Aviva

Aviva has turned down an estimated £5bn bid from rival RSA for its general insurance operations in the UK and other markets.

Allan Bridgewater, who died on 5 August aged 74, was a true giant of the insurance industry.

The UK market will continue to shift towards protection says Aviva's Toby Strauss, after the insurer reported its third consecutive quarter of life sales growth.

Aviva recorded a 21% jump in operating profit in the first half of the year, with the insurer declaring 6% dividend increase.

Aviva has signed a five year deal to provide protection products for Santander from June 2011.

The ABI has appointed Aviva Investors chief executive Alain Dromer as chairman of its Investment Committee, effective from 15 September.

The cost of capital for companies with controversial environmental and human rights records should be higher than more ethical companies, says Aviva Investors.

The IFA industry has been abuzz this week following a BBC Money Watch programme highlighting the plight of thousands of customers mis-sold a ‘Balanced' fund by Barclays ‘salespeople'.

Equity release is going through turbulent times with provider exits and a lack of consumer confidence. Helen Morrissey looks at the cause of the current problems and asks if the market can recover

Employers are "misguided" and could be contributing to health problems for their workforce by encouraging workers to bond down the pub, says a new study.