The loss ratio for mortgage insurer Genworth Financial bumped up in the March 2011 quarter, though the ratio remains below the recent high it incurred in late 2008 and 2009.In financial statements published in the US last week, Genworth said the loss ratio for its Australian and New Zealand arm increased to 45 per cent for the March quarter, up from an average ratio of 33 per cent over calendar 2010.The insurer paid A$26 million in claims over the quarter, which was below the level of each of the four quarters in 2010.Genworth put the delinquency rate (or loans in arrears) in the quarter at 0.52 per cent - also a mild increase on recent levels.In keeping with recent trends arrears, levels are highest in New Zealand, at 1.23 per cent of insured loans. In Australia, the highest level of arrears on insured home loans is in Queensland, where 0.64 per cent of loans are affected.The January floods only exaggerated an established trend, with arrears already above average in the state. Arrears are also above average in New South Wales. Genworth said new insurance written also decreased further during the March 2011 quarter, "reflecting a smaller mortgage originations market, as well as the economic impact of recent natural disasters. The firm added that, "For the remainder of 2011 we expect the flow of new insurance written to remain flat compared with 2010 levels."