Swiss Re unexpectedly reported an increase in first-quarter profit, helped by returns from selling fixed income securities.

Allianz warned that stock-market turmoil may follow a recent rally.

Zurich is shrinking office space at a key unit and will ask staff to share desks to help reverse a drop in earnings.

Germanwings insurers have set aside $300 million to pay expenses from last weeks plane crash.

Munich Re will continue buying back shares as declining prices and lower investment income undermine earnings.

Hannover Re rose the most in more than two years after saying it will pay a special dividend and fourth-quarter profit climbed more than analysts estimated.

Europes insurers are preparing to boost dividends to the highest of any industry except utilities, making use of expanding surplus capital to offer investors an alternative to record low interest earnings from bonds.

Swiss Re, swimming in excess capital from lower-than-expected disaster claims, reverted to share buybacks to return cash to investors after three years of paying special dividends.