LOW premiums in the currently soft US insurance market took profits at

insurance broker JIB down with them. The weak dollar and falling

interest rates also hurt the group, which was floated on the Stock

Exchange in November.

JIB unveiled pre-tax profits of #10.7m in the six months to June 30

compared with #11.1m previously. And it warned that profits for the full

year would be below expectations.

The interim dividend has been set at 2.5p and shareholders who

invested in the company when it was floated are likely to receive a

final payout of 5p. Earnings per share dropped to 5.8p from 9.4.