Property & Casualty Insurance

Wunderlich Securities has published a research report on Aspen Insurance Holdings (NYSE: AHL) after the company elicited some clarity on catastrophes in the South Pacific region. In the report, Wunderlich writes "On March 15, Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. (AHL) provided an update on the recent...

Credit Suisse is reiterating its Outperform rating on Ace Limited (NYSE: ACE) following the announcement of 1Q11 catastrophe losses, “though the announcement of low Japanese quake losses should be a near term positive for the stock.” “While losses for the Australian floods, Cyclone Yasi, New...

First American Financial Corporation (NYSE: FAF) today announced that its board of directors has approved a new stock repurchase plan, which authorizes the repurchase of up to $150 million of the company's common stock. Purchases may be made from time to time by the company in the open market at...

KBW is out with its report today on ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), maintaining Outperform. In a note to clients, KBW writes, "ACE announced preliminary loss estimates for first quarter catastrophes, including Aussie floods, U.S. winter storms, as well as the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes. The total...

Wunderlich Securities is reiterating its $32 PT and Buy rating on shares of Tower Group Inc. (NASDAQ: TWGP). “[We] recently conducted a conference call with the management of Tower Group, Inc. (TWGP),” Wunderlich Securities writes. “Management reiterated the company's strategy of specialization and...

Progress Energy (NYSE: PGR) Florida has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) that final retensioning of tendons within the Crystal River Nuclear Plant reactor building has been temporarily suspended while engineers investigate information...

Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited (NYSE: AHL) today announced an estimate of losses from the 2011 Australian Floods and Cyclone Yasi , and the New Zealand Earthquake of February 21, 2011 and commented on the Tohoku Earthquake. The Company's initial estimate of losses from the 2011 Australian...

In addition to commentary regarding the Japan earthquake, Piper Jaffray's meeting with WR Berkley (NYSE: WRB) management on Friday yielded insight toward expectations for 2011 at the company as well as the industry. Given management commentary backed Piper's investment thesis and outlook on the...

J.P. Morgan has reported on the estimated loss for Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: AWH) from the February 21 earthquake. According to J.P. Morgan, “On Monday March 7, 2011, Allied World (AWH: N) provided its initial net loss estimate for the Christchurch, New Zealand...

In a report published by J.P. Morgan, XL Group's (NYSE: XL) estimates are to be updated for New Zealand losses. J.P. Morgan said that after the market close on Wednesday, XL Group provided its initial pretax loss estimate for the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake in the range of $70-$85 million...

Piper Jaffray has raised the price target on W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) from $33 to $36 and maintains its Overweight rating.

On CNBC's Mad Money, Jim Cramer said during the Lightning Round that Mercury General (NYSE: MCY) is a “terrific company with a great yield.” He added, “I prefer Travelers Companies (NYSE: TRV) but I think that yield is safe." For Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN), he said, "I still think you...

Shares of ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) are higher on the session by 0.48%, trading at $61.34. Overall put volume is now running at 5.11x the daily average, with 61% of all puts traded being purchases on the offer. 1,353 contracts have traded on the session so far. ACE Limited is a holding company of...

Shares of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL) are lower on the session by 3.01%, currently trading at $21.56. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past six months and is currently consolidating between the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Options traders are buying puts on the name today....

In a report published by Wunderlich, Old Republic International's (NYSE: ORI) Buy rating is reiterated. Wunderlich said that, on March 2, Old Republic International Corp. (ORI) announced a $500 million convertible debt offering. “The overallotment option of $50 million was exercised on March 9....