International Business News - SAF http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Safeco Corp. will be removed from the S&P 500 index after the close of trading on Monday, Standard & Poor's said Friday. The company is being acquired by Liberty Mutual Group. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080919/amphenol-pioneer-natural-added-to-s-p-500.htm Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:16:01 EDT Liberty Mutual Group's $6.2 billion purchase of Seattle's Safeco Corp. has been approved by the Washington state insurance commissioner's office. In a statement Thursday, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler noted that Boston-based Liberty Mutual has indicated that Safeco, a property and casualty insurance company, will keep its name, remain headquartered in Seattle and will maintain its civic and charitable giving in the area. He also says the transition should be seamless for policyholders. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080918/wash-insurance-commissioner-oks-safeco-sale.htm Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:36:45 EDT Shares of most property and casualty insurers traded lower on Monday as American International Group Inc. sought to stay in business and investors tallied the cost of Hurricane Ike. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080915/sector-snap-insurers-decline-on-aig-ike.htm Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:21:43 EDT Shares of major insurance companies traded mostly higher Wednesday, as Ambac Financial Group Inc. surged on prospects for its new bond insurance business, and damage estimates linked to Hurricane Gustav narrowed. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080903/sector-snap-insurance-stocks-mostly-higher.htm Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:58:27 EDT Shares of insurance companies mostly rose Tuesday as Wall Street assessed the smaller-than-expected damage of Hurricane Gustav and its resulting impact on the insurance sector. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080902/sector-snap-insurance-stocks-mostly-rise.htm Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:23:07 EDT Among the sector activity stories for Tuesday, July 29, from AP Financial News: NEW YORK (AP)--Most semiconductor companies headed higher Tuesday as the broader market advanced--but Zoran Corp. was a notable exception along with Micron Technology Inc., which added to Monday's losses to hit another multiyear low. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080729/sector-roundup-chips-insurers.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:25:52 EDT Insurance company stocks mostly rose Tuesday, as investors responded to a fairly positive second-quarter report from Safeco Corp. and awaited reports from other insurance companies after the close of regular trading. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080729/sector-snap-insurance-stocks-mostly-rise.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:51:56 EDT Among the earnings stories for Tuesday, July 29, from AP Financial News: LOS ANGELES (AP)--Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. says its second-quarter profit rose 8 percent as sales jumped 10 percent. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080729/earnings-roundup-northrop-grumman-jarden.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:47:14 EDT Safeco Corp.'s profit plunged 20 percent in the second quarter as the insurer collected fewer premium dollars and spent more of the premiums it did collect paying claims, the company said Tuesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080729/safecos-2q-profit-drops-20-percent.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:47:17 EDT Auto insurance rates rose for the second straight quarter, with the sharpest jumps occurring in Indiana, Arkansas and Rhode Island, according to a report released Thursday by Insurance.com. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080717/average-car-insurance-rates-rise-3-4-percent-in-2q.htm Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:14:26 EDT Work could resume on the Wheeling Tunnel soon and highways officials are still confident they'll meet the Nov. 1 deadline for the project's completion. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/work-on-w-va-highway-tunnel-to-resume-soon.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:09:32 EDT Proxy advisory firm ISS Governance Services has recommended that Safeco Corp. shareholders vote in favor of the company's acquisition by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., the insurer said Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080716/iss-recommends-vote-for-safeco-liberty-mutual-deal.htm Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:49:43 EDT Shares of insurers fell Friday along with the broader market amid continuing concern about the financial stability of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080711/closing-glance-insurers-fall.htm Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:19:58 EDT Shares of insurers fell early Friday as the broader market plunged amid fears Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the nation's largest purchasers of mortgages, would need a government bailout. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080711/opening-glance-insurers.htm Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:58:03 EDT Shares of insurers mostly fell Thursday as Moody's Investors Service cut the rating of mortgage insurer MGIC Investment Corp. a day after lowering ratings on PMI Group Inc. and American International Group Inc.'s mortgage insurance subsidiaries. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080710/closing-glance-insurers-drop.htm Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:15:53 EDT Allstate Corp. has been ordered to cut its California homeowner insurance rate by more than 25 percent, a move that will save consumers an estimated $255 million a year, the state insurance commissioner announced Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080710/calif-orders-allstate-to-cut-homeowner-rate.htm Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:19:37 EDT Shares of insurers were mixed early Thursday, a day after Moody's Investors Service cut the financial strength ratings of PMI Group Inc. and American International Group Inc.'s mortgage insurance units amid continued concerns in the lending markets. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080710/opening-glance-insurers-mixed.htm Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:50:59 EDT Shares of insurers mostly fell Wednesday along with the broader market as oil prices rebounded after two consecutive days of declines. Here's a look at how some insurers fared Wednesday: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/closing-glance-insurers.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:16:54 EDT Shares of insurers were mixed early Wednesday as oil prices rose after two days of declines. Here's a look at how some insurers fared early Wednesday: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080709/opening-glance-insurers.htm Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:35:03 EDT Shares of insurers mostly rose Tuesday along with the broader market as oil prices fell and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank might extend its lending efforts to investment banks to help improve liquidity in credit markets. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080708/closing-glance-insurers-rise.htm Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:30:44 EDT