Mercury Insurance, a multi-line insurance organization operating in 13 states, is offering a new commercial auto insurance product it says uses technology to enable its independent agents to more easily rate, qualify and issue new business.

A global ratings agency predicts a stable outlook for the U.S. property-casualty insurance sector in 2012 after this year’s weak profitability.

Pennsylvania-based Harleysville Mutual Insurance Co. and Harleysville Group are merging with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

Lawley Insurance, a regional insurance broker serving New York and New Jersey, was ranked for the first time among the Top 50 agencies in the country in this year’s annual listing in Business Insurance magazine, the company reported.

A New Jersey-based insurance brokerage, Bollinger, has acquired another New Jersey-based company, offering it additional access into the Northeast.

The soft market gripping commercial insurance in recent years is “losing steam,” as uncertainty offers a cloudy future, according to a new report.

United Fire & Casualty Co. completed its acquisition of Mercer Insurance Group, a New Jersey-based insurance company, for $191 million.

A Pittsburgh-based insurance agency was shut down by Pennsylvania insurance regulators for allegedly misappropriating $1 million premiums in what appears to be a pattern over a two-year period.

The personal lines segment and reinsurance lines’ ratings are stable for this year, while commercial lines turned from stable to negative, A.M. Best reported.

Alfa Alliance Insurance Corp. partnered with Crawford Contractor Connection to offer new repair services to its customers.