Zurich Fincl 4Q Net Jumps Sharply, Hikes Dividend

Zurich Financial Services AG (ZURN.VX) Thursday said fourth-quarter net profit surged to pre-crisis levels, helped by rising investment gains and higher premium volume, allowing the Swiss insurer to increase its capital base and lift its dividend by 46%.

The Zurich-based life and non-life insurer, which also manages U.S. insurance network Farmers, said net profit for the three months to the end of December rose to $1.05 billion, from $205 million a year earlier, when the bottom line was hurt by asset write-downs worth around $1 billion...

WSJ: Zurich Fincl 4Q Net Jumps Sharply, Hikes Dividend