Commercial Insurance Buyers Benefit From Ampl...( KANSAS CITY Mo. and LONDON Sept. 30 /...)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. and LONDON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In its newly published Lockton Market Update, global insurance broker Lockton says that the markets are in a relative state of calm and insurance buyers are benefitting from generally stable pricing. The online update includes snapshots of more than two dozen markets with the latest trends facing risk managers, chief financial officers and other executives.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090415/CG99351LOGO)

Lockton reports in an overview that U.S. P&C insurers saw results rebound to show a small profit in the first half of the year, after seeing an operating loss in the first quarter. Underwriting losses have declined since last year, but shrinking written premiums continue to pressure results. While underwriters have greater incentive to maintain pricing discipline than during the last several years, competitive pressures have, by and large, not allowed insurers much room to increase rates.

While a number of negative events hit insurers hard during the past year, this has not yet resulted in the broad hardened market that many anticipated. Lockton reports that variation by line and industry continues, and some of the more difficult markets during the past six months may become less volatile. Ample capacity will likely extend the favorable market in most lines for companies that have strong financials and clear loss histories.

Highlights from the report include:

• Financial and Executive Risks -- Chris DiLullo of Lockton Financial Services observes, "The current D&O market environm
  '/>"/>