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	<title>Stock Blog Hub &#187; LNC</title>
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		<title>(PFG) Principal Financial Group Guides &#8211; Approves Buyback</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/08/pfg-principal-financial-group-guides-approves-buyback/87903</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/08/pfg-principal-financial-group-guides-approves-buyback/87903#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:02:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asset Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=87903</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) guides its 2012 operating earnings in a band of $3.05–$3.25 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2012 is $3.17, toward the high end of the company&#8217;s guidance. The company also expects an average S&#38;P 500 Index of 1,275 in 2012, driving an 8%–10% year-over-year increase in average assets under management in 2012. It still expects operating losses of $120 to $130 million at the Corporate segment in 2012. Also, the company estimates operating earnings to plunge by $35–45 million due to implementation of new deferred acquisition costs from January 1, 2012. The guidance includes about $800 to $900 million of total capital utilized in dividend payments, strategic acquisitions and share buybacks. Principal Financial estimates weighted average number of common shares outstanding at around 300–305 ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Corporation Increases Dividend by 60%</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-increases-dividend-by-60/86925</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-increases-dividend-by-60/86925#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:47:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amerisafe Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMSF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86925</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Despite basking in a modest third quarter, yesterday, the board of Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) has announced a significant 60% increase in its quarterly dividend to 8 cents per share from the previous pay out of 5 cents. The hiked dividend will be paid on February 1, 2012 to shareholders of record as on January 10, 2012. This marks the second dividend hike since 2007. In November last year, Lincoln had raised its quarterly dividend from 1 cent to 5 cents per share. The company’s restructuring initiatives taken up last year have paid off well. The current hike also reflects Lincoln’s capital and liquidity strength. With a quarterly operating return on equity (ROE) of 13.4% at the end of third quarter 2011, up from 9.4% at the end of the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/12/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-increases-dividend-by-60/86925/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PFG) Principal Financial Group to Take Over Origin</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/11/pfg-principal-financial-group-to-take-over-origin/78696</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/11/pfg-principal-financial-group-to-take-over-origin/78696#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:34:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asset Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78696</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, Principal Global Investors, LLC, a unit of Principal Financial Group (PFG), announced that it would purchase a 74% stake in London-based Origin Asset Management, LLP. The acquisition of Origin would strengthen Principal’s global equity capability, broaden its product suite, as well as enhance its investment potential in emerging markets and in global small and mid-cap companies that seek high quality investments. Moreover, the company would also benefit from Origin’s strong reputation and distinct investment expertise. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011 and is likely to be non-accretive to 2011 earnings per share (EPS). However, it would start  reflecting its synergy in 2012 EPS. The Origin transaction, valued at $66 million, will be the third in the series ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/11/pfg-principal-financial-group-to-take-over-origin/78696/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Rating Action</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/24/lnc-lincoln-national-rating-action/77338</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/24/lnc-lincoln-national-rating-action/77338#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:34:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moody's Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) experienced ratings actions on its freshly issued senior unsecured notes from both Moody’s Investors Service of Moody’s Corp. (MCO) and A.M. Best. Accordingly, Moody’s has denoted these notes with a “Baa2” rating, while also promoted Lincoln’s debt outlook to positive from stable. In May last year, the rating agency had revised its outlook on Lincoln and its operating subsidiaries to stable from negative. On the other hand, A.M. Best revealed that it has put an “a-” rating on Lincoln’s long-term unsecured senior notes worth $300 million, which carry interest of 4.85% and are scheduled to expire on June 24, 2021. The outlook for this debt rating is assigned as stable. Meanwhile, A.M. best also reaffirmed all the debt ratings of Lincoln and its subsidiaries. In November ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PFG) Principal Financial Group Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/19/pfg-principal-financial-group-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/76699</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/19/pfg-principal-financial-group-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/76699#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:28:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asset Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76699</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) continues to post solid growth in assets under management. Also, the company continues to effectively deploy $700 million of capital.  Moreover, Principal Financial scores strongly with the credit rating agency. However, volatility in the financial markets and Principal’s investment portfolio exposure to commercial real estate are partial offsets to the positives. Thus we remain Neutral on the company. Principal posted 12% growth in assets under management in the first quarter, driven by improved results at three asset management and asset accumulation segments. The company is positioned to continue delivering solid operating results on the back of its extensive distribution footprint, best-in-class solutions and operational discipline. As a part of deploying $700 million capital, Principal acquired the majority shares in Finisterre Capital LLP, and Finisterre Holdings ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/19/pfg-principal-financial-group-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/76699/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(RAA) Insurance Industry Stock Update &#8211; May 2011 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/05/raa-insurance-industry-stock-update-may-2011-industry-outlook/73446</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/05/raa-insurance-industry-stock-update-may-2011-industry-outlook/73446#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2011 01:12:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Closed-End Fund - Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AGII]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Safety Insurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Argo Group International Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ASI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BlackRock California Investment Quality Municipal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNA Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Delphi Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FBL Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ING Groep NV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old Republic International Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ORI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PUK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RLI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RLI Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=73446</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After enduring stress with respect to pricing pressure and reduced insured exposure through mid-2009, the overall health of the U.S. insurance industry has improved to some extent in recent quarters. Though the market turmoil forced many companies to take immense write-downs, the worst of the crisis appears to be now behind us. However, long-lasting soft market conditions, shrinking businesses, a still-high unemployment rate and legislative challenges are threatening insurers’ ability to rebound to the historical growth rate. The industry continues to be challenged by subdued pricing and premium volume growth in a perked up economy as well as a massive health care restructuring. Though there are signs of economic recovery, its sluggish pace is expected to continue at least through 2011. Also, structural economies of scale have pushed the industry ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/05/raa-insurance-industry-stock-update-may-2011-industry-outlook/73446/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HIG) Hartford Financial Services Group Beats The Street</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-beats-the-street/73156</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-beats-the-street/73156#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 04:33:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SRS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UltraShort Real Estate ProShares]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=73156</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) reported its first-quarter adjusted core earnings of $494.0 million or 97 cents per share, modestly beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents. Additionally, Hartford was way behind the adjusted core earnings of $408 million or 86 cents per share reported in the first quarter of 2010. Hartford’s adjusted core earnings in the first quarter 2011 exclude the DAC unlock benefit of $61 million or 12 cents a share and a benefit from net prior-year reserve development in property and casualty (P&#38;C) segment of $33 million or 7 cents a share. The prior-year quarter excluded the DAC unlock benefit of $79 million or 18 cents a share, a benefit from net prior-year reserve development of $57 million or 13 cents a share and a ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-beats-the-street/73156/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PFG) Principal Financial Beats Top Line Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/pfg-principal-financial-beats-top-line-estimates/73008</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/pfg-principal-financial-beats-top-line-estimates/73008#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 18:28:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asset Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=73008</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Principal Financial’s (PFG) first quarter operating earnings of 71 cents per share modestly surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Results were ahead of 69 cents earned in the prior-year quarter. Operating earnings were $231.8 million, up by 5% from $203.9 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Principal Financial delivered a strong quarter on the heels of double-digit earnings growth from Principal Global Investors, Principal Funds, Individual Annuities and U.S. Insurance Solutions. Including net realized capital losses of $53.6 million or 16 cents per share and other after tax adjustments of $17.1 million or 5 cents per share, net income available to common stockholders was $196.3 million or 60 cents per share compared with $190.8 million or 59 cents a year ago. The prior-year quarter included net realized ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/03/pfg-principal-financial-beats-top-line-estimates/73008/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNM) Unum Group Analyst Reiterates Shares at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/14/unm-unum-group-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/71573</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/14/unm-unum-group-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/71573#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:25:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71573</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Owing to unemployment and sluggish economic recovery that are expected to delay new business accrual and exert pressure on premium growth coupled with low interest rates that are expected to impact investment income and reserving practices, we reiterate out Neutral recommendation on Unum Group (UNM). Unum’s fourth quarter earnings lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate due to soft performance at Unum UK and Colonial Life. Unum&#8217;s U.S. segment, which accounts for a major portion of the company’s premium income, recession unfavorably affected premium growth in 2009. During the most recent quarter premium income witnessed a decline though modest. Due to the slow economic recovery and continued pricing discipline, we expect only a slight increase in enrollments which will restrict the premium growth. Also, at Colonial Life, we expect a moderate premium ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/14/unm-unum-group-analyst-reiterates-shares-at-neutral/71573/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PFG) Principal Financial Group Expands in Mexico</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/12/pfg-principal-expands-in-mexico/71265</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/12/pfg-principal-expands-in-mexico/71265#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:36:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asset Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=71265</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Principal Financial Group, S.A. de C.V., has agreed to acquire HSBC AFORE, S.A. de C.V. (HAFO) from Grupo Financiero HSBC, S.A. de C.V., as announced by The Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG). HSBC Afore, SA de C.V., is the pension funds management business of Grupo Financiero HSBC, SA de C.V. The purchase consideration is approximately $198 million. The acquisition is expected to close by early third-quarter 2011, pending regulatory approval. Also, the acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share as well as return on equity. Once approved, the new entity will be called Principal AFORE resulting from the merger of HSBC AFORE with the Mexican pension fund business of Principal. Also, it will become the country’s sixth largest in assets under management with more than 7% ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/12/pfg-principal-expands-in-mexico/71265/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HIG) Hartford Financial Services Group Earnings Miss &#8211; Company Doubles Dividend</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-miss-company-doubles-dividend/66304</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-miss-company-doubles-dividend/66304#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:25:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SRS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UltraShort Real Estate ProShares]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66304</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) reported its fourth-quarter adjusted core earnings of $451.0 million or 91 cents per share, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 96 cents. Additionally, Hartford was way behind the adjusted core earnings of $527 million or $1.12 per share reported in the fourth quarter 2009. The results were adversely impacted by the drop in profits in both the commercial and consumer sides of the property and casualty insurance business, impacted by catastrophe losses and more positive releases of reserves in prior periods, as well as lower capital gains. Hartford’s adjusted core earnings in the fourth quarter 2010 exclude the DAC unlock benefit of $48 million or 10 cents a share and a benefit from net prior-year reserve development in property and casualty (P&#38;C) Commercial, Consumer ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Fourth Quarter Earnings Lag Forecast on Higher Charges</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/07/lnc-lincoln-national-fourth-quarter-earnings-lag-forecast-on-higher-charges/66360</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/07/lnc-lincoln-national-fourth-quarter-earnings-lag-forecast-on-higher-charges/66360#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:11:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danaos Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genworth Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unilever plc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66360</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation’s (LNC) fourth quarter operating earnings per share of 82 cents came in way behind the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents and 90 cents recorded in the prior-year quarter. Results were primarily impacted by a charge of $41 million or 13 cents per share arising from litigation and settlement expenses. However, favorable investment income results and other items mitigated this decline by $9.0 million or 3 cents per share. Consequently, operating income decreased 10.4% year over year to $265.5 million. Conversely, net income available to common shareholders was $195.6 million or 60 cents per share compared with $84.1 million or 27 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. GAAP net income for the reported quarter also came in at $195.6 million, though up from $102.3 million in ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/07/lnc-lincoln-national-fourth-quarter-earnings-lag-forecast-on-higher-charges/66360/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(AIG) Will American International Group Sell Its Blackstone Stake?</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/01/03/aig-will-american-international-group-sell-its-blackstone-stake/64405</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/01/03/aig-will-american-international-group-sell-its-blackstone-stake/64405#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:22:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Blackstone Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=64405</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In an attempt to repay the government bailout, American International Group Inc. (AIG) is planning to dispose its $510 million stake in The Blackstone Group (BX). According to the SEC filing, AIG had acquired 7% stake in Blackstone by investing $150 million in July 1998. In addition, during the initial public offering of June 2007, AIG was supposed to receive 48.8 million partnership units, being one of the Blackstone’s owners at the time. The partnership units are exchangeable for common shares on a one-for-one basis. During November 2010, AIG planned to exchange 10 million of its partnership units for an equal number of shares, i.e. 10 million shares on December 15, according to the SEC filing. The company sold them for a total amount of $134.1 million. Further, on December ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIG) American International Group Implements Recapitalization Plan</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/09/aig-aig-implements-recapitalization-plan-analyst-blog/61791</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/09/aig-aig-implements-recapitalization-plan-analyst-blog/61791#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:25:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=61791</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After much mulling over the past several weeks, yesterday American International Group Inc. (AIG) gave its thumbs up to execute the recapitalization plan for exiting the US taxpayers loan curriculum, as per the regulatory filing agreed and signed by the two parties. The US federal government has planned to sell about 20% of its stake or about 15 billion shares in AIG by the first quarter of 2011 under the recapitalization program. Finally, AIG agreed to execute the recapitalization program, charted out by the US Federal Reserve in late September, since the company has yet to pay a huge chunk of the $182.5 billion government bailout loan taken in September 2008. Evaluation on this exorbitant debt also came from the credit rating agency, A.M. Best, who affirmed its issuer credit ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/09/aig-aig-implements-recapitalization-plan-analyst-blog/61791/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIG) American International Group Postpones Equity Unit Offering</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/25/aig-american-international-group-postpones-equity-unit-offering/59981</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/25/aig-american-international-group-postpones-equity-unit-offering/59981#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:50:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citigroup Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deutsche Bank AG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=59981</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Briskly moving ahead with its recapitalization program, on Wednesday, American International Group Inc. (AIG) announced a further extension of 74.48 million of its equity units exchange offering to November 23. With the commencement of the exchange on October 8, AIG had scheduled the expiry of the exchange offering to be on November 10, but on this day it was postponed to November 17, marking the current extension as the second one in line. On October 8, AIG offered 74.48 million of its equity units, wherein every equity unit consists of a corporate unit worth 0.09867 shares of AIG common stock and $3.27 in cash, representing about 95% of the outstanding corporate units. However, the company has been able to tender only about 42.6 million of the corporate units until Wednesday, ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Investors Get Early