LONDON (Reuters) -Aviva posted a better than expected 14% rise in first-half operating profit to 875 million pounds ($1.12 billion), helped by a rise in general insurance premiums in Britain and Ireland, the British insurer said on Wednesday.
Operating profit was expected at 830 million pounds, according to a company-compiled consensus poll.
The life and general insurer, whose main businesses are in Britain, Canada and Ireland, saw a 15% rise in general insurance premiums overall, with an 18% rise in Britain and Ireland.
However, retirement sales fell 6% to 3 billion pounds due to a drop in equity release mortgages and in sales of bulk annuities, insurance for corporate pension schemes.
"We remain very positive about Aviva's prospects," Chief Executive Amanda Blanc said in a statement.
"Trading conditions across the UK, Ireland and Canada are excellent. And the UK market, our largest, is highly attractive and growing."
Aviva said it would pay an interim dividend of 11.9 pence per share, up 7% and in line with forecasts.
($1 = 0.7796 pounds)
(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn, editing by Lawrence White)
