Standard Life

FEARS ARE growing thousands of older homeowners may be mis-sold equity release plans which allow cash to be released from their property, suggests the Times , as figures reveal the equity release market has topped £5bn.

Which? has criticised the abolition of RU64 as a "huge mistake" despite widespread industry support for the move.

MERRILL LYNCH, JPMorgan and Jupiter Asset Management have lost out in the battle to manage the £100m Deutsche Equity Income Trust (DEIT), reports The Times .

DAVID WILLETTS, shadow trade and industry secretary, last night called on the government to "socialise" part of the pensions burden for business or risk the prospect of zombie companies struggling to meet payments to former workers, says the Guardian....

Standard Life policyholders will receive letters from today confirming the life insurer plans to demutualise if members support the proposal in 2006.

Standard Life is calling for the life assurance industry to create a new more consistent approach to discounted gift plans in inheritance tax planning.

Self-regulation by providers of self invested personal pensions (Sipps) is the key to maintaining consumer confidence until formal safeguards are put in place, according to Standard Life.

STANDARD LIFE insists its demutualisation proposals are on track, despite growing speculation wrangling with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) could force the society to delay its flotation, reports The Times .

STANDARD LIFE is in detailed discussions with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) over its proposed stock market flotation next year but is convinced these talks should not delay its plans, says The Guardian .

STANDARD LIFE'S investment chief, Keith Skeoch, yesterday declared the bull market in shares had returned, as it emerged the life insurer had made a "tactical switch" into equities in June, says the Daily Telegraph .