Christmas</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/14/lnc-lincoln-national-investors-get-early-christmas/59206</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/14/lnc-lincoln-national-investors-get-early-christmas/59206#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:54:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amerisafe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMSF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moody's Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=59206</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After successfully reconstructing its debt, Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) made yesterday eventful by outlining a number of ways to return wealth to shareholders, which includes a dividend hike, resumption of share repurchase program and redemption of preferred securities. The board of Lincoln has announced a significantly increased its quarterly dividend of 5 cents per share from the previous pay-out of one cent per share. The hiked dividend will be paid on February 1, 2011 to shareholders of record as on January 10, 2011. This marks the first dividend hike since 2007. Lincoln has announced its objective of buying back common equity shares worth approximately $125 million over the following 15 months. Besides, the company also aims to redeem all of its outstanding 6.75% Series F Trust preferred securities worth $150 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/14/lnc-lincoln-national-investors-get-early-christmas/59206/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HIG) Hartford Financial Services Group Earnings Exceed &#8211; Guidance Increased</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-exceed-guidance-increased/57965</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/07/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-exceed-guidance-increased/57965#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:28:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=57965</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) reported its third-quarter adjusted earnings of $485.0 million or 98 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 97 cents. The improved showing was attributable to solid execution Incorporatedluding disciplined underwriting performance, and improved investment results. The upside was also attributable to strong growth in assets under management and Hartford’s impressive book value during the quarter. Hartford’s adjusted earnings exclude the DAC unlock benefit of $166 million or 34 cents, benefit from net prior-year reserve development in property and casualty (P&#38;C) Commercial and Consumer markets of $99 million or 19 cents, charge of $40 million or 8 cents, to increase reserves as a result of the Hartford&#8217;s annual environmental reserve evaluation Incorporatedluded in the Corporate and Other segment, and net realized capital losses, ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(AIG) American International Group on Path to Exit TARP</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/10/03/aig-american-international-group-on-path-to-exit-tarp/53719</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/10/03/aig-american-international-group-on-path-to-exit-tarp/53719#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:08:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=53719</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After numerous mind-wrecking sessions over a fortnight, on Thursday, American International Group Inc. (AIG) and the U.S. Federal Reserve have finally charted out a scheme to free the company from the exorbitant debt that AIG had take under the Troubled Asset Repurchase Program (TARP). Evaluation also came in from the credit rating agency, A.M. Best, who affirmed its issuer credit rating of “bbb” on AIG, reflecting a negative outlook. According to the proposed plan, the U.S. Federal Reserve has agreed to divert AIG’s TARP loan obligations towards the U.S. Treasury. In turn, the Treasury will convert $49.1 billion of preferred shares held with the government to about 1.7 billion shares of AIG’s common stock, at a discount to Wednesday’s closing price of $37.45. However, the Treasury is still expected to ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National and Hartford Financial Services Group Warrants on Sale</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/08/lnc-lincoln-national-and-hartford-financial-services-group-warrants-on-sale/50848</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/09/08/lnc-lincoln-national-and-hartford-financial-services-group-warrants-on-sale/50848#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:46:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deutsche Bank AG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=50848</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As part of the bailout funds repayment by the insurers through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the US Treasury Department plans to conduct auctions to dispose of its remaining warrants held in Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) and Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG). During the recession of 2009, the US Treasury provided financial aid to many banks and financial institutions and received warrants in exchange. A warrant gives the purchaser the right to buy common stock at a fixed price or sometimes at steep discounts. For companies that have repaid their TARP, the Treasury is now providing an option to buy back the warrants at a negotiated price. The Treasury plans to sell 52.09 million Hartford warrants and 13.05 million Lincoln warrants in the auction. The Hartford warrants come ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIG) Insurance Industry Stock Update &#8211; August 2010 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/03/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-august-2010-industry-outlook/46303</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/03/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-august-2010-industry-outlook/46303#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:40:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employers Holdings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[StanCorp Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitrin Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UTR]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=46303</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After enduring stress with respect to pricing pressure and reduced insured exposure through mid-2009, the overall health of the U.S. insurance industry has improved to a great extent in 2010. Though the market turmoil forced many companies to take immense write-downs, the worst of the crisis appears to be now behind us. The soft market conditions, along with legislative changes, remain the chief causes for concern for the overall industry at this point. The industry continues to be challenged by the regulatory uncertainties and massive health care restructuring. Though there are signs of economic recovery, its sluggish pace is expected to continue at least through the remainder of 2010. Also, structural economies of scale have pushed the industry toward consolidation. While enormous financial support from the government helped rescue American ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/03/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-august-2010-industry-outlook/46303/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Corporation Earns A.M. Best Ratings</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/28/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-earns-a-m-best-ratings/41750</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/28/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-earns-a-m-best-ratings/41750#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:26:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=41750</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On