FRANKFURT, Aug 22 Reuters Reinsurance company Swiss Re said on Thursday that net profit rose 17 in the first six months of the year, roughly in line with expectations, and it maintained its fullyear targets.

Earnings got a lift from low claims for natural catastrophe and investment income, Swiss Re said, while its digital whitelabel business that it is exiting continued to make a loss.

The net profit of 2.09 billion in the period compares with a profit 1.79 billion a year earlier. Analysts had expected a profit of 2.02 billion, according to a consensus forecast.

Swiss Re39;s new chief executive officer, Andreas Berger, said full year net profit should exceed 3.6 billion.

It said its prices rose 8 in its latest round of insurance renewals on July 1.

Reporting by Tom Sims and Paul Arnold, Editing by Rachel More

Source Reuters