March 2007/1

Catastrophe modelling agency Risk Management Services (RMS) has lowered its industry loss estimate for European Windstorm Kyrill to a range of EUR3-4bn.

Amlin plc opened the Lloyd's 2006 reporting season and set a challenging pace with record pre-tax profits of £342.7mn and a lowly combined ratio of 72 percent...

Hardy Underwriting Group raised the forecasts for its Lloyd's Syndicate 382, closing the 2004-year of account up on predictions despite the four major hurricanes that year.

Independent UK broker Heath Lambert confirmed 2006 turnover of £121mn and pre-tax profits of approximately £17.5mn, as predicted in the February issue of The Insurance Insider.

Benfield Group should post strong 2006 earnings but shareholders will be seeking reassurance in three areas, according to analyst William Hawkins of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW).

The competitive trading conditions for insurance broking overshadowed Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc's (JLT) 2006 results this morning (5 March) where the theme of declining rates and the weak dollar was paramount.