Aviva Stock News

Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) said it expects operating profit from its Wealth business to exceed £500 million by 2032 as the insurer targets growth in a UK market it expects to expand by more than 10% a year.

RBC Capital Markets has an "outperform" rating on Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.), with a price target of 780p, after hosting the insurer's chief financial officer, Charlotte Jones, as part of its "Back-to-School" investor call series.

The insurer and asset manager's operating profit rose in the first half, though it cut its full-year expectations for its health business.

Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) reported a 24% increase in first-half operating profit to £1.33 billion as its General Insurance businesses strengthened and the integration of Direct Line progressed, prompting the insurer to lift its interim dividend by 7%.

JP Morgan has upgraded Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) to 'overweight' and downgraded Legal & General Group PLC (LSE:LGEN) and M&G PLC (LSE:MNG) to 'underweight', arguing that relative value across the UK life insurance sector has shifted.

Standard Life PLC (LSE:SL.) shares may be due a pause after their strong run following the agreement to acquire Aegon UK, according to RBC Capital Markets.

British insurer Aviva said on Thursday it had agreed ​to buy the remaining 26% ‌stake in its Indian life insurance joint venture from local partner ​Dabur Invest Corp, taking ​full ownership of the business ⁠it first established in 2001.