Quarterly Income Down at Amwest Insurance

Amwest Insurance Group Inc. posted a net income of $688,000 in its third quarter, down 43% from $1.2 million a year earlier.

The Woodland Hills-based specialty property and casualty company posted $30.1 million in premiums written--which are similar to sales--in its Sept. 30 quarter, up 22% from $24.7 million a year ago.

For the nine months, Amwest posted a net income of $3.8 million, compared with a net loss of $35,000 in 1996. Premiums written climbed during the period to $79.9 million, up 8% from $73.7 million a year ago.