4 March 2021 | 12:04pm
StockMarketWire.com - A return to volatility in the bond markets helped put the FTSE 100 firmly on the back foot by midday, down 1% to 6,605.87.
Investors are concerned inflationary pressures could run out of control as we emerge from the pandemic, with a planned big stimulus package in the US expected to help spur rising prices.
Insurance company Aviva reported a fall in annual profit owing to the impact of Covid-19 and a fall in gross written premiums.
For the year ended 31 December 2020, pre-tax profit fell to £2.57 billion from £3.82 million year-on-year as gross premiums fell to £29.02 billion from £29.71 billion. In spite of the news, its share price rose 2.6% to 393.1p as it announced an exit from its Italian business, the latest in a series of disposals.