Mainly because of industry-wide negative pricing trends, Markel Corp.'s operating performance has deteriorated and underperformed compared with the commercial lines property/casualty sector. As a result, we have revised our outlook on the company to negative from stable. We have also affirmed our 'BBB' unsolicited counterparty credit rating on Markel. NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 4, 2009--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it revised its outlook on Markel Corp. (NYSE:MKL) to negative from stable. Standard&Poor's also said that it affirmed its 'BBB' unsolicited counterparty credit rating on the company. "The outlook revision reflects our view that Markel's operating performance has weakened because of soft pricing and the resulting increase in accident-year loss ratios," explained Standard&
