Markets

Property and casualty carrier employment was basically flat based on June 2011 data from the U.S. Labor Dept.’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Specialty insurer and reinsurer Catlin says it suffered more than $500 million in catastrophe losses in the first half of the year, and its chief executive says he expects more with the onset of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Berkshire Hathaway says it is unlikely that its combined insurance operations will post an underwriting profit this year as the Warren Buffett-led company reports a $7 million second-quarter underwriting loss.

Insurers and reinsurers will not be impacted by Standard & Poors U.S. sovereign rating downgrade, says the president of the Insurance Information Institute.

Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity Co. has put in a competing bid for Transatlantic Holdings Inc.

A Colorado-chartered workers' compensation insurer will no longer administer the claims of state employees following disagreements with state officials.

The market is beginning to turn, Swiss Re executives say, as the global reinsurer reports that its 2011 second-quarter net income rose to $960 million, compared to $812 million in the 2010 second quarter.

MarketScout says insurance premium rates are in their third month of moderation, indicating that a pricing “correction” is finally going on as some lines of business are showing price increases.