Aviva plunge leads FTSE drop

Insurer Aviva lost more than £2bn of its value today as financial stocks took a hammering during another bleak session for the London market.

Insurer Aviva lost more than £2bn (€2.2bn) of its value today as financial stocks took a hammering during another bleak session for the London market.

Aviva posted decent full-year figures and maintained its dividend, but shares still crashed 33% as analysts questioned whether the company could afford the payout in light of industry worries about capital strength.