By Sabela Ojea

Aviva PLC said Thursday that it achieved its highest levels of sales in general insurance in a decade in the first quarter, while new business premiums remained stable for the period.

The FTSE 100-listed insurer said general insurance gross written premiums in the first three months of the year rose to 2.0 billion pounds ($2.82 billion) compared with GBP1.9 billion for the year-earlier period, while new business in life insurance fell slightly to GBP11.8 billion from GBP11.9 billion.

"We made very good progress in the first quarter...We are now focused on improving the growth and profitability of our businesses in the U.K., Ireland, Canada and Aviva Investors," Chief Executive Amanda Blanc said.

Write to Sabela Ojea at sabela.ojea@wsj.com; @sabelaojeaguix

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

05-27-21 0234ET