Margin

After warning of cuts to its already lowered profit targets, QBE Insurance (ASX:QBE) shares plummeted yesterday to a six month low. The company cited continuing catastrophic events--the worst in 35 years--negatively affecting its bottom line.

Insurance profit margin for 2011 could be under its target of between 15 to 18 percent, but analysts said that the value could be 13 percent.

Although Insurance Australia Group (ASX:IAG) said today that it's too early to evaluate the impact of the Christchurch tremors, it has reaffirmed its underlying gross premium growth guidance of three to five percent.

The company also plans to speed up future growth and intents to get 10 percent of its gross written premium from Asia by 2016. Expansion would cover Malaysia, Thailand, India, China, Vietnam and Indonesia.