June 22, A.M. Best Co. allotted a debt rating of “a-&#8221; to the senior unsecured notes of Lincoln National Corporation (LNC), keeping the outlook stable. In conjunction with assigning ratings, A.M. Best changed Lincoln’s outlook to stable from negative, reiterating the financial strength rating (FSR), issuer credit rating (ICR) and long term debt ratings. The stable outlook reflected that Lincoln has managed to maintain a solid liquidity position besides improving its operating cash flows and capital, and reducing its investment risk and reliance on short-term funding. The company has also raised significant capital in the past year, refinanced its bank credit facility and fulfilled the reserves funding requirements. However, Lincoln faces ongoing risks related to variable annuities and exposure to commercial mortgages and unrealized loss positions within certain asset ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/28/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-earns-a-m-best-ratings/41750/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Raises Money Through Offering to Exit TARP</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/15/lnc-lincoln-national-raises-money-through-offering-to-exit-tarp/40545</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/15/lnc-lincoln-national-raises-money-through-offering-to-exit-tarp/40545#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:02:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Suisse Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wells Fargo & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WFC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=40545</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In an attempt to repay its $950 million government bailout fund, Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) announced its intention to raise money through equity and debt offering. As a result, on Monday, the company publicly offered its common stock of about 12.3 million at a purchase price of $27.25 per share. The company expects to raise approximately $335 million from the offer. While this equity stock offering is projected to be closed by June 18, 2010, Lincoln has offered its underwriters a 30-day optional purchase of an additional 15% or 1.8 million shares. Taking its Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) repayment a step further, Lincoln has planned to raise an additional $750 million through a senior note offering. The company aims to utilize $250 million of these note offering proceeds, along ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Completes $2 Billion Credit Line</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/14/lnc-lincoln-national-completes-2-billion-credit-line/40426</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/06/14/lnc-lincoln-national-completes-2-billion-credit-line/40426#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moody's Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wells Fargo & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WFC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=40426</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Expanding its debt restructuring initiatives, on Thursday, Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) announced the closure of its bank credit facility worth $2 billion. This includes a 4-year credit agreement of $1.5 billion and a 364-day credit agreement of $500 million. While the new bank credit facility became effective from Jun 9, 2010, the company replaced the total credit line with the existing credit agreements that began in 2006 and dated to mature in the first quarter of 2011. Accordingly, the 4-year agreement authorizes to issue letters of credit (LOC) and borrowings to finance any withdrawals under the LOC of up to $1.5 billion. However, this unsecured agreement is expected to be utilized mainly to provide LOC to support any life insurance reserves. Lincoln will incur annual fee charges of 1.375% on ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(UNM) Unum Group Announces Share Repurchase</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/24/unm-unum-group-announces-share-repurchase/38235</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/24/unm-unum-group-announces-share-repurchase/38235#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 03:56:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UNM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unum Group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=38235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a part of its incessant effort to enhance value for it shareholders, the board of directors of Unum Group (UNM) announced a share repurchase authorization and an increase in the quarterly dividend on May 20, 2010. According to the new authorization, Unum will repurchase up to $500 million of its outstanding shares of common stock over the next 12 months in either open market or privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and regulatory considerations. Unum had bought back common stock worth $700 million in 2008. Furthermore, the board also announced a 12.1% increase in its quarterly common stock dividend. Unum will now pay a quarterly dividend of 9.25 cents per share, up from 8.25 cents paid on February 19, 2010. The increased dividend is expected to be paid ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/24/unm-unum-group-announces-share-repurchase/38235/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Corporation Plans to Repay TARP</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/13/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-plans-to-repay-tarp/37115</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/13/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-plans-to-repay-tarp/37115#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 May 2010 20:35:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=37115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) is gearing up to repay the bailout money. Dennis Glass, the company’s President and CEO, said at an investor presentation yesterday that this acceleration follows a successful alignment with internal guidelines. Lincoln issued $950 million of preferred stock and a common stock warrant through the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in the third quarter of 2009. Initially, the company expected to repay the TARP money in the second half of 2010 or in the first half of 2011 after strengthening its reserves level. However, according to Lincoln, with an improvement in the economy and capital markets since the beginning of the year coupled with the strength in its business model and capital position, the company is preponing its repayment of the TARP money prior ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/13/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-plans-to-repay-tarp/37115/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIG) Insurance Industry Stock Update &#8211; May 2010 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/04/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-may-2010-industry-outlook/36024</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/04/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-may-2010-industry-outlook/36024#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 21:07:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ACAP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFSI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Physicians