Marsh & McLennan, the world’s second-largest insurance broker, beat profit estimates for the fourth successive quarter as its core insurance business benefited from improved pricing trends.Brokers like Marsh & McLennan have benefited as insurers could increase their rates after incurring higher catastrophe losses last year.Revenue at Marsh, the company’s main insurance business, grew eight percent to $1.4 billion, while revenue from consulting was up four percent at $1.3 billion.The company provides management consulting, human resource consulting and outsourcing and risk and reinsurance intermediary services.January to March net income rose to $347 million, or 64 cents per share, from $325 million, or 57 cents per share, a year ago.On an adjusted basis, the company earned 63 cents per share.Analysts had expected 61 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.Revenue increased six percent to $3.05 billion, edging past analyst estimates of $3.04 billion.The company took a minority stake in Bermuda-based insurance asset manager Juniperus Capital, which specialises in catastrophe bonds and other capital markets insurance products, last week.