As reserve releases slow, accident-year losses rise, and investment yields weaken, property and casualty insurers may need to reconsider cost reductions in the form of cutting salaries and advertising budgets to improve profitability, according to a Keefe, Bruyette & Woods industry update.

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. says 2011 third-quarter income in its insurance-services segment improved 7 percent on a year-over-year basis, but dropped 26 percent on a quarter-to-quarter basis.

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. says 2011 third-quarter income in its insurance-services segment improved 7 percent on a year-over-year basis, but dropped 26 percent on a quarter-to-quarter basis.

Perceptive Software, creator of the ImageNow document management, imaging and workflow solutions, has partnered with AssureSign, an e-signature provider.

Perceptive Software, creator of the ImageNow document management, imaging and workflow solutions, has partnered with AssureSign, an e-signature provider.

California workers compensation insurers, which have been hurt by increasing underwriting losses over the past three years, should benefit from two bills signed into law recently, and from several bills opposed by the industry that were not signed, according to Moodys.

California workers compensation insurers, which have been hurt by increasing underwriting losses over the past three years, should benefit from two bills signed into law recently, and from several bills opposed by the industry that were not signed, according to Moodys.

Munich Re expects further writedowns on its holdings of Greek sovereign bonds in the third quarter, its chief financial officer said on Monday.