Hartford, Conn.-based Travelers Corp. reported its third-quarter...

Hartford, Conn.-based Travelers Corp. reported its third-quarter operating earnings rose 32%, compared to the same period last year. For the first nine months, operating earnings increased 20%. Higher earnings resulted primarily from a significant improvement in the commercial property-casualty business, a spokesman for Travelers said. Property-casualty commercial lines profit for the quarter were $36.3 million, compared to a loss of $31.4 million a year ago. For the nine months, profit was $90.1 million, compared to a loss of $54.1 million last year.