Friends Provident

In the UK FTSE 100 index of leading shares gained 15.80 points to close up 5375.10.

Ian Jefferies has been appointed head of protection marketing at Friends Provident as of September.

Friends Provident and sourcing system Trigold have launched an online service for mortgage intermediaries allowing them to link a mortgage application with suitable mortgage protection cover.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has appointed current Friends Provident group chief executive Keith Satchell as its new chairman.

For a while, the financial services distribution battle seemed to be about product providers feverishly buying up intermediary firms.

Assureweb is now wholly-owned by a consortium of five product providers as Misys has sold Sesame's remaining 60% stake in the IFA portal to its existing shareholders.

Friends Provident has announced that is will launch a mortgage club this later this month.

Fewer than one in ten women believe they will have sufficient income to ensure an adequate retirement, new research indicates.

Industry speculation suggests Assureweb is close to signing a new shareholder deal with a consortium of life insurance companies.

Life and pensions specialist Friends Provident has joined a growing list of firms offering guide to aid advisers through the pension changes, after 6 April next year.