Canada Life's 50,000 Irish shareholders have been given a boost with the inclusion of Canada Life shares to the main stock indices on the Toronto market - the TSE 300, the TSE 100 and the S&P/TSE Canadian Mid-Cap Index.

About 53,000 Irish policyholders got Canada Life shares when the group demutualised last October, getting free shares worth on average €1,714 (£1,350). Since then the shares have traded up from the Can$17.50 flotation price to over Can$30 in yesterday's trading.