Prudential is heading higher in anticipation of its fourth quarter figures due on Tuesday.
Its shares are 9.5p higher at 730p, with investors also reacting to weekend reports it was planning to open a general insurance business in Brazil as part of its expansion plans.
Not everyone is positive about the insurer's outlook, however. Andy Hughes at Exane BNP Paribas said:
Our view is that Prudential should beat the low consensus operating profit forecasts for the year. The amount of new business value implied in the consensus forecasts for Asia is only 5% higher than the same period in 2010. This compares to 16% for the 9 months stage. While comparatives are tougher, lower growth should pose some valuation questions. We see the structural Asian growth as more challenging than many investors believe. We point to the net fund flows in Prudential's two largest markets Hong Kong and Singapore, which have been weak, as evidence of this.
