Zurich Insurance Group AG, Switzerlands biggest insurer, surged after saying it will distribute more than $3.5 billion in cash this year and operating profit climbed.
Zurich Insurance Group will cut about 800 jobs globally to save around $250 million per year by the end of 2015 as part of a drive to reduce costs and improve profitability.
Zurich Insurance missed profit expectations in the fourth quarter due to restructuring charges, and said the total cost of an overhaul of its business would be about $600 million - the upper end of its forecast range.