Standard Life boosts inflows as low rates persist

British insurer and asset manager Standard Life has reported strong net inflows for the third quarter as investors looked to increase returns against a backdrop of low interest rates and volatile markets.

Standard Life has been switching its focus from insurance products such as annuities to “fee-based” business such as more flexible drawdown pensions and its asset management arm. Falling stock markets and a slowdown in Chinese growth have hit global investment returns this year.

“Horizons are short, people are uncertain, but I don’t detect any sense of panic or crisis,” CEO Keith Skeoch said .