure sales growth for the UK and Europe includes strong sales of unit-linked bonds and annuities. Broadly says he expects this to be enhanced by further distribution opportunities with St James’s Place, Barclays Bank and National Australia Bank. ”We maintain a positive outlook set out in our prelimin...