WRAPUP 2-European insurers struggle to hike prices

* Price rises not offsetting claims - analysts

* Zurich Financial Q3 business oper profit $1.5 bln

* Munich Re Q3 net 644 mln eurosvs 700 mln f'cast

* European insurance stock index down 1.4 pct (Adds further analyst comment, ZFS detail; updates index)

By Myles Neligan

LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - European non-life insurers are struggling to absorb rising claims as recession-weary policyholders put up stiffer-than-expected resistance to higher prices.

At the start of the year, insurers had hoped the economic downturn would ease competitive pressures as some players pulled out of the market, paving the way for a broad rise in premium rates.

But trading updates from a clutch of European insurers on Thursday showed progress was slower than hoped, analysts said.

"The message is that they're all running very hard to stand still," said ING analyst Kevin Ryan.