Investment performance helps WR Berkley beat estimates

WR Berkley surpassed analysts' estimates for the first
quarter, reporting net income per share that jumped 35 percent to
$1.30 largely because of the insurer's strong investment
performance.
The Greenwich, Connecticut-based carrier said it realized a
$142mn profit on the sale of investments before considering
accounting changes for unrealized gains on equities.
Besides the robust investment income, WR Berkley said the net
impact of its catastrophe losses "was relatively modest"
and that its acci