Company results
Markel boss credits investment returns for 'excellent' nine months
Markel International has chalked up a substantial drop in its combined operating ratio for the opening nine months of 2012 to 86% compared with 119% for the same period last year.
Generali profit up 37.3% for first nine months despite cat losses
Italian insurer Generali posted 37.3% growth in net profit to €1,133m in the first nine months of 2012, driven by progress in production and strong growth in the life operating result.
German joint venture and expansion in Asia help Markel Int return to underwriting profit
Markel International has reported gross written premiums up 4% to $705m for the nine months ended 30 September 2012.
GAB Robins reports profit rise in 2011
GAB Robins' pre-tax profit increased to £2.14m for the full year 2011, from £1.56m in 2010.
RSA hails "unique geographic footprint" after 15% growth in emerging markets
Emerging markets led growth for RSA in the first three quarters of 2012 as challenging conditions continued to affect performance in its core European market.
Novae insurance income to dwarf reinsurance earnings
Novae Group's investment returns grew by £6.5m to £22.1m for the first nine months of 2012, but gross written premiums remained flat at £510.6m (2011: £516.4m).
RSA 'well positioned' for economic woes, analysts say
Analysts have responded positively to RSA's results for the nine months to 30 September 2012, but warned that a series of storms like Sandy could affect its "attractive" dividend yield.
RSA UK premiums flat as international business grows
RSA is on target to deliver a combined operating ratio of around 96% and £500m investment income for the 2012 full year after reporting a 4% jump in net written premiums to £6.2bn for the nine months to 30 September 2012.
US sale talks continue, says Aviva chairman
John McFarlane has confirmed that discussions over the sale of the firm's US life and annuities business are on-going.
Aviva reveals 97% COR in steady results
Aviva's general insurance business delivered a combined operating ratio of 97% in the first nine months of 2012, in line with the previous year, excluding RAC.
Motor insurance market reviews plans ahead of legislation and slowdown
Direct Line Group is primed to "execute a range of strategies" depending on how changes to the legal landscape play out next spring, according to the insurer's chief executive Paul Geddes.
Post magazine - 8 November 2012
The latest issue of Post is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Ageas to build broker brands as Groupama name phased out in UK
The Groupama Insurances brand is to be phased out of the UK marketplace following completion of the insurer's sale to Ageas UK.
Munich Re expects "mid three-digit million euro" Sandy hit
Munich Re expects its share of the losses from superstorm Sandy to be in the "mid three-digit million" euro range, based on primary estimates, but remains optimistic of achieving a €3bn profit for the 2012 financial year.
Munich Re: Sandy to drive up property insurance prices
Munich Re's reinsurance operation produced a Q3 operating result of €1.2bn (Q3 2011: €665m) and premium income of €7.5bn (Q3 2011: €6.5bn).
Munich Re estimates Sandy losses close to £400m
Munich Re has estimated its share of the losses from superstorm Sandy at the "mid three-digit million" euro range, despite the high number of individual losses making it difficult to assess the extent of the damage.
Groupama takeover to add extra boost to 'record' Ageas profits
Ageas chief executive Barry Smith is confident that the addition of Groupama insurance activities will add further clout to performance, following nine months in which the firm's profit before tax and minority interests rose by 36.4%.
Top five European news stories
The top five news stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
XL results 'a step in the right direction'
XL has published promising third-quarter results, but CEO Mike McGavick has admitted that the fallout from superstorm Sandy is still unknown.
Helphire engaging with DLG and RSA on Autofocus evidence
Helphire has indicated that a number of insurers are keen to reach settlements with the firm over the use of "dishonest" Autofocus evidence as the company reaches a deal with RSA and Direct Line Group on access to information on the rate surveyor.
Hiscox attributes £1.2bn GWP to errors and omissions rate rises
Hiscox has reported gross written premium of £1244.4m for the nine months to 30 September 2012, a 6.4% increase on £1169.5m for the same period in 2011.
Admiral slows rate of growth as Q3 turnover takes a slight dip
Admiral released its interim management statement this morning covering the past four months in which third-quarter figures showed a 5% reduction in UK car insurance turnover.
DLG Q3 combined ratio improves to 96.9%
Direct Line Group has reported a 4% slide in operating profit from ongoing operations for the third quarter 2012 of £123.7m compared with the same period in 2011.
Allianz raises profit expectations for 2012
Allianz has raised its 2012 full-year operating profit expectations to over €9bn, assuming a normal business development during the rest of the year.