The outlook for the Gard marine insurance group has been raised to positive on indications that there is going to be a record surplus this year.

Gard is heading for a near $220m profit that will lift its free reserve to about $860m.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) indicates it may restore the 'A+' rating that Gard lost as it kept faith with the equity market in the wake of the financial market crash.

Gard is ahead in the marine insurance game.