3Q net loss: $3 million loss (loss of five cents per share) compared to profits of $355 million (earnings of $1.22 per share) during the third quarter a year ago.

3Q operating income: $31 million (seven cents per share) compared with $304 million ($1.04 per share) for the same quarter of last year.

3Q catastrophe losses: After- tax charge of $406 million ($1.42 per share) compared with after-tax net catastrophe losses of $35 million (12 cents per share) during the third quarter of 2003.

3Q net premiums written: $2.8 billion, reflecting 20 percent growth while P&C net premium growth shot up 23 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

3Q net investment income: Up 17 percent to $252 million. P&C netinvestment income increased 37 percent over 2003.

3Q combined ratio*: 105.2 percent compared to 91.4 percent in 2003.

9-month net income: $857 million ($2.88 per share), a 12 percent drop from the $973 million ($3.46 per share) recorded a year ago.

9-month operating income: $822 million ($2.76 per share), down five percent when compared to $869 million ($3.08 per share) in the same period of 2003.

9-month catastrophe losses: After-tax net catastrophe losses for the first nine months of 2004 were $406 million or $1.42 per share, compared with $70 million or $0.25 per share in the same period of 2003.

9-month combined ratio*: The combined ratio for the first nine months of the year was 93.8 percent.

• ACE's operating cash flow stood at approximately $1.8 billion for the quarter

• ACE's cash and invested assets increased by $1.3 billion from June 30, 2004

*Insurers report combined ratios as an indicator of underwriting profitability. The number, which is recorded as a percentage, generally indicates the level of underwriting profit (below 100 percent) or loss (over 100 percent).