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	<title>Stock Blog Hub &#187; ALL</title>
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	<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com</link>
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		<title>(AIZ) Assurant Boosts Share Buyback Program</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/05/16/aiz-assurant-boosts-share-buyback-program/100252</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/05/16/aiz-assurant-boosts-share-buyback-program/100252#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 17:50:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Shawn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Accident & Health Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assurant Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[W.R. Berkley Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Westar Energy Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WRB]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=100252</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Specialty insurance provider Assurant Inc. (AIZ) has declared an increase in its share buyback authorization program, which comes on the heels of an approval to increase dividend announced last week. The board of directors of Assurant approved the repurchase of up to $600 million of its shares. The new authorization comes on top of $170 million remaining under the existing program as of April 30, 2012. Assurant will use its healthy cash flow from operations to buyback shares. The company ended the first quarter with $600 million in total holding company capital and has a strong balance sheet with a low debt ratio of 18.2% and no debt maturing until 2014.  Assurant has been aggressively buying back shares. In the first four months of 2012, the company has already bought ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/05/16/aiz-assurant-boosts-share-buyback-program/100252/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HUM) Attention Shifts to Jobs &#8211; Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/28/hum-attention-shifts-to-jobs-earnings-preview/99859</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/28/hum-attention-shifts-to-jobs-earnings-preview/99859#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:04:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Greetings Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Archer-Daniels-Midland Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Automatic Data Processing Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Avon Products Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AVP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cablevision Systems Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CBS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CBS Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMCSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comcast Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Caremark Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Estee Lauder Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KFT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kraft Foods Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[L]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loews Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mastercard Incorporated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nyse Euronext Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pfizer Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sara Lee Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SLE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Warner Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TWX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[V]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VIAB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Viacom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visa Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=99859</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Earnings Preview – Week of April 30th The focus this week will be on the labor market, with the April non-farm payroll report coming out on Friday. Many will be hoping that this report will provide confirmation that last month’s disappointment was just a one-off event and the positive trend line of the preceding months is still in place. Jobs aside, we are still in the midst of the first quarter 2012 reporting season, though we have crossed the mid-point of the cycle with about 60% of the results already in. With another 124 S&#38;P 500 companies reporting results in the coming week, we will have results from roughly 84% of the companies by the end of this week. The first quarter earnings season has turned out to be much ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2012/04/28/hum-attention-shifts-to-jobs-earnings-preview/99859/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MITI) Micromet Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/09/miti-micromet-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares-2/88278</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/09/miti-micromet-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares-2/88278#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:40:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biotechnology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amgen Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ASH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ashland Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AstraZeneca plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AZN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micromet Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MITI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanofi-Aventis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SNY]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=88278</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have maintained a Neutral rating on Micromet, Inc. (MITI) with a target price of $7.00 per share following appraisal of third quarter 2011 results. Micromet’s third quarter 2011 loss per share came in at 21 cents (after adjusting for the change in fair value of warrants), wider than the year-ago loss of 13 cents per share (also adjusting for the change in fair value of warrants). Lower-than-expected revenues led to the wider loss in the quarter. Revenues at Micromet were down almost 33% from the prior-year period to $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 due to lower collaboration revenue. Moreover, revenues in the year-ago quarter were boosted by the presence of a milestone payment from AstraZeneca (AZN). Revenues were also much below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/09/miti-micromet-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares-2/88278/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MITI) Micromet Begins New Trial</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/06/miti-micromet-begins-new-trial/88072</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/06/miti-micromet-begins-new-trial/88072#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:36:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biotechnology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amgen Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ASH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ashland Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AstraZeneca plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AZN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crane Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micromet Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MITI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanofi-Aventis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SNY]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=88072</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Micromet Inc. (MITI) recently announced that it has begun a mid-stage registrational trial of its lead pipeline candidate, blinatumomab, in adult patients with B-precursor relapsed refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The trial was advised to be conducted by the US Food &#38; Drug Administration (FDA) to support accelerated approval of blinatumomab. The trial is a single-arm study which will evaluate 65 patients with the primary endpoint of complete remission (CR) or CR with partial recovery of blood counts (CRh). Micromet expects to complete enrollment for the trial by year-end 2012. The mid-stage study will be followed by a late-stage trial (with a time dependent endpoint) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of blinatumomab versus chemotherapy in adult patients with relapsed refractory B precursor ALL. Design details of the late-stage trial ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/12/06/miti-micromet-begins-new-trial/88072/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PGR) Progressive Corporation Analyst Still Neutral on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/pgr-progressive-corporation-analyst-still-neutral-on-shares/87747</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/pgr-progressive-corporation-analyst-still-neutral-on-shares/87747#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:50:50 +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[PGR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Progressive Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=87747</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Progressive