Financial News

EU Toughens Sanctions on Iran; Talks Sought; Insurance Cut-Off Weighs

Iran said on Monday it was ready to return to talks on a nuclear fuel swap, a surprise that came shortly after the European Union agreed tougher sanctions, including a block on oil and gas investment. EU foreign ministers approved …

Montpelier Re Reports $70 Million Q2 Net Income; $73 Million Operating

Bermuda-based Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., which specializes in short-tail reinsurance and other specialty lines, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Fully converted book value per share was $22.31 at June 30, 2010, an increase of …

Arch Capital Posts $237 Million Q2 Net Income; Operating $132.2 Million

Bermuda-based Arch Capital Group reported net income available to common shareholders for the 2010 second quarter of $237.0 million, or $4.45 per share, compared to $152.1 million, or $2.43 per share, for the 2009 second quarter. The Company also reported …

United Fire & Casualty P/C Unit Sees Decline in Premiums, Claims

United Fire & Casualty Co., headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reported that net premiums written in its property/casualty sector declined in the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010, as compared with the same periods of the prior year. …

Report Forecasts Rough Sailing for Canadian Insurers’ Results

Investors hoping for improved results from Canada’s insurers may want to brace for disappointment, with weak stock markets and lower bond yields seen taking take a bite out of quarterly earnings. Analysts said the weaker results expected for the second …

SCOR Posts 19% Premium Gain on Half Year Non-Life Treaty Renewals

French reinsurer SCOR Group announced that P/C and Specialty treaty renewals at the end of June resulted in premium growth of 19 percent at constant exchange rates. In addition SCOR stressed that the renewals had fully respected “technical underwriting profitability …

S&P Comments on Dodd-Frank Act’s Implications for Insurers

A comment from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services notes that the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act “seeks to expand regulation to address many aspects of the financial services sector. Although much of the discussion about this bill …

Weather Claims Erode Travelers Profits

Weather-related claims of nearly $440 million dragged down profits by 9 percent at Travelers, which reported second quarter net income of $670 million, down from the $740 million the insurer earned in the year-ago period. Catastrophe claims — chiefly wind …

Business Groups Press Emerging Economies over Doha

Brazil, China and India must use their growing economic might to help revive deadlocked global trade talks, a coalition of business lobby groups said in a letter to U.S. and European Union trade negotiators. The letter, sent on Wednesday, is …

Eurotunnel Posts $58.5 Million First Half Loss from Insurance Pay Delays

Eurotunnel SA on Monday reported a €45 million ($58.5 million) loss in the first half of this year because of delayed insurance payouts from a 2008 fire in the tunnel it operates beneath the English Channel. The undersea tunnel operator …