Corporate finance

At the same time, market share among a trio of the mortgage insurers shifted, data compiled by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods found.

The conglomerate reported fourth-quarter operating earnings of $8.48 billion on Saturday, versus $6.63 billion for the same period a year earlier, helped by an increase in insurance underwriting earnings and investment income amid higher interest rates and milder weather.

This business, tied to the mortgage origination outlook, is becoming ly attractive for 2024, according to BTIG.

The Southeast regional bank plans to use the deal's sizable proceeds to pay down wholesale borrowings and restructure its securities portfolio. Numerous banks have made similar moves in recent months.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. contended with rising prices, a troubled insurance market and a dearth of deals in the second quarter.

Property and casualty players have struggled to maintain profitability as they deal with a greater frequency and severity of accidents, combined with higher costs to repair or replace damaged vehicles, as well as heightened costs linked to extreme weather events.

Buffett said he expects earnings at its insurance underwriting operations — which are less correlated to business activity — to improve this year.

Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia have come up with a plan for letting banks innovate with artificial intelligence and widening access to credit at the same time.

Artificial intelligence programs are seeing plenty of use, according to a survey by Marcum.

Auto-insurer Geico reported a full-year underwriting loss of almost $1.9 billion as inflation ate into margins alongside elevated claim frequency and severity.