British insurer Aviva said yesterday it may cut 1,500 jobs by the end of 2017 from a total workforce of 31,500 following its planned £5.6bn (€7.3bn) acquisition of rival Friends Life.

Santander is to sell Aviva life-insurance products through its UK banking business under an exclusive five-year deal announced today.

Royal Bank of Scotland completed the overhaul of its boardroom today with the appointment of two more non-executive directors.

London’s blue chip share index rallied higher again today thanks to hopes that the worst of the recession may be over.

The FTSE 100 Index set another four-month high today as continued economic optimism outweighed concerns over banks.

Insurance giant Aviva sought to ease concerns over trading today after it reported a 5% rise in sales and described demand as “resilient”.

London’s FTSE 100 Index stormed more than 3.4% ahead today despite news that the UK economy had suffered its sharpest contraction in 30 years.

Insurers were back in the red today after Legal & General slashed its dividend for the first time in the group's history and posted plunging profits.

A strong start on Wall Street helped the FTSE 100 Index finish a volatile session in positive territory today.

The London market’s recent recovery proved fragile today as blue-chip stocks slid almost 2% into the red.

The London market hung on to most of the near-5% rise seen in its previous session today as insurance stocks kept up their momentum.

London’s FTSE 100 Index soared to gains of almost 5% today as investors returned to beleaguered financial stocks.

Shares in insurer Legal & General jumped by 20% today as financial stocks staged a much-needed rally.

Insurance firms crashed today after Aviva’s annual results failed to settle nerves in the sector.

Insurer Aviva today announced the sale of its RAC Auto Windscreens business under plans to focus on its core operations.

The London market got a much-needed boost today after mining and financial stocks pulled out of their recent tailspin.

The FTSE 100 Index broke a four-day losing streak today but a sharp fall on Wall Street took the gloss off gains.

The FTSE 100 Index advanced more than 3% today as strong gains for US and Asian markets set the tone.

Insurer Norwich Union is paying back a total of £11m (€13.47m) to pensions customers following a charging error, it emerged today.

London’s leading share index has suffered its second-worst October ever, despite today closing with a 12.7% surge over the week.

Interest rate cut hopes and a smaller-than-expected contraction in the US economy helped the London market consolidate recent gains today.

The FTSE 100 Index jumped 8% today as hopes for another round of interest rate cuts led to the third biggest gain in the benchmark’s history.

Around two million long-term UK savers with Standard Life will see their payouts reduced after the insurer today became the latest to cut final bonuses as stock market values plummet.

A reassuring trading update from insurer Aviva and better-than-expected results by oil major BP helped settle stock market nerves today.

Insurance giant Aviva today moved to reassure over its financial strength in “unprecedented times” as it reported a 12% rise in nine-month life and pensions sales.

Fears over emerging market economies continued to hit Asian powerhouses HSBC and Standard Chartered today as the wider FTSE market tumbled further on recession concerns.

The FTSE 100 Index gave back early gains today as recession fears continued to drag on stocks.

The City of London’s “short-selling” ban and disclosure rules for UK financial stocks will not be lifted early, the City watchdog confirmed today.

The London market took a late dive into the red today as opening nerves on Wall Street undermined blue-chip stocks.

The FTSE 100 Index posted its first winning session of the week today as renewed optimism over the Fed's massive bail-out plan drove financial stocks higher.

The FTSE 100 Index was heading for its first positive session of the week today with financial stocks setting the pace.

The FTSE 100 Index roared to its biggest-ever one-day gain today as hopes of a solution to the crisis gripping the financial system sent shares soaring.

Merger talks between banking giants HBOS and Lloyds TSB failed to prevent a late slide on the London market today after heavy falls on Wall Street dragged stocks lower.

The FTSE 100 Index closed at its lowest level for more than three years today after another traumatic session for UK blue chips.

More than £50 billion was wiped off the value of blue chip stocks today as news of Lehman Brothers’ dramatic demise spread havoc throughout world stock markets.

London’s leading share index nose-dived 4% into the red today as Lehman Brothers’ demise sparked dramatic losses across stock markets globally.

Up to 500 insurance jobs are set to go after Norwich Union confirmed today it would be outsourcing two of its operations currently based at its centre in York.

A mixed bag of corporate results failed to prevent the London market from following New York into positive territory today.

Police began to sift through the financial assets of John and Anne Darwin today to recover the money the couple defrauded in their £250,000 (€317,976) canoe death scam.

Higher commodity prices helped the London market recover some early losses today but HBOS remained in the red after the poor take up of its £4bn (€5bn) rights issue.

FBD Holdings has announced the appointment of Mr Cathal O'Caoimh as group finance director.

The London market made strong gains today as cheerier trading on the back of some good US news more than wiped out yesterday’s 1.3% fall.

Hibernian Group owner Aviva warned of up to 1,800 redundancies today as part of a restructuring of its general insurance arm over the next two years.

The Norwich Union brand name is to be ditched after more than 200 years, its parent group said today, in a move which will also see Irish insurer Hibernian rebranded.

Norwich Union parent Aviva today reported falling first quarter sales in its UK division, but said stronger growth in the United States and Asia-Pacific regions helped offset the tough domestic market.

The FTSE 100 Index broke through the 5900 barrier for the first time in over a month today as banking giants enjoyed a second day of strong gains.

The London market came through a less volatile session today as good news for blue-chip firms Vodafone and Sainsbury’s steadied investor nerves.

The FTSE 100 Index lost ground today as profits of £10.3bn (€13.5bn) from Royal Bank of Scotland failed to cheer the financial sector.

Norwich Union insurer Aviva today said annual profits growth stalled in the wake of claims relating to the UK’s turbulent year for weather.

Energy companies took a tumble today after regulator Ofgem opened an inquiry into the electricity and gas supply markets.