Polarization between winners and losers became apparent Friday when the nation's major and second-tier nonlife insurance companies released their earning reports for fiscal 1999.
Of the nine firms that reported business results during the day, five showed declining numbers for the year that ended March 31, while the others had marginal increases in premium income, which compares to sales for non-financial firms.
Tokio Marine & Fire Insurance Co., the nation's largest casualty and property insurer, reported 1.286 trillion yen in premium income, up 0.1 percent from the year before.