Brokers increasingly optimistic, survey shows

According to insurance broker respondents in the latest quarterly survey there was a robust growth in profitability in the period with a strong rise in income values and a sharp fall in average costs. It warned however that incomes are expected to fall in the next three months and predicted business volumes would be broadly flat.

The report also found that general insurers' business in the three months to December grew at its fastest rate for five quarters.

However the survey noted that due to a