Property & Casualty Insurance

In response to investor inquiries, National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation, an indirect subsidiary of MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI), today confirmed that it has approximately $224 million of insured exposure to the City of Stockton, California, $89 million of which is backed by the City's general...

National Interstate Corporation (Nasdaq: NATL) announced that on February 24, 2012, its Board of Directors approved a $0.10 per share dividend. The first quarterly cash dividend for 2012 will be payable on March 23, 2012 to shareholders of record of the Company's common stock as of the close of...

The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NAVG) today announced that its principal underwriting agency subsidiary, Navigators Management Company, Inc., has launched a new operating unit, Navigators Specialty, which will focus exclusively on working with U.S. Wholesale Brokers, initially underwriting...

Armstrong World Industries Inc (NYSE: AWI) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $0.30 per share on revenue of $670.3 million. Universal Health Services Inc (NYSE: UHS) is estimated to post its Q4 EPS at $0.90 on revenue of $1.87 billion. Lowe's Companies Inc (NYSE: LOW) is projected to report...

National Interstate Corporation (Nasdaq: NATL) today reported anticipated earnings per share and gross premiums written for the 2011 fourth quarter and full year. The Company's estimated earnings from operations improved significantly in the 2011 fourth quarter contributing to an expected 11% to 13...

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) rose nearly 8% in pre-market trading Thursday despite posting a loss, since the bank beat analyst expectations after Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) posted better-than-expected results Wednesday. Morgan Stanley posted a loss of $275 million, or 15 cents per share, largely due to...

This week will offer a good look at the state of the financial sector as many of the big banks share their fourth-quarter results. JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) broke the ice on Friday, reporting a decline in earnings that was more than analysts had estimated. Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Goldman Sachs (...

Stifel Nicolaus has downgraded the following companies: Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH) from Buy to Hold, $46 PT removed Umpqua Holdings (NASDAQ: UMPQ) from Buy to Hold, $13 PT removed Mercury General Corporation (NYSE: MCY) from Hold to Sell

Finally, it looks like the SEC is going to attempt to act on behalf of investors who were lied to repeatedly in the run-up to the mortgage meltdown. In any event, they are at least attempting to give that impression. On Friday, the SEC announced civil actions against six former top executives at...

Bank of America Merrill Lynch provided color on Morgan Stanley's (NYSE: MS) settlement with MBIA (NYSE: MBI) in a research note published today. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has a Neutral rating and $24 price objective on Morgan Stanley. In the report, Bank of America Merrill Lynch states, "In...

ISI Group provided color on Morgan Stanley's (NYSE: MS) settlement agreement with MBIA (NYSE: MBI) in a research report published today. ISI Group has a Hold rating and $18 price target on Morgan Stanley. In the report, ISI Group states, "Overall, we regard the settlement as a long-term positive...

This is your Benzinga news summary and traders' summary for Wednesday, November 30, 2011, covering headlines from Wednesday's trading session. Today at market close, the Dow Jones Index traded up about 488.92 points or 4.23%, the S&P 500 traded 4.33% higher, the Nasdaq Composite Index traded...

TPC Group (NASDAQ: TPCG) +19.1% along with higher moves in basic materials sector, which moved up 5.7% Patriot Coal Corp (NYSE: PCX) +19.1% as coal and consumer energy moved higher within energy sector MBIA (NYSE: MBI) +18.2% as financial sector moved higher than 5% Shutterfly (NASDAQ: SFLY) -12.4...

Justice Bransten issued a ruling on the MBIA vs. Countrywide litigation, allowing MBIA (NYSE: MBI) to pursue discovery against Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) regarding its potential successor liability vis-à-vis the MBIA-insured Countrywide securitization. View ruling here.

The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NAVG) today announced the retirement of Francis W. McDonnell as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer effective as of October 31, 2011. Ciro DeFalco, the Company's Senior Vice President, Finance, will serve as the Company's interim Chief Financial...