Zurich Insurance seen up pre-market after outlook hike, H1 beat
BUZZ-Zurich Insurance seen up pre-market after outlook hike, H1 beat ** Shares in Zurich Insurance ZURN.S are seen up 1.5% in pre-market indications after the firm increased life insurance biz outlook and globally posted a beat on H1 operating profit
** Europe's second-largest insurer by market cap expects life insurance business operating profit to grow by at least 10% this year (prev.: mid-single-digit growth)
** RBC analysts see this upgrade as a key positive, while those at Vontobel note the firm is ahead of its 2027 financial targets
** Zurich Insurance reports H1 operating profit of $4.8 billion, above analysts' average estimate of $4.66 billion
** "At first glance, these look like a decent set of results," RBC says
** Vontobel's focus, however, remains on the integration of Beazley BEZG.L: "The retention of Beazley's underwriters is key to a successful and accretive outcome"
** The stock has seen only marginal gains since January and is up 0.9% YTD
(Reporting by Paolo Laudani in Gdansk)