INSURERS WELL-POSITIONED TO SHOULDER HURRICANE LOSSES:

Even with the nearly $21 billion of hurricane-related losses expected to be reflected in the third- and fourth-quarter results, the nation’s property/casualty insurers are well-capitalized and safely positioned to recover without much difficulty, according to Weiss Ratings Inc. The industry posted impressive performance numbers during the second quarter of 2004, with a $9.2 billion net underwriting gain, representing a 560 percent jump over the $2.0 billion underwriting loss reported for the same period in 2003.