SAFECO BOOSTS PREMIUMS

Struggling insurer Safeco will raise premiums in an effort to right itself and its balance sheet after another quarter of disappointing earnings. Safeco reported a profit of $12.2 million or 10 cents a share from its insurance operations for the third quarter, compared with $9.8 million or 7 cents a share in operating profit for the same period last year. Wall Street expectations put operating profits closer to 25 or 30 cents a share. Safeco has been aggressively raising rates and purging books of unprofitable customers, and is expected to increase those efforts over the next few quarters.