Corp. (PGR) holds a dominant position in product, service and distribution innovation, especially in Personal Auto. The company continues to focus on customer retention, actively manage its capital position and return wealth to its shareholders. However, these positives are somewhat dwarfed by headwinds at its Commercial Auto businesses as well as higher combined ratio. We thus retain out Neutral recommendation on the company. Progressive is seen as a leader in product, service and distribution innovation. It is also a leader in underwriting technology and the application of quantitative analytics in pricing and risk selection. These attributes aid it in writing higher premiums. Net premiums written in the third quarter grew 4% with policies in force reporting growth of 5%. New businesses, higher premium per policy and customer retention helped ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/30/pgr-progressive-corporation-analyst-still-neutral-on-shares/87747/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<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>(WRB) W. R. Berkley Enhances Shareholder Value</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/wrb-w-r-berkley-enhances-shareholder-value/86597</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/wrb-w-r-berkley-enhances-shareholder-value/86597#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:54:15 +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[CB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Chubb Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[W.R. Berkley Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Westar Energy Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WRB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[XL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[XL Capital Limited]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=86597</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On November 3, 2011, property and casualty insurer W. R. Berkley Corp. (WRB) announced that its Board has increased its share repurchase authorization to 10 million shares, which translates into approximately 7% of the company’s 144.5 million outstanding shares as of September 30, 2011. The buyback increases a company’s earnings per share by reducing the number of shares outstanding and is also indicative of the fact that the company’s financial position is strong enough to enhance shareholder value. Berkley has been aggressively repurchasing shares. Since 2007, it has bought back about 30% of its outstanding shares. The latest share repurchase authorization marks such a move for the second time so far this year.  The company has taken similar action earlier in May. Berkley has been aggressively buying back shares to support ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/11/06/wrb-w-r-berkley-enhances-shareholder-value/86597/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Aquires Esurance and Answer Financial from White Mountains Insurance Group</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/13/all-allstate-aquires-esurance-and-answer-financial-from-white-mountains-insurance-group/85007</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/13/all-allstate-aquires-esurance-and-answer-financial-from-white-mountains-insurance-group/85007#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:32:20 +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[Berkshire Hathaway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PGR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ProAssurance Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Progressive Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[White Mountains Insurance Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WTM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=85007</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Friday, Allstate Corp. (ALL) announced the completion of the acquisition of Esurance and Answer Financial from White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. (WTM) for $1.0 billion. This marks the next biggest acquisition for the company since 1999, when it bought American Heritage Life Investment Corp., a life insurance company specializing in the workplace, for $1.1 billion. The impact of the acquisition on earnings is expected to be break-even by the second full year of ownership and accretive thereafter. While Answer Financial was acquired by Esurance three years ago, Esurance was acquired by White Mountains in 2009. Esurance is the third largest online auto insurer that has more than doubled its policies-in-force and grown premiums on an average of 20% per year over the last five years. Meanwhile, Answer Financial is ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(C) Citigroup Pressed with Allegations</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/11/c-citigroup-pressed-with-allegations/84139</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/10/11/c-citigroup-pressed-with-allegations/84139#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:39:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money Center Banks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citigroup Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[M&T Bank Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MTB]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=84139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Friday, Citigroup Inc. (C) was sued by the German lender IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG. The complaint lodged claims that Citi misrepresented documents as an underwriter in the sale of over $4.2 million in residential mortgage-backed securities. According to Dusseldorf-based IKB, Citi issued misleading statements and omissions related to the mortgage-backed securities and breached the contract. IKB has filed lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. The company demands for unspecified damages and cancellation of the sale of securities. Earlier in September, IKB also sued JPMorgan Chase &#38; Co. (JPM) for the sale and breach of contract over the sale of mortgage-backed securities by misrepresenting documents. In August, Citi’s closest peer, The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) also faced a number of lawsuits related to mortgage-backed securities. ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(GS) The Goldman Sachs Group Analyst Raises Shares to Neutral</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/15/gs-the-goldman-sachs-group-analyst-raises-shares-to-neutral/82976</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/09/15/gs-the-goldman-sachs-group-analyst-raises-shares-to-neutral/82976#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:52:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diversified Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FMCC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freddie Mac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MS]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=82976</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have upgraded our recommendation on The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) to Neutral from Underperform based on the company’s cost reduction initiatives and broader outlook for client activity. In July, Goldman reported second-quarter 2011 earnings per share of $1.85, significantly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.29. The results deteriorated owing to decreased revenue and poor performance at Institutional Client Services division, coupled with global macro-economic concerns. However, Goldman repurchased 10.8 million shares of its common stock at an average cost per share of $139.20 and a total cost of $1.50 billion during the quarter. In the current difficult economic and financial conditions, Goldman has taken an internal initiative to identify areas, where the company can operate more efficiently. The company targets about $1.2 billion in run rate compensation ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(ALL) Company News for August 30, 2011 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/30/all-company-news-for-august-30-2011-corporate-summary/82281</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/30/all-company-news-for-august-30-2011-corporate-summary/82281#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:53:16 +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[AMR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMR Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[B]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barnes Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BMY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bristol-Myers Squibb Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crosshair Exploration & Mining Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CXZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JNY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jones Apparel Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PFE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pfizer Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Samson Oil & Gas Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SSN]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=82281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[•    Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) shares increased 8.12% to close at $8.39 after the bank disclosed it would be selling half of its holdings to China Construction Bank Corp in order to raise capital •    