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

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.

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

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.

Risk Strategies Co. (RSC) merged its West Coast operations with one of the largest private client personal lines insurance groups in California.

Integrated Insurance Solution acquired Tango Insurance so it can break into the growing Spanish insurance market.

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

Sales of property-casualty insurance policies in the U.S. increased for the first time in 13 quarters, according to an induåçstry organization, as personal lines insurers appeared to charge higher premiums in the second quarter.

State Auto Group, which recently opened a regional headquarters in Hunt Valley, Md., has had its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings lowered by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service.