Capital Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amerisafe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMSF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amtrust Financial Services Inc (NY)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China Life Insurance Company Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genworth Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GNW]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hallmark Financial Services Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harleysville Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HGIC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INDM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IPCC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LTD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nymagic Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United America Indemnity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zenith National Insurance Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ZNT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=36024</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The turmoil in the financial markets created a highly challenging environment for the U.S. insurance industry, forcing many companies to take immense write-downs. In 2010, the overall situation has improved to a great extent and the worst of the crisis appears to be now behind us. However, the soft market conditions along with legislative changes remain a chief cause for concern for the overall industry at this point. Though there are signs of economic recovery, the trend of sluggish pace is expected to continue at least through the remainder of 2010. Also, structural economies of scale have pushed the industry toward consolidation. While enormous financial support from the government helped rescue AIG (AIG) from collapse, many other firms remained under tremendous pressure or have fallen by the wayside. Competition within ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/05/04/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-may-2010-industry-outlook/36024/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Analyst Initiates Coverage at Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/12/lnc-lincoln-national-analyst-initiates-coverage-at-neutral/33489</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/12/lnc-lincoln-national-analyst-initiates-coverage-at-neutral/33489#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:04:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moody's Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=33489</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have recently initiated coverage on Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) with a Neutral recommendation. The company’s fourth quarter earnings were substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate due to increased operating income across revenue segments. Lincoln National achieved expanded distribution relationships, strong top- and bottom-line growth and net inflows, thereby surviving a challenging operating environment. However, the near term outlook remains cautious given the poor ratings and the volatile economic conditions that restricted desired growth. Lincoln National is focused on product development to increase its competitive position in small to mid corporate markets and to capitalize on the opportunities provided by the new regulatory changes that came into effect in 2009. As a result of these changes in its business profile, the company’s consolidated deposits and ending account balances propped ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/12/lnc-lincoln-national-analyst-initiates-coverage-at-neutral/33489/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MFC) Manulife Financial Corporation Expands in China</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/08/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-expands-in-china/30068</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/08/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-expands-in-china/30068#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:40:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=30068</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) is continuously growing its operations in China. Recently, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has approved Manulife-Sinochem, Manulife&#8217;s joint venture company, to operate in Linyi and Yancheng. Manulife-Sinochem is now licensed in 41 cities of China. Manulife-Sinochem is a joint venture company between Manulife (International) Limited (51%) and China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust &#38; Investment Company, a member of the Sinochem group (49%). Manulife-Sinochem began operations in Nov 1996 and was the first Chinese-foreign joint-venture life insurance company established in China. The company currently serves over 500,000 customers across China through approximately 11,000 professionally-trained staff and agents. The insurance market in China is attractive for its growth potential. As a result, investors are eyeing this market. Linyi, the largest city in Shandong, has a population ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/08/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-expands-in-china/30068/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Corporation Betters Expectations</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/12/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-betters-expectations/27755</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/12/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-betters-expectations/27755#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:36:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=27755</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Life insurance and annuity company Lincoln National Corp.’s (LNC) fourth quarter earnings of 90 cents per share were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 cents. Last year, the company reported a loss of 50 cents. Results reflected growth in average variable account values and included favorable returns on alternative investments helped by rallying equity and bond markets. GAAP net income for the quarter came in at $102 million, or 27 cents a share. This compares with a net loss of $506 million or $1.98 a share in the same period a year earlier. Total revenue increased to $2.4 billion from $2.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008. For full year, the company earned $3.18 per share, compared to $3.00 in the last year. Revenues decreased 7.9% year-over-year ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/12/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-betters-expectations/27755/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIG) Insurance Industry Stock Update &#8211; February 2010 &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/08/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-february-2010-industry-outlook/27383</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/08/aig-insurance-industry-stock-update-february-2010-industry-outlook/27383#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:20:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AHL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AWH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AXA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conseco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EMC Insurance Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EMCI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Enstar Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESGR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Everest