Travelers' Rate Increases Bode Well for Rival Insurers

After years of price declines, signs suggest that property-casualty insurers that sell coverage to U.S. businesses may have finally hit bottom and are starting to climb out of their hole.

Executives at Travelers Cos. on Wednesday gave perhaps the most optimistic assessment of the commercial-insurance market in years, saying the rates it charged existing policyholders in September were up about 4%, and estimating that prices were finally increasing faster than the expected rise in its claims costs. October showed even more promise, company executives said.

The price increases were the most aggressive the company ...

CLICK HERE

Copyright 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit

www.djreprints.com

Available to WSJ.com Subscribers