NU Online News Service Aug. 30, 3:32 p.m. EDT

U.S. property and casualty reinsurers saw 2010 first-half netpremiums written drop 4 percent compared to last year while theircombined ratio increased to 98.7 from 93.8.

According to the "Reinsurance Underwriting Report, conducted bythe Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), the 19 U.S.reinsurers tracked reported 2010 first-half net written premiums of$12.3 billion, down from $12.8 billion for the same time period in2009.

The RAA said the 98.7 combined ratio is attributable to a 68.9percent loss ratio and an expense ratio of 29.8 percent.

Policyholders' surplus was $99.7 billion, down from $101.3billion at March 31, 2010.

By company, net premiums written were:

o National Indemnity Company--$2.32 billion in 2010 compared to$2.59 billion in 2009.

o Transatlantic/Putnam Reinsurance Company--$1.72 billion in2010 compared to $1.86 billion in 2009.

o Munich Re America--$1.44 billion in 2010 compared to $1.21billion in 2009.

o SCOR--$289 million in 2010 compared to $285.9 million in2009.