U.S. annuity sales in the first quarter were up 5 percent from the first quarter of 2014, according to a quarterly sales report by Moore Market Intelligence. Total first-quarter 2015 sales were $11.3 billion. Those sales were down nearly 5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2014, but represented a new first-quarter record for the 49 indexed annuity carriers reporting. Allianz Life maintained its position as the top indexed annuity carrier, with a market share of 20.3 percent. West Des Moines-based American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. held its position as the No. 2 carrier in the market, while Topeka-based Security Benefit Life, Cincinnati-based Great American Insurance Group and Athene USA in West Des Moines rounded out the top five. In the indexed life insurance market, first-quarter 2015 sales were $380.3 million, up more than 15 percent from the year-ago quarter but down nearly 24 percent from the fourth quarter.