The results came in just above forecasts of 1.12 billion pounds from a company-supplied consensus poll.

Performance was boosted by bulk annuities - insurance of company defined benefit pension schemes - and the insurer's housing businesses, it said in a statement.

Legal & General Investment Management, one of the biggest investors in the UK stock market, saw a large jump in third-party inflows to 65.6 billion pounds, more than double flows seen in the first half of 2021.

But assets under management dropped 3% from a year earlier to 1.29 billion pounds. The unit's operating profit fell 2%.

Many asset managers have recorded a drop in assets this year due to market volatility from the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine conflict.

L&G said it would pay an interim dividend of 5.44 pence per share, up 5%.

"We are committed to providing financial security for our customers and colleagues in a tough economic climate and remain confident in our ability to grow profits sustainably and at attractive returns over the long term," Chief Executive Nigel Wilson said.

($1 = 0.8275 pounds)

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn, editing by Sinead Cruise)