Swiss Re reports surprise third-quarter loss of 260 million dollars
Submitted by Marina Dimova on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 07:50.
Switzerland's reinsurance giant Swiss Re reported a surprise third-quarter loss Tuesday, slipping 304 million Swiss francs (259 million dollars) into the red after registering a profit of 1.47 billion francs in the same quarter of 2007.
The company said in Zurich that it would now suspend a share buy- back programme.
The company's net assets fell a further 6 per cent from the second quarter to 24.1 billion francs.
Claims worth 365 million dollars from hurricanes Ike and Gustav in the United States had a greater affect on the company's result than expected.
German exports plunged in November to record the biggest fall in nearly two decades, data released Thursday showed, as the deepening world economic downturn hits Europe's biggest economy.
When the Spirit rover landed on Mars five years ago, no one expected it or its sister rover Opportunity to make it to their first birthdays, let alone their fifth.
The San Antonio Spurs turned up their trademark defense down the stretch to turn back another opponent. 
US singer and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, 27, dominated the nominations for the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.