Insurance Brokers

CNinsure Inc. (Nasdaq: CISG) today announced that Shenzhen Inscom E-commerce Co. Ltd., an affiliated subsidiary of CNinsure, has entered into strategic partnership in e-commerce with China Pacific Property Insurance Co. Ltd.. Pursuant to the agreement, CNinsure and China Pacific will expand their...

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the acquisition of the insurance brokerage operations of Robinson-Adams Insurance, Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This acquisition does not involve the affiliated companies, including automotive-...

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced that permanent regulatory operating permits were issued on August 5, 2011 to the host utility for three of the clean-energy operations owned by Gallagher and its partners. As a result, the production and sale of refined coal at these...

Sterne Agee is out with its report today on Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC), upgrading MMC to Buy from Neutral. In its report, Sterne Agee writes, "We are upgrading the stock to Buy given: 1) significant balance sheet flexibility with meaningful free cash and low debt levels, 2) potential for...

Sterne Agee has upgraded Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC) from Neutral to Buy and has established a $35 price target.

Brown & Brown of Washington, Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), today announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Thompson, Spears & Associates, Ltd., in Bellevue, Washington. Lawrence C. "Larry" Thompson and W. Winn Spears founded Thompson,...

MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA) reported a 33% rise in its second-quarter profit. MasterCard reported its quarterly profit at $608 million, or $4.76 per share, up from $458 million, or $3.49 per share, in the year-earlier period. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $4.22 per share. Its net...

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc (NYSE: MMC) reported a 19% rise in its second-quarter net income. Marsh & McLennan reported its quarterly net income at $282 million, or $0.50 per share, up from $236 million, or $0.43 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its adjusted earnings came in at $...

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the acquisition of Group Benefits of Arkansas, LLC in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Established in 2004, Group Benefits of Arkansas, LLC offers a wide range of employee benefit consultation and brokerage...

J.P. Morgan is out with its report today on National Financial Partners (NYSE: NFP), maintaining Neutral. In its report, J.P. Morgan writes, "While cautious on operating trends, the resumption of deal activity and steady share repurchases should help overall results and lift investor sentiment on...

Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC) unveils its next round of earnings this Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Get prepared with Benzinga's ultimate preview for Marsh & McLennan's second quarter earnings. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are looking ahead to a positive EPS of 48 cents per share and...

Stifel Nicolaus is upgrading shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) to Buy from Hold, and it has a $35 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Stifel Nicolaus writes, "Rapidly shrinking reserve releases (for 17 publicly-traded insurers that have reported 2Q11 results so far,...

BGB is out with its report today on Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE: AJG), maintaining Buy. In a note to clients, BGB writes, "Investors will continue to be intrigued by the company's high dividend and international platform for growth. We maintain our BUY rating on AJG." BGB maintains a $33 PT on AJG...

Stifel Nicolaus has upgraded Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE: AJG) from Hold to Buy and has established a $35 price target.

Aon (NYSE: AON) announces its next round of earnings this Friday, July 29, 2011. Get the latest predictions in Benzinga's essential guide to the company's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are looking ahead to a positive EPS of 82 cents per share and revenues of $2....