Schroders and Aviva soar to keep FTSE afloat

Schroders is currently 3.4% up - having risen by almost 6% initially - after it reported double-digit gains in profits across the board. The numbers from the group's wealth management were particularly impressive, with profits tripling from £11.8m to £34.3m in 2013, buoyed by the takeover of Cazenove Capital last summer. Brokers rushed to upgrade estimates following the release of the results, but even Schroders was topped by Avivia which has seen its shares soar 9.2% this morning. The insurer cheered analysts after profits of £2.2bn beat consensus forecasts. The two stocks help...