Share prices of insurer The Allstate Corp. (NYSE:ALL) advanced 8.50% to close at $26.30 after estimates showed property damage from Hurricane Irene was relatively lower •    Crosshair Exploration &#38; Mining (AMEX:CXZ) has told Australian American Mining Corp. Limited that it wishes to acquire its United States uranium assets. As per the proposal, AusAm will get US$12.85 million payable in Crosshair shares •    Share prices of Samson Oil &#38; Gas (AMEX:SSN) gained 3.83% after exploration company was awarded 956 net acres of leasehold land on conditional basis by the University of Wyoming •    Pharma giants Bristol-Myers ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/30/all-company-news-for-august-30-2011-corporate-summary/82281/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(GS) Goldman Sachs Group Again Entangled in Lawsuit</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/22/gs-goldman-sachs-group-again-entangled-in-lawsuit/81460</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/22/gs-goldman-sachs-group-again-entangled-in-lawsuit/81460#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:06:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diversified Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citigroup Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Suisse Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deutsche Bank AG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FMCC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freddie Mac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=81460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) was sued by The Allstate Corporation (ALL), the largest publicly traded U.S. home and auto insurer. The complaint lodged claims that Goldman misrepresented documents as an underwriter in the sale of over $123 million in mortgage-backed securities from April 2006 to March 2007. Allstate alleged that Goldman issued misleading statements and omissions related to the mortgage-backed securities and has concealed risks associated with the securities. The company claims the documents used in offering the securities contained untrue statements or omissions, as to how risky the investments to be. These misrepresentations of the risks provoked investments, which have virtually no value at current levels. Allstate has filed lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. The company demands for damages, which includes ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/22/gs-goldman-sachs-group-again-entangled-in-lawsuit/81460/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MITI) Micromet Loss Less Than Analyst Estimates &#8211; Revenues Rise</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/09/miti-micromet-loss-less-than-analyst-estimates-revenues-rise/80906</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/09/miti-micromet-loss-less-than-analyst-estimates-revenues-rise/80906#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:31:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biotechnology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amgen Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AMGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ASH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ashland Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AstraZeneca plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AZN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crane Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micromet Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MITI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanofi-Aventis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SNY]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=80906</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Micromet Inc.’s (MITI) second quarter 2011 loss per share came in at 19 cents (after adjusting for the change in fair value of warrants), wider than the year-ago loss of 15 cents per share (also adjusting for the change in fair value of warrants). The loss was, however, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 21 cents due to higher-than-expected revenues. Loss widened from the prior year due to higher operating expenses which more than offset the rise in revenues. Quarterly Details Revenues at Micromet were up 7.8% to $7.1 million in the second quarter of 2011 on the back of higher collaboration revenue. Revenues were also above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6 million. Operating expenses during the reported quarter climbed approximately 56% over the prior-year ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/09/miti-micromet-loss-less-than-analyst-estimates-revenues-rise/80906/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(ACOR) Company News for August 2, 2011 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/02/acor-company-news-for-august-2-2011-corporate-summary/80405</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/08/02/acor-company-news-for-august-2-2011-corporate-summary/80405#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:23:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biotechnology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ACOR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Acorda Therapeutics Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AUXL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HAE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Haemonetics Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HUM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humana Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JAZZ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KEG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Key Energy Services Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old National BanCorporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ONB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PAET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PAETEC Holding Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=80405</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[•    Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) reported Q2 loss of $1.23, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53 per share. Revenues for the quarter increased by 5% year-over-year to $8.08 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.91 billion•    Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AUXL) posted a Q2 loss of $0.11 per share, less than the analysts&#8217; estimate for a loss of $0.19 per share. Revenues for the quarter increased 30.5% year-over-year to $65.9 million •    Humana (NYSE:HUM) reported Q2 EPS of $2.50, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.07 per share. Revenues increased 8.1% year-over-year to $9.28 billion, lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.32 billion •    Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACOR) posted Q2 EPS of $0.01. Revenues for the pharma company rose 52.6% year-over-year to $65.3 million •    Share prices of Old National ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>(ALL) Company News for July 19, 2011 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/19/all-company-news-for-july-19-2011-corporate-summary/79350</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/19/all-company-news-for-july-19-2011-corporate-summary/79350#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:42:36 +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[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Check Point Software Technologies Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHKP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ENTR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entropic Communications Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Linkedin Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LNKD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MGIC Investment Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MTG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NABI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nabi Biopharmaceuticals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPDI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[US Gold Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UXG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valence Technology Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VLNC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=79350</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[•    Shares of biotech company Bacterin International Holdings Inc (AMEX:BONE) gained 10.34% after the company posted initial second quarter earnings figures that came in above expectations•    U.S. listed shares of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHKP) rose 8.11% after the network security provider released 2011 earnings forecasts exceeding the Street&#8217;s expectations •    According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, contract drug developer Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. (NASDAQ:PPDI) is looking to sell itself •    Share prices of U.S. Gold Corporation (NYSE:UXG) gained 5.25% to close at $7.02 after gold futures moved above the $1,600 per ounce mark on the New York Mercantile Exchange •    Bloomberg reported that Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) may further delay its plans to increase dividends because of mounting mortgage losses •    Battery manufacturer Valence Technology, ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(RE) Everest Re Group