Pru sales add to fears for UK jobs

LAGGING sales will put further pressure on Prudential's UK business, where 3,000 jobs are under review. The firm yesterday said UK total sales had plummeted by 20 per cent, while overall sales rose by 15 per cent - boosted by a strong performance in the Pru's Asian markets, where sales leapt by 48 per cent.

In the UK, total sales dropped to £529 million, although retail sales rose by 8 per cent. Chief executive Mark Tucker, pictured, said: "These new business numbers demonstrate that there is real and continued momentum across the group, building on the strong growth of the past two years."

The Pru plans to make £195m in savings throughout the UK business by 2010.