Financial results from the latest profit-reporting season suggest commercial premiums in Australia are rising, analysts say.

IAG, Suncorp, Steadfast and AUB Group reported half-year earnings last month, while QBE posted its full-year result.

“Despite the weakness… in the past year, the outlook for pricing is showing signs of improvement,” Deutsche Research Analyst Ross Curran says in a report following the QBE result.

“The US market is pointing to a slight improvement in pricing in the past few months, while commentary from IAG and [Suncorp] suggests that commercial pricing trends have found a bottom in this local market.”

JP Morgan notes signs of a positive shift in the commercial cycle, but in a report on the Suncorp result its analysts warn they are yet to see a “meaningful turn” in premium rates.

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