Limited Announces Catastrophe Loss Estimate</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/11/re-everest-re-group-limited-announces-catastrophe-loss-estimate/78591</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/11/re-everest-re-group-limited-announces-catastrophe-loss-estimate/78591#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:00:35 +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[Everest Re Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78591</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bermuda-based reinsurer Everest Re Group Ltd. (RE) has announced its estimate of April-May catastrophe losses (cat losses) based on property damages resulting from cataclysmic weather conditions. Everest Re, as a property catastrophe writer, expects after-tax cat losses of $80 million from a series of severe storms that ravaged the U.S. in the months of April and May, along with the wildfires in Alberta, Canada. Everest Re stated that the estimates include updated provisions for first quarter cat loss of nearly $10 million on account of the New Zealand earthquake. In the first quarter, Everest Re suffered total pre-tax cat losses of $665 million, with the Japanese Tsunami accounting for $400 million, New Zealand earthquake $200 million, Australian flood $55 million and Cyclone Yasi $10 million. However, net of tax and ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/11/re-everest-re-group-limited-announces-catastrophe-loss-estimate/78591/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(DFS) Discover Analyst Retains Outperform on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/dfs-discover-analyst-retains-outperform-on-shares/78509</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/dfs-discover-analyst-retains-outperform-on-shares/78509#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:18:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Express Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AXP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DFS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Discover Financial Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mastercard Incorporated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[V]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visa Inc]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78509</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Discover has grown to become one of the largest card issuers in the U.S. and a leading innovator and driver of change in the credit card industry. The company continues to explore healthy opportunities for inorganic growth and also implements several capital-bolstering initiatives. These factors induce us to retain our Outperform rating on Discover Financial Services (DFS). Discover has a dominant position in the credit card industry. Along with its existing Discover networks, the company gained significant international network opportunity following theintegration of the Diner&#8217;s Club. Discover has also experienced continued growth in its direct-to-consumer banking business by leveraging its low cost infrastructure, brand, credit management and marketing capabilities. The multi-year alliance with The Allstate Corporation (ALL) is further expected to expand Discover’s presence in the U.S. We expect these ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/dfs-discover-analyst-retains-outperform-on-shares/78509/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MITI) Micromet Analyst Maintains Neutral on Shares</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/miti-micromet-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/78499</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/07/06/miti-micromet-analyst-maintains-neutral-on-shares/78499#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:17:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biotechnology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AstraZeneca plc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AZN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micromet Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MITI]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=78499</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have maintained a Neutral rating on Micromet, Inc. (MITI) with a target price of $6.00 per share. We believe Micromet’s lead pipeline candidate, blinatumomab, holds tremendous potential in the treatment of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blinatumomub is one of the leading BiTE antibodies. BiTE antibodies represent a new class of antibodies that activate the T-cells of a patient’s immune system to eliminate cancer cells. The company is conducting a pivotal study of blinatumomab (MT103) in Europe in adults with minimal residual disease (MRD) positive B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also referred to as front-line ALL. The company also has a mid-stage study (n=20) of blinatumomab underway in adults suffering from relapsed or refractory B-precursor ALL. Micromet has presented encouraging data from both trials. We believe the successful development and ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(TWGP) Tower Group Declares Second Quarter Catastrophe Loss Estimate</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/twgp-tower-group-declares-second-quarter-catastrophe-loss-estimate/77913</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/twgp-tower-group-declares-second-quarter-catastrophe-loss-estimate/77913#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:43:40 +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[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tower Group Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TWGP]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77913</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, property and casualty insurer Tower Group, Inc. (TWGP) announced its catastrophe loss estimate for the second quarter of 2011. The company pegged the total pre-tax catastrophe loss (cat loss) estimate from the April-May storm at $8 million. Earlier during April, Tower announced that the loss from Northeast U.S. winter storms would be in the range of $6.5 million to $9.8 million after tax, or 16 cents to 23 cents per diluted share In the previous quarter, Tower experienced higher winter-weather-related claims activity from the record snowfall in the Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, which persisted from late December 2010 through the first quarter of 2011. The company registered after-tax cat loss of $9.8 million or 23 cents per share during the first quarter of 2011 compared with $12.0 million or ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/29/twgp-tower-group-declares-second-quarter-catastrophe-loss-estimate/77913/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Claims $1 Million for Fraud</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/all-allstate-claims-1-million-for-fraud/77482</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/26/all-allstate-claims-1-million-for-fraud/77482#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:44:03 +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[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77482</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In an effort to recoup over $1 million paid in personal injury protection benefits, Allstate Corp. (ALL) has filed a lawsuit against 10 New York area defendants. According to the complaint filed by Allstate under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and New York common law, four professional service corporations, a licensed psychologist and five laypersons unlawfully owned and controlled the professional corporations. The Allegation Allstate alleged that HK Psychological, P.C., Kingshwy Psychological, P.C., Omega Psychological, P.C. and Jay Psychological, P.C. were illegally incorporated through a scheme using the name of licensed psychologists. However, in reality, Ben L. Adler, Alex Gormakh, Milana Gormakh, Peter Kerner and Shari Matatov, none of whom were licensed practitioners, secretly owned and controlled the professional service corporations. The Allstate lawsuit alleges that the ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(WRB) W.R. Berkley Declares Catastrophe Loss Estimate</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/wrb-w-r-berkley-declares-catastrophe-loss-estimate/77121</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/wrb-w-r-berkley-declares-catastrophe-loss-estimate/77121#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:10:53 +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[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[W.R. Berkley Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Westar Energy Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WRB]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=77121</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Property and casualty insurer W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) announced that it expects pre-tax catastrophe losses (cat losses) of $65 million for the months of April and May, based on property damages resulting from cataclysmic weather conditions. The new estimate is significantly greater than the company’s budgeted expectation of second quarter cat loss of $35 million. During the first quarter, Berkley reported cat losses of $24 million compared with $23 million in first quarter 2010. Cat losses in the first quarter included regional storm losses of $9 million and estimated $15 million for potential losses from earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand and floods in Australia. Other insurers and reinsurers who suffered losses from the early 2011 catastrophe include companies like Allstate Corp. (ALL) and Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV). Allstate has been ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Announces Catastrophe Losses</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/all-allstate-announces-catastrophe-losses/76866</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/22/all-allstate-announces-catastrophe-losses/76866#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:07:58 +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[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Property and casualty insurer Allstate Corp. (ALL) has made an upward revision to its preliminary estimate of catastrophe losses (cat losses) from property damages owing to the adverse weather conditions that continued into May. After the revision, the company expects pre-tax cat losses in the range of $2 billion. Allstate said that its pre-tax losses for May were about $600 million added to the $1.4 billion in catastrophe losses that was announced during April, which was on account of the storms in the southern states of the U.S. In the month of May Allstate was affected by unprecedented tornadoes. Experts predict the April-May cat losses to cost $7.7 billion – $12.5 billion to the industry. They also say that insurers overall have already incurred cat loss, which is almost two ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>(PGR) Progressive Approves Share Buyback</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/pgr-progressive-approves-share-buyback/76838</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/pgr-progressive-approves-share-buyback/76838#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:58:50 +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[PGR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Progressive Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76838</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To return value to its shareholders, the board of directors of The Progressive Corporation (PGR) has authorized the company to buy back upto 75 million shares. The company is still left with 12.5 million shares as of May 31 to be bought back under the board&#8217;s June 2009 authorization. Previously in June 2009, the board had approved a 50 million share repurchase program. Progressive keeps aside a major part of its capital to meet regulatory requirements, business objectives and weather extreme contingencies. Excess capital kept aside for such purposes is used to either buy back shares, pay dividends or pursue acquisitions. Progressive has been successfully maintaining excess capital for the past few quarters, giving the company the flexibility to authorize another share repurchase program. Total capitalization at March 31, 2011 ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/21/pgr-progressive-approves-share-buyback/76838/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(PGR) Progressive Beats Expectations in May</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/20/pgr-progressive-beats-expectations-in-may/76574</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/20/pgr-progressive-beats-expectations-in-may/76574#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:20:28 +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[PGR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Progressive Corporation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=76574</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Progressive Corp.’s (PGR) earnings per share for May 2011 were 11 cents, up from 7 cents earned in the year ago period. Net income increased 68% from the year-ago period to total $74.1 million. The company recorded net premiums of $1.13 billion during May 2011, up 2% from $1.11 billion in May 2010 but down 26% from $1.54 billion during April 2011. Net premiums earned were $1.14 billion, up 3% from $1.11 billion in the year-ago period and down 20% from $1.43 billion in the prior month. Net realized losses on securities were $0.4 million during May 2011, a considerable improvement from a loss of $15.1 million in May 2010, but lower than the gain of $24.6 million in April 2011. The combined ratio ? the percentage of premiums paid ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/06/20/pgr-progressive-beats-expectations-in-may/76574/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Boosts Online Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/24/all-allstate-boosts-online-insurance/74574</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/24/all-allstate-boosts-online-insurance/74574#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 17:54:16 +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[Berkshire Hathaway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ProAssurance Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[White Mountains Insurance Group Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WTM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=74574</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In an attempt to expand its online home-auto sales, on Wednesday, Allstate Corp. (ALL) announced the acquisition of Ensurance and Answer Financial from White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. (WTM) for approximately $1.0 billion. The deal was valued at $700 million along with the tangible book value of the entities acquired at the closing date. The total is broadly summed at $1.0 billion. Subject to regulations, the deal is expected to culminate by the third quarter of 2011. The impact of acquisition on earnings is expected to be break-even by the second full year of ownership and accretive after that. Esurance sells auto insurance directly to online customers and offers auto insurance quotes through call centers. With 839,000 policies at the end of 2010, it is the third largest online auto ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/24/all-allstate-boosts-online-insurance/74574/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(GDP) Stock Market News for April 29, 2011 &#8211; Market News</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/01/gdp-stock-market-news-for-april-29-2011-market-news/72799</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/01/gdp-stock-market-news-for-april-29-2011-market-news/72799#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 18:34:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Basic Materials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independent Oil & Gas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aetna Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chevron Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citrix Systems Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ConocoPhillips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CTXS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exxon Mobil Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GDP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goodrich Petroleum Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sprint Nextel Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SUN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sunoco Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Western Refining Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WNR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[XOM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=72799</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The nations’ economic growth rate slowed larger than estimated and claims for unemployment benefits soared to its highest level since January. Surprisingly, these disappointing reports failed to sting the markets which moved to post more multi-year highs. Markets continued to reap benefits from the positive momentum, gained from the Federal Reserve’s vow to stimulate the economy. Also, positive earnings results chipped in to further strengthen the indices and overshadowed the disappointing data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 0.6% to settle at 12763.31 and recorded its highest close since May 20, 2008. The Standard &#38; Poor 500 (S&#38;P 500) achieved its highest level since June 9, 2008, at 1360.48, gaining 0.4%. