Shares Of The Hartford Climb 8%

By DIANE LEVICK | Courant Staff Writer The Hartford's shares climbed 8 percent Tuesday on better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter, but the company noted that it expects a sizable charge to third-quarter earnings. Stock of The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. closed up $4.68, at $62.94 a share, in heavy trading Tuesday. The company reported after the market's close Monday that second-quarter net income of $543 million, or $1.73 a share, was 13 percent lower than a year earlier, with investment results playing a major role. Core earnings, which exclude realized investment gains and losses, were down 9 percent, but at $2.22 a share, they beat analysts' consensus of $2.10. The Hartford stuck to its core earnings guidance of $9.20 to $9.50 a share for 2008, which excludes a special charge discussed on a... [read full story]