INSURERS Prudential hailed strong sales figures after moves to broaden the reach of the group helped offset difficult market conditions.
Group insurance sales using the industry's standard measure rose three per cent to £1.4bn during the nine months to the end of September.
Chief executive Jonathan Bloomer said the improvement reflected strong contributions across the group, with almost three-quarters of business now achieved outside the UK.
But in Prudential's domestic market, sales totalling £565m were down three per cent.
This was because of an increasing emphasis on single premium products - the standard industry measure includes all regular premiums but just ten per cent of single premiums.
Overall, total sales of insurance and investment products in the UK rose to £4.4bn while the figure for the group was upat £20.3bn.
Shares rose six per cent, to 463p, following the update
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