May 3 (Reuters) - QBE Insurance Group Ltd QBE.AX :
* EXPERIENCED PREMIUM RATE STRENGTH OF ABOUT 4 PERCENT (EXCLUDING CTP) IN Q1
* "OUR RATE INCREASES IN Q1 OF 2018 HAVE BEEN BROADLY IN LINE WITH OUR FORECASTS"
* "OUR YEAR TO DATE INVESTMENT RETURNS (ON AN ANNUALISED BASIS) WERE BELOW OUR FY18 TARGET RANGE"
* LOOKING FORWARD, DIVIDEND POLICY REMAINS THE SAME; EXPECTS TO CONTINUE TO PAY DIVIDEND OF UP TO 65% OF CASH PROFITS
* COMMENCED PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SHARE BUYBACK FOR 2018 AND AS AT 1 MAY ACQUIRED A$23.5 MILLION OF SHARES ON MARKET UNDER PROGRAM
* SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD EXPECT A RETURN TO A MORE HISTORICALLY NORMAL DIVIDEND