A grim set of annual figures from British Airways sent the stock nose-diving into the red today and overshadowed more stable trading elsewhere.

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.

Life and pensions firm Standard Life returned to favour on the stock market today after revealing a stronger-than-expected jump in annual profits.

Standard Life today said it increased operating profits by 43% last year, despite a £249m (€326m) hit as more customers cashed in policies early.

Standard Life’s £4.9bn (€7bn) bid to land insurer Resolution was dealt a major blow today after the firm’s largest shareholder stepped in with a higher offer on a dramatic day in the City.

UK insurer Resolution today tore up its plans for a merger with Friends Provident after agreeing a £4.9bn (€6.9bn) offer from rival Standard Life.

Standard Life continued to deliver strong sales figures today, despite increased competition in the market for one of its key products.

The London market slipped into the red today despite a 9% surge in Scottish Power shares after the energy supplier gave details of an approach from an unnamed suitor.

Rumours of a bid for Scottish Power swept the London market today during an otherwise disappointing session for the FTSE 100 Index.

Standard Life reported a 13% lift in UK sales today as the insurer claimed progress in moves to reposition its business ahead of a summer flotation.

Windfalls averaging £1,700 (€2,500) were today dangled in front of members of Standard Life after the life insurer rejected several approaches from rivals.

Standard Life members are to be offered cut-price shares as part of the insurance giant’s planned flotation, sources said today.

STANDARD LIFE chief executive Sandy Crombie apologised to the Irish people yesterday for a jibe he made when referring to a potentially confusing change in its reporting calendar as “Irish”.

A Standard Life policyholder failed today in his bid to be elected to the company’s board ahead of its planned demutualisation next year.

The boss of life insurer Standard Life is giving up bonuses of more than £500,000 (€708,328) as a gesture to disgruntled policyholders.

STANDARD Life Assurance chief executive Sandy Crombie is facing protests from policyholders at the Scottish insurer’s annual meeting over his pay package and plans to sell the company after its value has slumped.

UP TO 100,000 Irish members of the Standard Life assurance company will receive bonuses of up to €3,000 each when the company floats on the stock exchange.

Insurance giant Standard Life is to axe 1,000 jobs under plans to cut costs, the company announced today.

EUROPE’S largest mutual insurer Standard Life, while considering ditching its prized mutual status to raise cash, paid its former chief executive more than £1 million in salary and bonuses last year.

Standard Life has unexpectedly parted company with chief executive Iain Lumsden after less than two years.

Europe’s largest mutual life insurer Standard Life today said it was considering a stock market flotation.