1.   Banks are expected to move rapidly to increase their growing share of annuity sales.

2.   Life insurance sales are rising at a slower pace than annuity sales.

3.   The Comptroller of the Currency, charged by Congress with superintendence of national banks, determined that federal law permits such annuity sales as a service to bank customers.

4.   The increase in annuity sales -- in addition to fewer claims from catastrophes -- will contribute to growth for Lincoln National and Safeco.

5.   The National Association of Securities Dealers, an industry body that polices all U.S. brokers, also is stepping up its examination of annuity sales.

6.   The VARDS Report forecasts a doubling in variable annuity sales in just the next three years.

7.   Their share prices are depressed now because the decline in the markets has hurt variable annuity sales as well as the fees insurers collect for managing variable annuity accounts.

8.   To offset their losses in life insurance, many companies have been emphasizing annuity sales.

9.   U.S. life insurers are expected to report higher first-quarter earnings because of stronger annuity sales, and a mild winter helped property and casualty companies.

10.   U.S. life insurers can thank rising annuity sales for expected increases in third-quarter profits, while property and casualty insurers sidestepped major hurricane losses.