RSA Insurance's half-year figures revealed flat pre-tax profits on the year at £302m - although, with a combined ratio (of claims to premiums) of 94.8 per cent, the group did manage a respectably profitable underwriting performance.
What's more, RSA has been pushing through decent-looking premium rate increases. The UK personal motor book, for instance, managed to grow rates by 13 per cent in the period, while the Canadian unit's household account saw rates rise 12 per cent. Indeed, the group reported reasonable singe-digit premium rate increases for almost all of its other business lines. And the investment book, which is focused on safe-looking cash and bonds, managed an attractive underlying yield of 3.9 per cent.
When: 5 March 2010
Price: 130p
Tip performance to date: -3 per cent