Insurer Aviva has today posted an 8% rise in first-half operating profit to £715m, helped by strong performance in general and health insurance that could boost full-year numbers by as much as 7%.
Analysts in a company-compiled consensus poll had forecast operating profit of £701m, while Aviva estimated full-year 2023 operating profit growth of 5-7%.
"We expect to exceed our financial targets and we are making progress each quarter," CEO Amanda Blanc said in a statement.
The company said it would pay an interim dividend of 11.1 pence, up 8% and compared to a forecast of 11 pence.
General insurance operating profit rose by 29% to £470m, reflecting strong performance in all of Aviva's main regions of Britain, Canada and Ireland along with higher investment income.
Sales in private health insurance rose by 58% for both individual and corporate customers, with Aviva pointing to pressure on public health services helping to drive demand.
But profits in the insurer's wealth and retirement business dropped 13% to £436m following additional investment in its wealth unit.
Aviva Investors saw external net inflows of £190m, the company added.
