Property & Casualty Insurance

Piper Jaffray is out with its report today on Hallmark Financial (NASDAQ: HALL), maintaining Neutral. In its report, Piper Jaffray writes, "HALL reported a 2Q operating loss of $0.05 per share, below our $0.08 operating EPS estimate and consensus loss per share of $0.04. The shortfall to our...

Today, CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA) announced that it has agreed to the sale of its 50% ownership interest in First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Ltd. to Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., the sole other shareholder in the Hawaiian subsidiary. The sale, which is subject...

Piper Jaffray reiterated its Overweight rating on Assured Guaranty (NYSE: AGO). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $25. On Wednesday, AGO lost 5.34% of its value to end the day at $9.93.

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Hold rating on Harleysville Group (NASDAQ: HGIC). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $34. On Wednesday, HGIC lost 6.72% of its value to finish the day at $27.05.

Shares of Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF) are higher on the session by 1.47%, currently trading at $15.88. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past six months and is currently trading above the 50-day moving average. Options traders are buying puts on the name today. A short...

Deutsche Bank has published a report on Cincinnati Financial (NASDAQ: CINF) upgrading the rating for the company's stock from Sell to Hold and lowering the price target from $24 to $23 following a reduction in share price. In the report, Deutsche Bank wrote, "Shares of Cincinnati Financial fell 11...

Deutsche Bank has upgraded Cincinnati Financial (NASDAQ: CINF) from Sell to Hold and has lowered the price target from $24 to $23.

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Tower Group (NASDAQ: TWGP) Buy rating and $32 price target in a research report published today. In the report, Wunderlich Securities states, "We believe that by exceeding expectations and profitability and conservatively building the top line, TWGP has created...

FPIC Insurance Group (NASDAQ: FPIC) today announced that FPIC and the other named defendants have signed a memorandum of understanding with a purported shareholder of FPIC to settle in principle a putative class action lawsuit, which relates to the proposed merger of FPIC with Fountain Acquisition...

Shares of The Travelers Companies (NYSE: TRV) are higher on the session by 2.66%, trading at $49.87. Overall call volume is now running at 3.62x the daily average, with 91% of all calls traded being purchases on the offer. 5,576 contracts have traded on the session so far. The Travelers...

Green Planet Group, Inc. (OTCBB: GNPG) announced today that its second largest holder of stock is now ACE American Insurance, which is one of the largest insurance companies in the world. ACE Limited, the Swiss-incorporated parent company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is...

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq: AGII) today announced it has reached agreement on a strategic investment in SureTec Financial Corp., the parent of SureTec Insurance Company. The terms of the transaction, which remains subject to regulatory approval and will be concluded through...

Progressive (NYSE: PGR) releases its next round of earnings this Thursday, August 11, 2011. Here's Benzinga's essential guide to Progressive's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are looking ahead to a positive EPS of 35 cents/share and revenues of $3.86 billion....

BGB reiterated its Buy rating on Argo Group International Holdings (NASDAQ: AGII). At the moment, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $38. On Friday, AII closed the day at $29.08.

Wunderlich Securities upgraded its rating on ProAssurance (NYSE: PRA) from Hold to Buy. At the same time, the rating agency raised its price target on the company's stock from $67 to $80. On Friday, PRA added 0.79% to its value to end the day at $70.54.