Also. . .

* Aon Corp., the world’s No. 2 insurance broker, said it will spin off its insurance underwriting operations in a move to build up that business and remove potential conflicts with its brokering operations. Aon also said investment losses hit first-quarter profit hard, possibly wiping off half of earnings expected by analysts.

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* Conseco Inc. said it is eliminating 1,000 jobs, or 7% of its work force, and moving an additional 2,000 employees to India by next year as part of an effort by the insurer and consumer-finance company to cut costs.

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