The Good News: Chubb Hikes Dividend

Chubb (CB Quote) said Thursday that its board has decided to boost the Warren, N.J., insurer's quarterly dividend to 35 cents a share from 33 cents, a 6.1% increase.

The dividend is payable April 7 to shareholders of record on March 20.

However, despite the increase, Chubb, a property and casualty insurer, didn't see its shares benefit. Recently the stock was down 0.3% at $40.14.

Still, Chubb's ability to lift its dividend contrasts with other recent headlines in the wider insurance universe, where some firms are having to take drastic steps to preserve capital. For instance, Allstate (ALL Quote) cut its payout in half this week, and Hartford (HIG Quote) recently lowered its rate.

Elsewhere in the sector, AIG (AIG Quote) was up 8.8% at 50 cents, and CNA (CNA Quote) was adding 4.3% to $8.70.

Travelers (TRV Quote) was down 1.8% to $37.23, while American Financial (AFG Quote) was up 0.9% at $16.10.