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 0.1% to finish off at 2872.53, its highest close since Dec. 12, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/05/01/gdp-stock-market-news-for-april-29-2011-market-news/72799/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Quarterly Earnings Rock on Low Catastrophe Losses</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/29/all-allstate-quarterly-earnings-rock-on-low-catastrophe-losses/72709</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/29/all-allstate-quarterly-earnings-rock-on-low-catastrophe-losses/72709#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:59:19 +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[Berkshire Hathaway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danaos Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=72709</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation’s (ALL) first quarter operating earnings of 93 cents per share came in substantially ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents and 69 cents per share recorded in the year-ago quarter. Results for the quarter improved primarily due to reduction in catastrophe (CAT) losses, lower expenses and increase in standard auto new business, partially offset by lower average premiums and policies-in-force in Property-Liability insurance unit coupled with lower investment income. However, prudent capital management and strong liquidity were quite impressive during the reported quarter. This is reflected from growth in book value per share and improved combined ratio. Allstate’s net income for the reported quarter came in at $519 million or 97 cents per share, compared with $120 million or 22 cents per share in the prior-year ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/29/all-allstate-quarterly-earnings-rock-on-low-catastrophe-losses/72709/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AGN) Company News for April 04, 2011 &#8211; Corporate Summary</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/04/agn-company-news-for-april-04-2011-corporate-summary/70605</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/04/agn-company-news-for-april-04-2011-corporate-summary/70605#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:56:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drug Manufacturers - Other]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alexander & Baldwin Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allergan Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GHL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greenhill & Co Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ICE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Intercontinental Exchange]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interpublic Group of Companies Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IPG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MAIN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Street Capital Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MBRG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middleburg Financial Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nasdaq OMX Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NDAQ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nyse Euronext Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYX]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=70605</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[• The Nasdaq OMX Group (NASDAQ:NDAQ) and the IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE:ICE) announced a joint proposal to acquire NYSE Euronext (NYSE:NYX) for $42.50 per share in cash and stock, or approximately $11.3 billion, based on the closing prices of the respective stocks as of March 31, 2011 • RW Baird initiated coverage on Main Street (NASDAQ:MAIN) with an Outperform rating • JMP Securities upgraded Sabra Healthcare (NASDAQ:SBRA) to Outperform from Market Perform • Roth Capital initiated coverage on Yuhe International (NASDAQ:YUII) with a Buy rating • Wells Fargo upgraded Alexander &#38; Baldwin (NASDAQ:ALEX) to Market Perform from Underperform • Leerink upgraded Allergan (NYSE:AGN) to Outperform from Market Perform • Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Huntington Ingalls (NYSE:HII) with a Hold rating • BB&#38;T Capital downgraded Middleburg Financial (NASDAQ:MBRG) to Hold from Buy • Deutsche Bank downgraded Omeros (NASDAQ:OMER) to Hold from ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/04/04/agn-company-news-for-april-04-2011-corporate-summary/70605/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Sues Credit Suisse AG on Mortgage-Backed Securities</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/25/all-allstate-sues-credit-suisse-ag-on-mortgage-backed-securities/68093</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/25/all-allstate-sues-credit-suisse-ag-on-mortgage-backed-securities/68093#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:14:30 +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[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Citigroup Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit Suisse Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deutsche Bank AG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=68093</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bloomberg reported that Allstate Corp. (ALL) has filed a federal complaint against Credit Suisse AG (CS) alleging that the latter had sold more than $231 million of toxic investments in lieu of safe investments to Allstate between 2005 and 2008, which later encountered a drastic price decline. Accordingly, Allstate now seeks justice and a penalty to recover its losses from the leading investment banker. Allstate also seeks compensation for the litigation costs and losses incurred on account of false information provided by Credit Suisse on the investment quality of the securities. Primarily, Allstate’s allegations hover around issues such as misrepresentation of facts regarding the underwriting details, owner occupancy data and loan-to-value ratios. Allstate believes that Credit Suisse was quite aware of the investment quality being extensively exposed to subprime and ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/25/all-allstate-sues-credit-suisse-ag-on-mortgage-backed-securities/68093/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Announces 5% Dividend Hike</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/03/all-allstate-announces-5-dividend-hike/67459</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/03/all-allstate-announces-5-dividend-hike/67459#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:23:22 +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[Berkshire Hathaway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=67459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Tuesday, home and auto insurer, The Allstate Corp. (ALL) announced a dividend increment of 5% from the prior 20 cents, marking the first hike since 2008. The quarterly cash dividend of 21 cents will be paid on April 1, 2011 to the shareholders of record as on March 11, 2011. The last time Allstate hiked its quarterly dividend was in February 2008, when the company augmented it to 41 cents from 38 cents. However, following the hike, Allstate posted losses for three consecutive quarters, which led to sharp dividend cuts to 20 cents. The company tightened the belt in 2010 and its improved performance helped to return to profitability. As a result, in November 2010, Allstate announced a share repurchase program worth $1.0 billion to be executed by the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/03/03/all-allstate-announces-5-dividend-hike/67459/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Accuses JPMorgan Chase &amp; Company of Fraud</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/22/all-allstate-accuses-jpmorgan-chase-company-of-fraud/67343</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/22/all-allstate-accuses-jpmorgan-chase-company-of-fraud/67343#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:13:59 +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[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JPMorgan Chase & Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=67343</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Wednesday, Allstate Corp. (ALL) filed a federal complaint against the second largest investment banker, JPMorgan Chase &#38; Co. (JPM), alleging that the latter sold more than $757 million of toxic investments in lieu of safe investments to Allstate between 2004 and 2007, which later experienced a drastic price decline. Accordingly, Allstate now directly demands justice and a penalty to recoup its losses from the leading US bank. Allstate also seeks compensation for the litigation as it incurred huge losses on account of false information provided by JPM on the investment quality of the securities. Allstate accuses the leading US bank of being aware of the combination of toxic mortgage securities offered to them and that the investments would default in near future. The investments, including Bear Stearns Cos and ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/22/all-allstate-accuses-jpmorgan-chase-company-of-fraud/67343/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Quarterly Earnings Fail to Meet Analyst Forecast</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/10/all-allstate-quarterly-earnings-fail-to-meet-analyst-forecast/66765</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/10/all-allstate-quarterly-earnings-fail-to-meet-analyst-forecast/66765#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:04:36 +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[Berkshire Hathaway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Danaos Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66765</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation’s (ALL) fourth quarter operating earnings of 50 cents per share came in dramatically behind the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86 cents and $1.09 per share recorded in the year-ago quarter. Results for the quarter deteriorated primarily due to high catastrophe losses and increased frequency of auto insurance claims in the Property-Liability insurance segment, coupled with low investment income. However, prudent capital management and strong liquidity were quite impressive during the reported quarter. This is reflected from growth in book value per share. Allstate’s net income for the reported quarter came in at $296 million or 55 cents per share, compared with $518 million or 96 cents in the prior-year quarter, reflecting a decline of about 43%. Operating income, which excludes realized net capital gains and losses from