Italy’s largest insurer, Generali, has bucked the general downward trend among European insurers with a 4.1% increase in premium income of €67.4 billion ($132.8 billion) in 2008 on the back of a strong performance in Germany. Premiums in general insurance lines increased 6% to €21.5 billion ($42.3 billion).

However, the insurer did not mention net profit figures during a company announcement last week.