Insurance segment grew 26.5% in Sept.

The Brazilian insurance industry billed 21.8bn reais (US$7.54bn) in the first nine months of this year, a 26.5% increase over the same period 2002, Brazilian press reported, citing data from the country's insurance regulator Susep. The claims rate showed a decline, reaching 60.9% by end-September compared to 62.5% at the same time last year.