insurer, posted a higher-than-expected 30.2 percent net profit increase for 1996, confirming expectations the country's insurers had a bumper year. Net profit rose to 1.138 billion Swiss francs ($773 million) from 874 million francs, Zurich said. Six analysts polled by Bloomberg News were expecting 1996 earnings between 1.075 billion and 1.115 billion francs.