Japan's three major non-life insurers eye merger: report (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings and its two rivals are considering an integration of their operation to become Japan's biggest non-life insurer, a news report said Sunday.

Life Insurance Applications Continue Decline (Banker & Tradesman)
U.S. life insurance application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was down 1.8 percent in November, according to the MIB Life Index part of an ongoing trend in decreased life insurance sales that predates the current turmoil in the financial services industry.

Japan Insurance Shares Gain on Merger Speculation; Oji Drops (Bloomberg)
Dec. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Japan s insurance stocks jumped on speculation a merger of three non-life insurers will reduce competition. Oji Paper Co. led a decline by papermakers on a newspaper report falling demand is weighing on earnings.