(by Geck Finn)
US property and casualty insurer Chubb said Tuesday second-quarter profit jumped 41% percent on strong premium growth, low underwriting losses and cost savings. Net income rose to $356.1 million, or $1.85 per share, from $252.1 million, or $1.45 per share, in the second quarter of 2003. Operating income, which excludes investment gains and losses, was $1.77 per share, the company said. The average forecast of 22 analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call was $1.58 a share.