Generali: first-half net profit up; shares rise.

(CercleFinance.com) - Italian insurer Generali said on Wednesday that positive performance in all of its areas of operations had bolstered its results in the first six months of 2017.


The insurer reported first-half net profit of 1.22 billion euros, up from 1.18 billion euros a year ago.

Generali also said that first-half operating profit climbed over 4% to 2.59 billion euros, with a combined ratio that reached "excellent levels."

Generali's combined ratio - a measure of profitability in the non-life segment - indeed improved to 92.9% at the end of June, compared to 92.3% a year ago.

The firm - whose current strategy is to become "simpler and smarter" - cited an "improving" macroeconomic and financial context, although this is "still characterized by low interest rates and uncertainty on financial markets."

Generali shares are up 0.4% at 15.5 euros after this announcement.

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