Insurance Australia Group Limited

Yesterday the Australian shares ended flat as weaker Commonwealth Bank and energy stocks weighed on the market. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 10.6 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 3,581.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 6.7 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 3,521.7. It could be fairly quiet during the pre-Christmas sessions. But the local market may be hit by the dropping commodities prices and the fears on US auto industry as US government has admitted that orderly bankruptcy can be one of the options for the troubled automakers.

On Friday, the Australian share market benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closd 154.5 points, or 4.3% higher, to 3742.5, while the broader All Ordinaries jumped 144.5 points, or 4.1%, to 3,672.7. The market experienced a best week for the two indexes since the recent two months, delivering weekly gains of 9.5% and 8.4%, respectively. However, the weak economic data and profit outlook would send the local market lower despite the strong lead from overseas markets. The news about RBA's expected aggressive rate cut will dominate the market this week.

Yesterday Australian shares closed slightly higher after staging a late-afternoon rally as Washington promised to shore up Citigroup. Miners surged while banks pared their losses. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 0.25%, or 8.6 points, to close at 3425.1, while the All Ordinaries index was up 0.1%, or 1.9 points, at 3388.8. Analysts anticipate the markets a stronger performance with the good news.
The December Share Price Index futures contract on the Sydney Futures Exchange was up 144 points, or more than 4%, at 3600 in recent trading.

Yesterday the Australia share market was buoyed on hope that China's economic stimulus plan would increase demand for resources. Mining and energy sectors rose on the news. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 56.5 points, or 1.4%, at 4,107.8 while the broader All Ordinaries index had advanced 53.4 points, or 1.3%, to 4,060.

Yesterday, the Australian share market closed lower after falls from the financial sector, with Babcock & Brown (ASX:BNB) suffering a heavy loss amid a drop in interim profit. Analysts said that some of the reports out yesterday were slightly negative, despite some coming out with higher profit the forward earnings would be under pressure.

Insurance Australia Group plans to return AU$200M to shareholders despite a tough outlook for local premium growth and potential acquistions in Asia.

Insurance Australia Group Limited's Annual General Meeting will be held at the Wesley Conference Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney on Wednesday 9 November 2005, commencing at 10.00am AEDT.