BUZZ-Direct Line: best day on record after H1 profit beat
** UK motor and home insurer Direct Line (Other OTC: DIISD - news) rises 5.8 pct after half-yearly profits beat expectations
** H1 pre-tax profit £298.5 mln, well above consensus expected of around £250 mln
** Best day for the stock since listing in October 2012
** Berenberg says it expects both earnings and dividend upgrades following results
** Fellow insurer Admiral up 1.6 pct at an all-time high