FTSE 100 movers: Standard Life soars after beating analyst expectations

Insurance giant Standard Life was a strong riser after beating analysts' predictions in the first quarter after delivering strong sales and group assets under administration. The group recorded a 24% increase in long-term savings sales to £6.3bn and a 26% increase in long-term savings net flows to £1.4bn in the first quarter, compared to £5.0bn and £1.1bn, respectively, one year earlier. Mining stocks were also performing well with EVRAZ, Fresnillo, Vedanta and Rio Tinto among the best performers. Insurance firm Aviva edged higher after saying that it has received €608m in cash from its Spanish partner Bankia following the settlement and transfer of its entire holding in joint venture Aseval. GlaxoSmithKline was also on the rise after it unveiled plans to sell its Ribena and Lucozade brands. However gains were limited by less-than-impressive first quarter figures. Ex-dividend weighed heavy on the FTSE today, with Centrica, Legal & General, Tesco, Old Mutual, Rexam, and Aggreko all making significant losses. FTSE 100 - RisersStandard Life (SL.) 377.40p +7.06%Evraz (EVR) 166.20p +5.06%Fresnillo (FRES) 1,145.00p +4.85%Glencore International (GLEN) 328.90p +4.76%Xstrata (XTA) 998.80p +4.59%Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,338.00p +4.21%Antofagasta (ANTO) 920.50p +4.13%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,005.00p +3.60%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,010.50p +3.49%Polymetal International (POLY) 765.50p +3.38%FTSE 100 - FallersCentrica (CNA) 377.50p -3.97%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 167.20p -3.96%Tesco (TSCO) 363.85p -2.66%Associated British Foods (ABF) 1,956.00p -2.15%Old Mutual (OML) 201.30p -1.95%Rexam (REX) 512.50p -1.82%Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 961.50p -1.79%Aggreko (AGK) 1,755.00p -1.63%Intertek Group (ITRK) 3,363.00p -1.61%Bunzl (BNZL) 1,260.00p -1.41%NR