Re Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FBL Financial Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GLRE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greenlight Capital Re Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IPCC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Max Capital Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mercer Insurance Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MIGP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MXGL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phoenix Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PNX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PUK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RenaissanceRe Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RNR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unitrin Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Universal American Corp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UTR]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=27383</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The turmoil in the financial markets has created a highly challenging environment for the U.S. insurance industry, forcing many companies to take immense write-downs. This trend is expected to continue at least through the first half of 2010, though there are some early signs of an economic recovery. Also, structural economies of scale have pushed the industry toward consolidation. While enormous financial support from the government rescued AIG (AIG) from collapse, many other firms remain under tremendous pressure or have fallen by the wayside. Competition within the segments of the industry has reduced, which is consolidating through mergers and acquisitions. This has increased the market shares of the largest firms. We expect static growth with persistent soft market conditions and an ongoing market crisis, resulting in further consolidation in the ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MFC) Manulife Financial Corporation’s Ratings Lowered by Standard &amp; Poor&#8217;s Ratings Services</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/06/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation%e2%80%99s-ratings-lowered-by-standard-poors-ratings-services/24249</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/06/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation%e2%80%99s-ratings-lowered-by-standard-poors-ratings-services/24249#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:26:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=24249</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation’s (MFC) long-term counterparty credit ratings were lowered by Standard &#38; Poor&#8217;s Ratings Services to &#8216;A+&#8217; from &#8216;AA-&#8217;. The outlook assigned is negative. The company has also been removed from the CreditWatch listing. The rating action reflects the rating agency’s concern that the recent reorganization of its U.S. subsidiary would reduce its cash flow diversification. Manulife has completed its subsidiary reorganization on Dec. 31, 2009, following which its U.S. insurance unit became an indirect subsidiary of Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (MLI). According to the rating agency, though the reorganization may result in increased in capital and operational efficiencies, the reduced diversification may result in reduced cash flows at times of severe stress events. The negative outlook additionally reflects Manulife’s sensitivity to the equity markets and declining interest rates, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/01/06/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation%e2%80%99s-ratings-lowered-by-standard-poors-ratings-services/24249/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>($AIG) Insurance Industry &#8211; Industry Outlook</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/07/aig-insurance-industry-industry-outlook/22137</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/07/aig-insurance-industry-industry-outlook/22137#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:40:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFLAC Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amerisafe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMSF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INDM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nymagic Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PMI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PMI Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United America Indemnity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=22137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The turmoil in the financial markets has created a highly challenging environment for the U.S. insurance industry, forcing many companies to take immense write-downs. This trend is expected to continue at least through the first half of 2010, though there are some early signs of an economic recovery. Also, structural economies of scale have pushed the industry toward consolidation. While enormous financial support from the government rescued AIG (AIG) from collapsing, many other firms remain under tremendous pressure or have not been able to survive. Competition within the segments of the industry has reduced as a result of rising mergers and acquisitions. This has increased the market shares of the largest firms. We expect growth to be stuck with persistent soft market conditions and an ongoing market crisis, resulting in ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/07/aig-insurance-industry-industry-outlook/22137/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MFC) Manulife Financial Corporation Gets Moody&#8217;s Upgrade</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/04/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-gets-moodys-upgrade/22031</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/04/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-gets-moodys-upgrade/22031#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:33:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moody's Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=22031</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation’s (MFC) ratings outlook has been upgraded to “stable&#8221; from “negative&#8221; by Moody&#8217;s Investors Service (MCO) following Manulife’s capital raise of C$2.5 billion (US$2.37 billion) through stock offering. Moody’s has affirmed its ratings of “Aa3&#8243;. According to the rating agency, Manulife’s insurance subsidiaries – Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. and John Hancock Life Insurance Co. – are capable of generating solid levels of income under normal market conditions. However, earnings of these companies are greatly correlated to market declines as a result of their significant exposure to variable annuities which are not hedged. Nevertheless, Manulife has begun hedging its newly written variable annuity guarantees in the U.S. last year and in Canada this year and intends to do so in Japan by this year end. Manulife has implemented several ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/04/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-gets-moodys-upgrade/22031/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln National Corporation Beats Consensus Earnings Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/01/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-beats-consensus-earnings-estimates/19228</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/01/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-beats-consensus-earnings-estimates/19228#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:37:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=19228</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) reported