the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/10/all-allstate-quarterly-earnings-fail-to-meet-analyst-forecast/66765/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>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/02/08/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-miss-company-doubles-dividend/66304/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(CB) The Chubb Corporation Reports Quarterly Earnings Ahead of Estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/01/29/cb-the-chubb-corporation-reports-quarterly-earnings-ahead-of-estimates/66000</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/01/29/cb-the-chubb-corporation-reports-quarterly-earnings-ahead-of-estimates/66000#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:24:03 +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[CB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Chubb Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[W.R. Berkley Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Westar Energy Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WRB]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=66000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Chubb Corp.’s (CB) fourth quarter operating earnings of $1.69 per share were fairly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57 led by higher premiums earned. Results also compare favorably with $1.66 earned in the prior-year quarter. For the full year, operating income per share was $5.90, which was above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.79. Quarter in Detail Net premiums written rose 3% year over year to $2.9 billion, driven largely by higher exposures resulting from perked up economic activity over last year’s depressed levels. Property and casualty investment income after tax was up 1% year over year at $320 million as a decline in yields was offset by an increase in average invested assets and dividend income. Consolidated combined ratio deteriorated 230 basis points year over year ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2011/01/29/cb-the-chubb-corporation-reports-quarterly-earnings-ahead-of-estimates/66000/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Sues Bank of America on Mortgage-Backed Securities Purchase</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/30/all-allstate-sues-bank-of-america-on-mortgage-backed-securities-purchase/64309</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/30/all-allstate-sues-bank-of-america-on-mortgage-backed-securities-purchase/64309#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 05:42:14 +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[BAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank of America Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BlackRock Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BLK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MET]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MetLife Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=64309</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Monday, Allstate Corp. (ALL) filed a federal complaint against the mortgage giant, Countrywide Financial Corp., and 17 other defendants, alleging that the latter have sold $700 million of toxic investments in lieu of safe investments to Allstate in 2005, which later experienced a drastic price decline. However, Countrywide Financial was acquired by Bank of America Corp. (BAC) (BofA) in July 2008. Accordingly, Allstate now directly demands for justice and penalty from the leading US bank. Allstate seeks undetermined damages in the litigation. The company alleged that Country Financial enhanced its market share in 2003 by accepting mortgage products that borrowers were unable to afford. These risks were then passed on to investors as securities without previously revealing that those were toxic mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Further, Allstate claims to have ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AIG) American International Group Ratings Affirmed by A.M. Best</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/25/aig-american-international-group-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/63288</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/25/aig-american-international-group-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/63288#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Dec 2010 03:43:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=63288</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the credit and debt ratings of American International Group Inc. (AIG) and its US property-casualty and life-health subsidiaries namely, Chartis US Insurance Group, AIU Insurance Co., American General Property Insurance Co. and SunAmerica Financial Group. The rating agency has affirmed issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “bbb” and debt ratings for AIG, reflecting a negative outlook. Alongside, the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) and ICR of “a” has been asserted on Chartis and its associates, SunAmerica Financial Group and AIU Insurance Co. These ratings also reflect a negative outlook. Further, A.M. Best maintained FSR of “B+” (Good) and ICR of “bbb-” ratings on American General Property Insurance Co. The negative outlook is based on AIG’s persistently weak pricing across all core operations along with ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Ratings Affirmed by A.M. Best</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/19/all-allstate-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/62755</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/12/19/all-allstate-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/62755#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:12:46 +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[Berkshire Hathaway]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BRKA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Travelers Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=62755</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the credit and debt ratings of Allstate Corp. (ALL) and its subsidiaries namely, Allstate Insurance Group, Allstate Financial and Allstate Life Insurance Co. The rating agency has affirmed issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” and debt ratings for Allstate Corp. Alongside, the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A+” (Superior) and ICR of “aa-” has been asserted on Allstate Insurance Group, Allstate Financial and its associates.  These ratings reflect a stable outlook. However, the rating agency continued to cast a negative outlook by affirming its debt ratings of “aa-” on the outstanding notes issued under various funding agreement-backed securities (FABS) programs of Allstate Life Insurance Co. A.M. Best cited solid risk-adjusted capitalization reasons that contributed to surplus growth over the past five-year period. Further, favorable non-catastrophe ]]></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>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(AAPL) Stock Market News for October 29, 2010 &#8211; Market News</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/01/aapl-stock-market-news-for-october-29-2010-market-news/57086</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/11/01/aapl-stock-market-news-for-october-29-2010-market-news/57086#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:02:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3M Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AAPL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apple Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AutoNation Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Avon Products Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AVP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caterpillar Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chevron Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CIGNA Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cisco Systems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CSCO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eastman Kodak Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exxon Mobil Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jabil Circuit Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JBL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merck & Company Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MMM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MRK]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MSFT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Newell Rubbermaid Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NWL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Symantec Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SYMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weyerhaeuser Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[XOM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=57086</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stocks had a mixed day on Thursday as investors weighed mixed earnings reports and a possible announcement from the Federal Reserve to buy bonds. 3M Co.’s downbeat earnings and its tepid full-year outlook wiped off market’s initial advance that was fueled by a surprise drop in initial claims. The unexpected drop in first-time claims for unemployment benefits sent the Dow average up 53 points in the morning session. However, as the session progressed the advance petered out and the blue-chip average closed with a loss of 12 points. 