Among the flurry of last minute legislation filed by Massachusetts legislators last week, one bill would require gun owners to purchase liability insurance.

Among the flurry of last minute legislation filed by Massachusetts legislators last week, one bill would require gun owners to purchase liability insurance.

Fourth-quarter earnings in Wells Fargos insurance segment dropped 15 percent over the same period in 2011 due to crop-insurance losses, the company says.

While commercial-insurance rates are on the rise, other factors could pressure fourth-quarter earnings for specialty and Bermuda insurers, according to an analysts report.

While commercial-insurance rates are on the rise, other factors could pressure fourth-quarter earnings for specialty and Bermuda insurers, according to an analysts report.

Progressive Corp. says fourth-quarter net income dropped 3 percent, or by $8 million, to $249 million compared to the prior years fourth quarter.

Burns & Wilcox has announced it has joined Trusted Choice as the first national wholesale broker to partner with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America in its national branding campaign.

The acquisition of wholesale-broker Crump and the firming insurance market lifted fourth-quarter income for BB&T Insurance Services by 43 percent, the Winston-Salem, N.C.-bank BB&T says.