Updates

** Shares of property and casualty insurer Travelers Companies TRV.N up 7.8% at $364.2

** Company's Q2 core profit jumps on lower catastrophe losses and strong investment income

** Quarterly core income per share rises 44% to $10.04 vs analysts' estimates of $5.42 — data compiled by LSEG

** Reports catastrophe losses of $518 million on a pre-tax basis, compared with $927 million a year earlier

** Analysts at J.P.Morgan say earnings beat across the board, but were especially strong in personal lines and business insurance

** Net investment income at $1.07 billion, up 13.6% over the year earlier

** Up to last close, shares up ~16% YTD