Insurance giant Aviva announced strong growth in its operating profit for the first half of 2017 and hiked its interim dividend by 13% to 8.4p.

But what did business analysts make of its performance?

Stronger than expected top line

Deutsche Bank First half results are modestly above expectations across the board, but what is particularly encouraging is that this has been achieved with fewer exceptionals and despite greater investment into the business.

Two out of three

RBC Going into these results we identified three areas of growth: its asset management business, entry in to the larger-sized bulk annuity market, and a further buyback programme

Asset management earnings have grown 45%.

Bulk sales increased significantly to £320m from £64m in half one 2016.

Additional capital return - not in these results..

Building on track record of delivery

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Aviva's half-year 2017 results are another step in the right direction, in our view, with a solid update coming in slightly ahead of consensus. We reiterate our buy rating.