ZURICH (Reuters) - Zurich Financial Services Group (ZURN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) easily beat market expectations with a 21 percent rise in nine-month net profit to $2.256 billion, despite high U.S. hurricane claims hurting its non-life insurance unit.

The combined ratio -- which measures costs and claims over premium income -- in the general insurance business rose to 100.9 percent, Zurich said on Thursday, indicating an underwriting loss as storms pushed up claims.

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