P/C RESULTS WORSEN
The property/casualty insurance industry’s underwriting results worsened in the fourth quarter of 1999, according to a March 23 report by A.M. Best. The rating agency’s preliminary analysis shows that net premiums rose modestly during both the quarter and the year, and that surplus advanced slightly for the year, while its underwriting results deteriorated several points. These weak results impacted the industry’s three segmentsÐpersonal, commercial and reinsuranceÐbut was most pronounced in the reinsurance segment. The industry’s reported combined ratio for the fourth quarter of 1999 rose to 112.1 from 110.3 in the same quarter 1998. This caused the full-year combined ratio to deteriorate more than two points to 107.7.