BUZZ-Macquarie hikes PT for Australia's QBE Insurance ** Shares of QBE Insurance QBE.AX fall 0.8% to A$16.925 ** Analysts at Macquarie increases price target to A$18.40 from A$18.00 for the insurer; maintains 'neutral' rating ** Brokerage sees FY24 gross written premium growth of 5% for co vs mid single-digit growth guidance by co ** Says short-ter

BUZZ-Australia's QBE Insurance eyes worst week in 2 months on downbeat forecast ** Shares of Australian insurance firm QBE Insurance Group QBE.AX have fallen 2.5% so far this week; set for worst weekly decline since April 15 ** Co forecast marginal increase of 3% in its 1H gross written premium, a key metric for insurers, on a constant currency bas

BUZZ-Australia's Helia jumps after Macquarie upgrades to 'outperform' ** Shares of Helia Group HLI.AX rise as much as 16.8% to A$3.9, posting their biggest intraday percentage gain since Feb. 24, 2023 ** Analysts at Macquarie upgrade rating on lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) provider to "outperform" from "neutral" ** HLI fell 20.9% on Wednesday af

BUZZ-Citi sees Australia's QBE Insurance's removal of N.American mid-market as positive ** Analysts at Citi say markets concerned that QBE Insurance's QBE.AX results continue to be "dogged" by prior year development ** Brokerage retains "buy" rating on stock and target price of A$20.00/shr ** Citi says QBE's removal of mid-market business should en

Australian shares end lower as inflation warnings cloud rate-cut bets Traders scale back rate-cut expectations Australian financials down 0.4% QBE Insurance falls to three-week low Updates to close By Prerna Bedi June 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed lower in subdued trade on Wednesday, pulled down by losses in heavyweight financials, as investors dialled back their expectations on rate cuts after the central bank emphasised the need to be vigilant on inflation.

BUZZ-Australia's QBE Insurance hits 3-week low on downbeat earnings forecast Updates share moves, adds Citi comments ** Shares of QBE Insurance Group QBE.AX> fall as much as 2.9% to A$17.830, their lowest level since M ay 31 ** Stock on track for worst day since Feb. 16 , if losses hold ** The insurance co flags closure of struggling North America

BUZZ-Australia's QBE Insurance falls to 2-week low on North America middle market closure ** Shares of QBE Insurance Group fall as much as 1.9% to A$18.030, their lowest level since June 5 ** Stock on track for worst day since April 16, if losses hold ** The insurance co flags closure of struggling North America middle-market ** Co expects cost of

Australian shares struggle for direction as c.bank flags inflation woes June 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares traded nearly flat on Wednesday after gains in mining and gold stocks helped pare earlier losses, with investors assessing the central bank's hawkish stance on inflation as it held interest rates steady. The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO rose 0.03% to 7,780.80 by 00:07 GMT.

UPDATE 2-QBE sees higher 1H premium; to shut North America middle-market segment Adds share move in paragraph 2, analyst comment in paragraphs 6-7 By Roushni Nair June 19 (Reuters) - Australia's QBE Insurance Group QBE.AX on Wednesday forecast a 3% increase in first-half gross written premium on a constant currency basis and said it would close its struggling North America middle-market segment.

BRIEF-QBE Insurance Sees 1H24 Gross Written Premium $13.1B June 19 (Reuters) - QBE Insurance QBE.AX : SEES 1H24 GROSS WRITTEN PREMIUM IS EXPECTED TO BE $13.1B STRATEGIC REVIEW OF NORTH AMERICA MIDDLE-MARKET HAS DETERMINED IT WILL COMMENCE AN ORDERLY CLOSURE OF ITS NORTH AMERICA MIDDLE-MARKET SEGMENT QBE HAS DETERMINED IT WILL COMMENCE AN ORDERLY CL

QBE Insurance sees higher 1H premium, to shut North America middle-market segment June 19 (Reuters) - Australia's QBE Insurance Group QBE.AX on Wednesday forecast its first-half gross written premium to increase by 3% on a constant currency basis, and said it will commence an orderly closure of its North America middle-market segment. Reporting by

BUZZ-Citi ups PT on Australia's QBE Insurance on upbeat forecast for North America market ** Analysts at Citi see Australia's QBE Insurance Group QBE.AX bridging the gap between its recent performance and target returns ** Brokerage raises its price target on general insurer to A$20.00 from A$19.50 ** QBE aims to lower its North America combined ratio (COR), a ratio of claim-related losses and expenses to earned premiums, to 90% to 95% ** Citi says if QBE's run-off plan is successful, given no s

BUZZ-UBS Says QBE Insurance top pick among Australian general insurance firms ** Analysts at UBS name Australia's QBE Insurance QBE.AX as 'top pick' among general insurance firms as increasing yields and positive margin implications provide earnings tailwinds ** UBS retains a 'Buy' rating for QBE and increases its price target to A$21.00 from A$20.

BRIEF-QBE Insurance Says Expects FY24 Group Combined Operating Ratio Of 93.5% May 10 (Reuters) - QBE Insurance Group Ltd QBE.AX : GROUP CLAIMS EXPERIENCE THROUGH YEAR TO DATE IS TRACKING BROADLY IN LINE WITH PLAN ASSUMPTIONS SEES FY24 GROUP COMBINED OPERATING RATIO OF 93.5% GROWTH IN GROSS WRITTEN PREMIUM CONTINUED IN 1Q24, UP 2% ON THE PRIOR CORRE

BUZZ-Citi hikes PT on Australia's QBE Insurance Group on positive Q1 estimate ** Citi raises PT for Australia's QBE Insurance Group Ltd QBE.AX to A$19.50 from A$18 ** Maintains "buy" rating on the insurance firm's stock ** Company's first-quarter result, due on May 10, is expected to be positive and is likely to meet its FY24 guidance - Brokerage ** Citi expects QBE's crop gross written premium likely to be significantly down in FY24 vs.