Standard Life swung to a loss in the first half of the year after the market moved against positions the firm had taken to shield itself against volatility.

The FTSE 100 pensions giant posted an overall loss of £179m for the first six months of the year, driven by £473m in paper losses on financial protection contracts bought to safeguard the business against market falls.

Because stock markets rose, the value of those protective policies fell, and strict accounting rules forced the group to record the drop on its books. The strategy, known as hedging, is used by businesses to protect their balance sheets against sudden market drops and ensure steady cash flow.

“The group accepts the hedge-related volatility,” Standard Life said in its half-year update, adding it was a “known consequence of our hedging strategy that is designed to protect our cash, capital and dividend.”

Despite the headline drop, the FTSE 100 group recorded a 25 per cent increase in adjusted profit to £563m. This came as operating cash generation – the total amount it brings in from day-to-day core operations – jumped six per cent to £745m. The firm said it put them on track for mid-single-digit annual growth.

Standard Life leverages AI for cost-cutting

As part of the business’ ongoing strategy to deliver £250m in cost-cutting, chief executive Andy Briggs confirmed £210m had been achieved with artificial intelligence helping to “reshape our organisation, enhance colleague experience and create a more efficient, scalable business.”

Assets under administration grew five per cent in the six month period to £333bn. The group raised its interim dividend 2.6 per cent to 28.05p per share.

Standard Life completed its debt paydown programme early in June 2026 after repaying £503m. The move is set to free up excess with the firm expecting to generate £500m excess cash in 2026 alone.

The firm has already been an active player in M&A after revealing in April it would snap up the UK’s largest investment platform Aegon UK for £2bn. The deal is expected to help forge a major player in the UK’s retirement savings space hosting near 16m customers and £480bn in assets under administration combined.

Standard Life expects an annual £160m cash boost from the deal and around £400m in excess cash over the next five years following the integration of the two companies.

Earlier this year, the group confirmed it had struck a deal with a consortium of global finance giants, including CVC and Goldman Sachs, in a bid to accelerate its push into the booming pension risk transfer market. Standard Life has pledged as much as £500m for the group, in which it will hold 51 per cent of the voting rights.