The insurance businesses had a fourth-quarter underwriting gain of $306 million driven by improvements at General Re and BH Reinsurance.

MetLife plans to keep its property-casualty unit, which sells auto and home insurance.

Munich Res American Modern Insurance Group is retreating from the business of providing protection to mortgage lenders on U.S. homes in which borrowers have lapsed on premiums.

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is urging insurers to voluntarily divest from thermal coal, citing the risks of climate change and the danger of losses on assets backing policyholder obligations.

The British insurer is paying $402 million to the Canadian bank, which has agreed to sell certain Aviva products to its customers as part of a 15-year deal.

AIG, the largest commercial insurer in the U.S. and Canada, increased limits on property policies by 67% in a bid to build ties with multinational clients.

Activist investor Carl Icahn, whos pushing AIG CEO Peter Hancock to shrink the insurer and boost returns, said the CEOs presentation next week on his vision must offer a drastic strategic shift.

MetLife, the largest U.S. life insurer, said its considering a sale, spinoff or public offering of much of the retail operation.