The final cost of Hurricane Rita has not been assessed yet

Its comments came as it reported a �1.4bn ($2.5bn) profit for the six months to 30 June, up 21% on last year.

However, Lloyd's said the hurricane costs would make a significant impact on full-year profits.

The world's largest specialist insurance market said last month that claims from Katrina could reach �1.4bn.

But chief executive Nick Prettejohn told the BBC Lloyd's should still make a full-year profit, despite the hurricanes.

High insurance prices and low claims helped produce strong profits.

Unforeseen events

"Last year we had a very active hurricane season and made a profit for the full year," Mr Prettejohn told Radio Four's Today programme.

"Clearly the season is still active and there is still some way to go, and there may still be some catastrophic or unforeseen event, but we should still be in profit."

He said the recent series of events had been the worst hurricane storms "since the 1930s".

Mr Prettejohn said the market still had to make a full assessment of the cost of Hurricane Rita.

This is the first time the 300 year-old market has issued interim results.