Financial News

W.R. Berkley Reports Q3 Profit; CEO Sees Turn in Cycle ‘Inevitable’

Insurance holding company W. R. Berkley Corp. reported net income for the third quarter of 2009 of $98 million, compared to a net loss of $28 million for the third quarter of 2008. Operating income for the third quarter of …

Willis Reports Q3 Results; Fees, Commissions up 28%; Conf. Call Today

Willis Group Holdings Limited has reported strong results for the third quarter of 2009 and the first nine months ended September 30, 2009. Highlights of the quarter ended September 30 included the following: — Reported earnings per diluted share from …

Arch Capital Reports Substantial Rise in Q3, 9-Month Net Income

The Bermuda-based Arch Capital Group reported that net income available to common shareholders for the 2009 third quarter was $274.4 million, or $4.39 per share, compared to $26.4 million, or $0.42 per share, for the 2008 third quarter For the …

PartnerRe Rebounds; Posts $566.7 Million Q3 Net; $1.2 Billion 9 Months

Bermuda-based PartnerRe Ltd. reported net income of $566.7 million, or $9.44 per share on a fully diluted basis for the third quarter of 2009. The bulletin said the figure “includes after-tax net realized and unrealized gains on investments of $274.4 …

Chubb Profit Surges on Weak Hurricane Season in Q3

The Chubb Corp. reported that net income in the third quarter of 2009 was $596 million or $1.69 per share, compared to $264 million or $0.73 per share in the third quarter of 2008. Operating income increased 63% to $552 …

Drop in Catastrophe Losses Leads Travelers to Strong Underwriting Gain

Travelers Companies Inc., the No. 1 publicly-traded U.S. property/ casualty insurer, said its quarterly profit more than quadrupled, strongly beating expectations, as a dearth of costly catastrophes left the company with strong underwriting gains. The New York-based insurer raised its …

Analysts Forecast Healthy Q3 Reports from Insurers

If the stock market and weather are any indication, third-quarter earnings reports from insurers will look a lot better than they did a year ago. The big companies, which began their reporting season today with Travelers Cos.’ results, are expected …

State Auto’s Net Income Up, Combined Ratio Down in Q3 2009

Columbus, Ohio-based State Auto Financial Corporation reported third quarter 2009 net income of $13.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, versus a net loss of $14.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. State Auto’s …

Florida’s American Keystone Insurance to Be Liquidated

Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper has granted a request by state insurance officials to place American Keystone Insurance Co. in Ponte Vedra Beach into state receivership to be liquidated. American Keystone (AKIC), a Florida insurer licensed in …

Cat Bond Market Set for Active Fourth Quarter, Reports Guy Carpenter

The catastrophe bond market is poised for an active fourth quarter in 2009, according to a new report. The report by Guy Carpenter & Co., LLC, and GC Securities, a division of MMC Securities Corp. concludes that a number of …