Yesterday, ACE Limited (ACE) announced its first quarter loss estimates related to the recent catastrophes across its geographical footprint. ACE Limited said that the losses are estimated to be approximately $125 million, including reinstatement premiums, for the natural disasters. This includes losses from the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, European windstorm Xynthia, the Madeira floods in Portugal, the Australian hailstorms, U.S. winter storms and other catastrophe events across the globe. Approximately $75 million of this total amount reflects ACE Limited’s loss estimates from the earthquake in Chile and windstorm Xynthia. ACE Limited joins Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH) and AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (AXS), who have earlier this week also announced their estimates of losses from these catastrophes.  Montpelier expects to incur pre-tax net losses of $75 million to $100 million from the earthquake in Chile. Additionally, the company estimates its combined ...

Yesterday, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH) announced its preliminary loss estimates from the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, European Windstorm Xynthia and the Australian hailstorms. Montpelier expects to incur pre-tax net losses of $75 million to $100 million from the earthquake in Chile. Additionally, the company estimates its combined pre-tax net losses from European Windstorm Xynthia and the Australian hailstorms to be less than $10 million. The estimates of Montpelier are net of reinstatement premiums. Earlier this week, AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (AXS) also announced that it expects to incur net losses of $60 million to $125 million for the earthquake. In addition, AXIS Capital’s initial estimate of losses from the European Windstorm Xynthia ranges between $10 million and $20 million. The net loss estimates are provided on a pre-tax basis and net of reinstatement premiums. Montpelier and AXIS Capital joins other reinsurers such as ...

Yesterday, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (MRH) announced its preliminary loss estimates from the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, European Windstorm Xynthia and the Australian hailstorms. Montpelier expects to incur pre-tax net losses of $75 million to $100 million from the earthquake in Chile. Additionally, the company estimates its combined pre-tax net losses from European Windstorm Xynthia and the Australian hailstorms to be less than $10 million. The estimates of Montpelier are net of reinstatement premiums. Earlier this week, AXIS Capital Holdings Limited (AXS) also announced that it expects to incur net losses of $60 million to $125 million for the earthquake. In addition, AXIS Capital’s initial estimate of losses from the European Windstorm Xynthia ranges between $10 million and $20 million. The net loss estimates are provided on a pre-tax basis and net of reinstatement premiums. Montpelier and AXIS Capital joins other reinsurers such as ...

Yesterday, AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. (AXS) provided its preliminary loss estimates from the earthquake in Chile and the European Windstorm Xynthia.   AXIS Capital announced that it expects to incur net losses between $60 million and $125 million for the earthquake. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of the Maule Region of Chile on Feb 27 has left over 497 dead and hundreds missing. Industry insured losses for the earthquake is estimated between $4 billion and $8 billion.  In addition, AXIS Capital’s initial estimate of losses from the European Windstorm Xynthia ranges between $10 million and $20 million. Industry losses for the storm are projected between $2 billion and $4 billion. The net loss estimates are provided on a pre-tax basis and net of reinstatement premiums.  Xynthia, the violent European windstorm, crossed Western Europe on Feb 26 - 28. Several places were flooded ...

AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. (AXS) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.83 per share, well ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31. This was primarily due to higher-than-expected revenue driven by investment income, increased premiums and low catastrophes. The company earned $1.09 per share a year ago.   However, adjusting for net realized investment losses and for its associated tax impact, the company reported a net income of $282 million or $1.87 per share, up from $131 million or 88 cents per share in the prior-year period.   For full year 2009, AXIS Capital reported a net income of $461 million or $3.07 per share, compared with $351 million or $2.26 per share in the prior year.   Gross premiums written were $574 million, up 9% year over year. Net premiums earned increased 8% year over year to $714 million. Results were primarily driven by growth in the Reinsurance ...

PartnerRe Ltd.’s (PRE) second quarter operating income of $3.12 per diluted share substantially topped estimates. Better-than-expected results were mainly attributed to higher revenue, lower expenses and positive return on invested assets, partly offset by the strengthening U.S. dollar. Net income for the quarter came in at $474.3 million or $8.10 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $26.0 million or $0.64 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. Net income for 2Q09 includes net after-tax realized and unrealized gains on investments of $279.6 million or $4.86 per diluted share, compared to net after-tax realized and unrealized losses on investments of $219.1 million, or $4.04 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. Operating income (excluding net after-tax realized and unrealized investment gains/losses), for the quarter was $179.3 million or $3.12 per diluted share, compared to $183.8 million or $3.39 per diluted share recorded in the prior-year ...

On July 7, Max Capital Group Ltd. (MXGL) announced that it had appointed two Senior International Casualty reinsurance underwriters at Lloyd’s Ltd, the Lloyd’s managing agent for Syndicates 1400, 2525 and 2526, to build up its Lloyd’s platform.

Graeme Scott has been appointed as Casualty Treaty Underwriting Manager for Lloyd’s Syndicate 1400. He has over 30 years of experience in casualty underwriting and has most recently served as the Senior International Casualty Treaty Underwriter for ACE Tempest Re in London. Previously, he was Underwriting Manager (Facultative Casualty) with Munich Re UK.

Mr. Scott will be supported by Mr. Stuart Hawes, who has been appointed Treaty Underwriter for Lloyd’s Syndicate 1400. Mr. Hawes has around 14 years of experience in insurance, including nine years in casualty reinsurance underwriting. His latest stint was with ACE Tempest Re, the reinsurance operating unit of the ACE Ltd. (ACE).

Both Scott and

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Last week, I told you that McDonald’s is a great example of a company with strong fundamentals and continued dividend strength. Yesterday, we saw more proof: The company said global same-store sales gained 8.2%. And even as most other restaurants posted weak U.S. results, McDonald’s watched same-store sales gain 5.3% here in the States. That’s great news for anyone holding the shares! Now today, I want to talk about some more companies that are bastions of dividends. And the place where I’m finding them may surprise you … Tech Stocks Keep Jumping to the Top of My Dividend Lists! Remember that table from “Yes, You Can Still Find Solid, Reliable, Fat Dividends?” It showed some of the companies that changed their dividend policies in September. Just in case you ...