GLIMMERS OF HOPE FOR U.S. CORPORATE PROFITS Companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index have come a long way since reporting a collective loss at the end of 2008. Third-quarter numbers so far indicate operating profits of about $137 billion, and more companies are beating analysts' estimates ...

Travelers 3rd-qtr profit jumps on lower catastrophe costs; insurer raises dividend, outlookTravelers Cos. said Thursday that lower losses related to severe weather and a rebound in its investment portfolio contributed to a jump in the insurer's profit for the third-quarter. The New York-based commercial and property insurer also boosted ...

Supreme Court upholds $500 million settlement in asbestos-related lawsuitsThe Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to let an insurance company settle some asbestos lawsuits in exchange for blocking any future litigation resulting from its long relationship with Johns Manville Corp., once the world's largest producer of asbestos. Travelers Companies Inc ...