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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K




                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)          March 8, 2000


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                            CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION





            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

          Delaware                  1-5823                36-6169860
(State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission           (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)          File Number)        Identification No.)

 CNA Plaza, Chicago, Illinois                               60685
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code       (312) 822-5000

          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



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Item 5.           Other Events

Exhibit No.       Description
- -----------       ------------
99.01             On March 8, 2000, CNA Financial Corporation issued a press
                  release announcing that it is exploring the sale of its
                  individual life insurance and life reinsurance businesses.  A
                  copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.01
                  and is incorporated herein by reference.



                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                       CNA FINANCIAL CORPORATION


Date:   March 9, 2000                      By:  S/ROBERT V. DEUTSCH
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                                                Robert V. Deutsch
                                                Senior Vice President and
                                                Chief Financial Officer