Insurer Aviva has been fined almost €500,000 by the Central Bank for breaches of the Consumer Protection Code in relation to the proper handling of customer complaints.

London’s leading shares index struggled to make significant progress today as fears over growth in China and the rumbling eurozone debt crisis troubled investors.

London’s FTSE 100 Index made more gains on hopes this week may have seen the start of a solution to the eurozone’s debt worries.

London’s FTSE 100 Index continued its recovery today despite a weak start on Wall Street after results from Caterpillar disappointed.

The FTSE 100 Index pressed ahead today on the back of a strong show from the oil and gas sector and a weaker US dollar.

The FTSE 100 Index pushed higher today as good news from across the Atlantic offered a respite from recent market turmoil.

Insurer Aviva has been inundated with claims resulting from the storms and flooding across the country during the last three months of the year.

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 today reported a 10% rise in operating profits and said it would maintain its dividend despite a “tumultuous year” for the industry.

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

An upbeat start to trading across the Atlantic drove the FTSE 100 Index to a positive finish today.

London’s blue-chip banks fell back today as profit taking and continued fears about the economy pushed the FTSE 100 Index lower.