Aviva, formerly Norwich Union, has rebuffed a bid for its general insurance business. Photograph: PR Britain’s biggest insurer Aviva has rejected an opportunistic bid by rival RSA to buy out its general insurance business, which could have been worth as much as £5bn. The audacious approach came in a letter from RSA’s chairman, John Napier, [...]

Elizabeth Gilbert’s book has not only spawned a film but tie-in merchandising including fragrances and jewellery. Photograph: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Last week, Julia Roberts appeared on US television to advertise her latest film, an adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s travel memoir, Eat Pray Love. Roberts, who while shooting the film in India became a Hindu, described [...]

Aviva, a major sponsor of athletics in the UK, has raised its dividend for shareholders, which was cut last year. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images Suddenly, the life insurance sector has come to life. Legal & General and Aviva both generated more cash than expected in the first half of the year. Dividends at both groups [...]

Many companies now offer to calculate disease risks in exchange for hundreds of pounds and a sample of saliva or blood. Photograph: George Disario/Corbis Companies which sell genetic tests for conditions such as breast cancer and Huntington’s disease are facing a clampdown in a bid to stop customers being given wrong information about their health. [...]