Dec 18 (Reuters) - QBE Insurance Group Ltd QBE.AX :
* ANTICIPATE THAT GROUP'S COMBINED OPERATING RATIO COULD BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE TOP END OF 2019 TARGET RANGE OF 94.5%-96.5%
* QBE ANTICIPATES A 2020 NET INVESTMENT RETURN TARGET RANGE OF 2.5%-3.0%, DOWN FROM 3.0%-3.5% IN CURRENT YEAR
* SEES ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO ADD TO SLIGHTLY HIGHER ATTRITIONAL LOSS EXPERIENCE IN 2019 FOR SOME NORTH AMERICAN PROPERTY CLASSES
* N. AMERICAN CROP INSURANCE BUSINESS LIKELY TO REPORT 2019 CURRENT ACCIDENT YEAR COMBINED OPERATING RATIO OF AROUND 107% - 109% ON NEP OF $1.2BLN