Kemper Corp.’s earnings declined in the first...

Kemper Corp.’s earnings declined in the first quarter to $53.7 million, compared to $55.7 million in the year-ago period, the company reported. First-quarter 1988 earnings include a tax benefit of $3 million under the 1986 Tax Reform Act’s “fresh start” provision; earnings for the same period last year were $7.4 million. The Long Grove, Ill., insurance and investment services firm attributed the decline to a weaker performance in some of its insurance segments, increased expenses to finance share repurchases and “unsatisfactory” results at its securities brokerage firms due primarily to “sluggish” trading volume.