Standard life sees profits rise

Life and pensions group Standard Life today said half-year profits rose 51% against a backdrop of continuing economic uncertainty.

The improvement to £534m (€674m) came after worldwide life and pensions new business sales rose 5% to £9.1bn (€11.5bn) in the first six months of the year, with the figure in the UK “constant” at £7.2bn (€9.1m) in a challenging market.