3M’s (NYSE:MMM) narrower profit outlook for 2010 and its dim view of the U.S. and European economies weighed in the minds of investors. 3M (NYSE:MMM) weighed heavily on the DJIA after it lowered its 2010 profit view by $0.06 to a range ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(HIG) Hartford Financial Services Group Earnings Exceed &#8211; Profits Soar</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/05/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-exceed-profits-soar/46830</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/08/05/hig-hartford-financial-services-group-earnings-exceed-profits-soar/46830#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:28:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Property & Casualty Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American International Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PartnerRe Limited]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRE]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=46830</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. (HIG) reported its second-quarter adjusted earnings of $460.0 million or 92 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents. The improved showing in Hartford was attributable to higher profits despite market volatility and higher-than-expected catastrophes. The upside was also attributable to strong profitability in Hartford’s life and P&#38;C businesses. Also, growth in assets under management and book value were impressive during the quarter. Hartford’s adjusted earnings exclude DAC unlock charge of $168 million or 34 cents, current accident year P&#38;C catastrophe losses of $87 million or 18 cents, net asbestos reserve strengthening charge of $110 million or 22 cents, net prior year reserve releases in P&#38;C ongoing operations of $97 million or 19 cents, goodwill impairment charge of $100 million or 20 ]]></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 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>(ALL) Allstate Earnings Report Misses Expectations</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/29/all-allstate-earnings-report-misses-expectations/35497</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/29/all-allstate-earnings-report-misses-expectations/35497#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:11:59 +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>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=35497</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation’s (ALL) first-quarter operating earnings of 69 cents per share came in substantially short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 79 cents. This is in contrast to the operating earnings of 84 cents in the year-ago quarter. Results for the quarter deteriorated primarily due to lower revenue as a result of a significant decline in investment income. However, decreased expenses, prudent capital management and strong liquidity impressed during the reported quarter. Allstate’s net income for the reported quarter came in at $120 million or 22 cents per share, compared to a net loss of $274 million or 51 cents in the prior-year quarter. Operating income, which excludes realized net gains and losses from the sale of investments as well as accruals on unhedged derivative instruments, for the reported quarter ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/04/29/all-allstate-earnings-report-misses-expectations/35497/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(MITI) Micromet&#8217;s Fourth Quarter Loss Greater Than Expectations</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/05/miti-micromets-fourth-quarter-loss-greater-than-expectations/29865</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/05/miti-micromets-fourth-quarter-loss-greater-than-expectations/29865#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:03:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Biotechnology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Micromet Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MITI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanofi-Aventis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SNY]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=29865</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Micromet’s (MITI) fourth quarter loss per share came in at 34 cents, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents and a loss of 12 cents reported in the prior-year period. For 2009, the company reported a loss per share of 98 cents compared to a loss of 77 cents in 2008. Micromet reported revenues of $4.6 million compared to $5.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. The company records revenues primarily in the form of reimbursement of expenses incurred by it under different collaborative agreements. For the full year, revenues came in at $21 million, down 23% from $27.3 million in 2008. Operating expenses during the reported quarter increased 130% year-over-year to $28.3 million primarily due to $13.3 million as one-time charges. The charges relate to the ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/03/05/miti-micromets-fourth-quarter-loss-greater-than-expectations/29865/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>(NYT) Heavy Earnings Reports Continue &#8211; Earnings Preview</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/08/nyt-heavy-earnings-reports-continue-earnings-preview/27300</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/08/nyt-heavy-earnings-reports-continue-earnings-preview/27300#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:52:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>vitalstocks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Publishing - Newspapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ALL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allstate Corporation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AutoNation Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Electronic Arts Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ERTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hartford Financial Services Group Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HIG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PEP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pepsico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PRU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prudential Financial Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The New York Times Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VMC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vulcan Materials Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walt Disney Company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=27300</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Earnings Preview 2/5/10 While the bulk of earnings reports are in, there are still many to go, and next week we still have a heavy earnings calendar with a total or 462 firms scheduled to report. Some of the more noteworthy firms reporting are New York Times (NYT), Allstate (ALL), Walt Disney (DIS), Prudential (PRU) and Pepsico (PEP). Unlike the last two weeks, the economic data calendar is relatively light. Monday - No releases of note. Tuesday - Data on wholesale inventories is released. Normally this is not a big market mover, but given the outsized contribution that slower inventory destocking had in the fourth quarter GDP, this report might take on extra importance as it will point to which way the GDP numbers end up getting revised. In December, ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2010/02/08/nyt-heavy-earnings-reports-continue-earnings-preview/27300/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>(ALL) Allstate Corporation&#8217;s Financial and Credit Ratings Affirmed by A.M. Best</title>
		<link>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/28/all-allstate-corporations-financial-and-credit-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/23704</link>
		<comments>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/28/all-allstate-corporations-financial-and-credit-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/23704#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:57:25 +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>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.stockbloghub.com/?p=23704</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Dec 22, 2009, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the ratings of Allstate Corporation’s (ALL) subsidiary Allstate New Jersey Insurance Group (Allstate New Jersey) and its associates namely, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Co., Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Encompass Insurance Co. of New Jersey and Encompass Property and Casualty Insurance Co. of New Jersey. The rating agency has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A-&#8221; (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-&#8221; for Allstate New Jersey and its members. The outlook for all ratings is stable. A.M. Best cited solid risk-adjusted capitalization reasons that included the issuance of a $150 million surplus note from Allstate New Jersey to Allstate Insurance Co. in exchange for cash, completed in Apr 2009. A.M. Best rates the financial strength of ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.stockbloghub.com/2009/12/28/all-allstate-corporations-financial-and-credit-ratings-affirmed-by-a-m-best/23704/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>($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>
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