operating earnings of 84 cents in the third quarter, which was ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 80 cents. The company had earned $1.16 per share on an operating basis in the year-ago quarter. The company experienced lower average variable account values compared to the prior-year period. Also, there were some modest losses on its alternative investments. Lincoln reported a net income of $153 million or 44 cents per share compared with $148 million or 58 cents in the year-ago quarter. We note that there were fewer shares outstanding in the prior-year quarter. The company managed to report better operating results on a quarter-over-quarter basis due to the appreciation in the equity market. Consolidated deposits increased 10% sequentially but were down 2% year over ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/11/01/lnc-lincoln-national-corporation-beats-consensus-earnings-estimates/19228/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(MFC) Manulife Financial Corporation Completes AIC Deal</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/03/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-completes-aic-deal/16546</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/03/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-completes-aic-deal/16546#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:17:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MFC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=16546</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC) has closed the transaction to purchase AIC&#8217;s Canadian retail investment fund business. This acquisition significantly expands Manulife’s wealth management reach. All AIC funds in Canada will now be managed by Manulife Mutual Funds, while Portland Investment Counsel (formerly AIC Investment Services) will continue as a fund sub-advisor for certain AIC funds. We believe that this acquisition will considerably add to Manulife’s scale and strengthen its position in the retail investment fund market in Canada. Based on latest industry figures, overall retail fund assets under management for Canadians will grow 38% to approximately $13.9 billion as a result of this acquisition. Manulife’s wealth management business has been severely impacted by the turbulence in the equity market on a global basis. During the second quarter, wealth sales were ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/10/03/mfc-manulife-financial-corporation-completes-aic-deal/16546/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(AIG) American International Group to Sell Asset Management Business</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/09/08/aig-american-international-group-to-sell-asset-management-business/14599</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/09/08/aig-american-international-group-to-sell-asset-management-business/14599#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:39:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group,]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UBS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UBS AG]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=14599</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[American International Group Inc. (AIG) has reached an agreement to sell a part of its investment advisory and asset management business to Bridge Partners, L.P. for about $500 million. Bridge Partners, LP is owned by Hong Kong-based private-equity firm Pacific Century Group. The $500 million purchase price includes a cash payment of about $300 million at closing, plus future payments consisting of a performance note and a continuing share of carried interest. The units being sold operate in 32 countries and manage about $88.7 billion of investment of institutional and retail clients. However, AIG will retain its in-house investment operation that manages approximately $480 billion of assets. Win J. Neuger will carry on as Chief Executive Officer of the new business. The existing management team will also remain in place. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/09/08/aig-american-international-group-to-sell-asset-management-business/14599/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(LNC) Lincoln Sells Asset Management Unit</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/20/lnc-lincoln-sells-asset-management-unit/12830</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/20/lnc-lincoln-sells-asset-management-unit/12830#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:16:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corp.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Gr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=12830</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) has agreed to sell its asset management unit, Delaware Investments, to Macquarie Group for approximately $428 million in cash. Macquarie Group is a Sydney, Australia-based leading investment bank. The deal is expected to close around the year-end 2009. Goldman, Sachs &#38; Co. (GS) was the financial advisor for Lincoln. Lincoln’s decision intends to focus more on its core retirement and insurance business. The proceeds will be used by Lincoln for general corporate purposes. The company also plans to pay back a part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds it received in July. Lincoln was one of the six big insurers who qualified for the bailout funds under the TARP in May. The other five are Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG), Prudential Financial Inc. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/20/lnc-lincoln-sells-asset-management-unit/12830/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HIG) Hartford &#8211; Analysts concerned with exposure to variable annuities and capital levels</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/13/hig-hartford-analysts-concerned-with-exposure-to-variable-annuities-and-capital-levels/12494</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/13/hig-hartford-analysts-concerned-with-exposure-to-variable-annuities-and-capital-levels/12494#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:38:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corp.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ameriprise Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Gr]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=12494</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) agreed to refund $48.2 million to workers&#8217; compensation policyholders in Florida as it earned excess profits on such policies it issued between 2004 and 2006. On Wednesday, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said that it has instructed Hartford to take this action as its profits exceeded the state law, which prohibits insurers from earning excess profits and requires surpluses to be refunded to policyholders. This refund brings the total amount of refund to all workers&#8217; compensation policyholders in Florida to approximately $98.8 million this year. During the last year, more than $29.7 million in excess workers’ compensation profits were refunded. The refund of $48.2 million is really significant for Florida at this point as the state is going through a challenging period precipitated by ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/08/13/hig-hartford-analysts-concerned-with-exposure-to-variable-annuities-and-capital-levels/12494/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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