The Lloyd's of London insurance market has crashed to a first-half loss of £697m, hit by record claims from natural catastrophes including the March 11 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
The loss compares with a profit of £628m a year earlier, and reflects a total of £6.7 billion in claims absorbed during the first half, making it the costliest six-month period in Lloyd's 323-year history.
Many insurers have reported steep half-year losses after an unprecedented run of natural disasters which also included an earthquake in New Zealand and heavy flooding in Australia.
This year already ranks as the second most destructive on record for catastrophe losses after 2005, with insurers absorbing $70 billion in claims in the first six months alone, according to Swiss Re , the world's number two reinsurer.
Last month, Catlin, operator of the biggest Lloyd's syndicate, sank to a first half loss of $201m, while rivals Amlin and Hiscox unveiled deficits of £192.3m and £85.6m respectively.
Lloyd's said 2011 was set to be the second most expensive year ever for insurers but added that its own claims were being met without any call on its central fund - its fund of last resort.
Chief executive Richard Ward said: "These are tough times for the insurance industry, but we are well positioned to handle them."
