financials News

Allstate’s Investments Up, Disaster Costs Down in Q2

Allstate Corp., the largest publicly traded U.S. auto and home insurer, said second-quarter profit climbed on investment gains and reduced costs tied to natural disasters. Net income climbed 2.6 percent to $434 million, or 92 cents a share, from $423 …

Sandy Losses Within Hurricane Models, Manageable: Reinsurer Hiscox

Superstorm Sandy won’t put insurers’ finances under severe strain, and may allow them to push through a profit-boosting rise in prices next year, Hiscox , the biggest London-listed reinsurer, said on Monday. Sandy killed at least 113 and caused severe …

More Earnings Reports: Validus Holdings, Montpelier Re

Selected earnings highlights from Bermuda-based Validus Holdings Ltd. for the second quarter and the first six months of 2012 are as follows: Q2 2012 Q2 2011 Gross premiums written ———— $627.089 mn $605.387 mn Net premiums written ————— $508.037 mn …

State Auto Financial: Impact of Q2 Storm Activity May Reach $36M

Columbus, Ohio-based State Auto Financial Corp. announced it estimates the company’s second quarter 2012 results will include between $33 million and $36 million in pre-tax net catastrophe losses. During the quarter ended June 30, 2012, 13 catastrophe events in the …

RSA’s Interim Statement Highlights Organic Growth, Strong Financial Position

UK-based RSA reported continued strong growth and financial strength in its interim management statement covering the first three months of 2012. Highlights included the following: • Net written premiums of £2.2 billion [$3.565 billion] up by 5 percent with all …

Munich Re Confirms 2011 Profit at $937 Mn; Forecasts $3.3 Bn in 2012

Munich Re’s official results largely confirm earlier estimates, made at the beginning of February. The world’s largest reinsurer, however, hopes to do a good deal better in 2012 than it did last year. It’s forecasting a profit of around €2.5 …

Buffett Adds to Bullish U.S. Economic Recovery Signals

Anyone looking for more evidence of a strengthening U.S. economic recovery need only consider conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, where businesses ranging from railroads and electric utilities to furniture and candy stores are racking up record profits. Even though Berkshire’s Warren Buffett …

State Auto Increases Specialty Business in 2011

State Auto Financial Corp., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, reported fourth quarter 2011 net income of $100.6 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, versus $37.6 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2010. STFC’s GAAP combined ratio …

Meadowbrook Reports Revenue Increase, Higher Combined Ratio in 2011

Meadowbrook Insurance Group Inc., headquartered in Southfield, Mich., reported an 11.6 percent increase in revenue for the full year 2011 and a GAAP combined ratio of 99.7 percent compared to 95.0 percent in 2010. Net income for the year was …

Weak Markets to Hobble Canadian Insurer Results

Canadian insurers are looking at a bleak quarter of financial results due to a sharp drop in stock markets and bond yields, and analysts are staying cautious on the stocks even at rock-bottom valuations. Sun Life Financial , Canada’s No. …