QBE

The year comes of with a rough start for some and a smooth for others as companies trade stocks for the second week of 2012. Here are the lists of the best and worst traded stocks in the ASX100, ASX200 and All Ordinaries in the Australian Securities Exchange for January 9-13, 2012.

Best Performing Trade Stocks ASX100 (XTO)

ASX100

QBE Insurance Group (QBE) is starting the year on a rough phase as it announces the 40-50 per cent decline in profit and 62 per cent in dividend, causing its shareprice to drop to an eight-year low. This follows yesterday's bad news regarding the involvement of the insurance company's subsidiary Balboa in a pricing probe in the US.

Shares of Australian insurance company QBE Insurance Group (QBE) are now on a trading halt after news circulated that its recently bought Balboa mortgage insurance subsidiary in the United States is being investigated by US regulators.

There are no scheduled floats, but shareholders can take a look forward to four stocks that will go on ex-dividend and two general meetings on Thursday.

Dividends

HII, LCM, MCR, and QBE's stocks will go on ex-dividend in August 25,2011.

After warning of cuts to its already lowered profit targets, QBE Insurance (ASX:QBE) shares plummeted yesterday to a six month low. The company cited continuing catastrophic events--the worst in 35 years--negatively affecting its bottom line.

Insurance profit margin for 2011 could be under its target of between 15 to 18 percent, but analysts said that the value could be 13 percent.

QBE Insurance (ASX:QBE’s) shares dropped almost 4 percent in over six months after the insurance group cut its profit margin forecast because of catastrophes. Stocks were down by 68 percent at $16.60, the group’s lowest since November last year.

QBE Insurance (ASX:QBE) raises $US1 billion in subordinated debt to maintain its balance sheet and fund its operations to fend off the impact of natural disasters. The company also prepares for insurance renewals in July when costs are bound to soar due to renegotiations.

Stock Market Trading Top Ten Performers on the ASX 100 for the week. These stocks increased their share price by the largest percentage on the Australian sharemarket, the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) from the previous week of trading (14th week: 4th April to 8th April 2011). Other lists of ASX companies by market capitalisation.

Worst Australian Stockmarket Shares on the ASX 100 for the week. These stocks decreased their share price by the largest percentage on the Australian sharemarket, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) from the previous week of trading (9th week: 28th February to 4th March 2011). Other lists of ASX companies by market capitalisation.