AFG just beats as combined ratio improves

American Financial Group (AFG) edged ahead of Wall Street
earnings forecasts for the second quarter as operating earnings
were unaffected by its preannounced $65mn charge relating to
business line exits at rebranded Lloyd's platform Neon.
Operating profits of $113mn were flat with the prior-year period
and at $1.28 a share were just ahead of analysts' consensus
forecasts of $1.26 a share.
The $65mn restructuring charge for the former Marketform
business now being revamped by its new CEO Martin R