2017 catastrophes News

Final Insured Loss for Germany-Austria’s Storm Herwart Rises to €264M: PERILS

The final estimate of insured property losses for Extratropical Cyclone Herwart, which primarily affected Austria and Germany on Oct. 29, 2017, is €264 million (US$300.6 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. This …

Final Insured Loss for Germany’s Cyclone Xavier in 2017 Estimated at €324M: PERILS

The final insured property market losses for Extratropical Cyclone Xavier, based on loss data collected from affected insurers, is €324 million ($372.5 million), according to estimates issued by PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. This …

Insurance Industry Is Rethinking Cat Modeling After Last Year’s Disasters

After Hurricane Harvey swept through Texas last August, it not only left behind nearly 50 inches of rain in some areas and an estimated $125 billion in damage, but questions for the insurance industry in terms of how to approach …

Global Reinsurers’ Price Hikes Not Sustainable But Profitability to Improve: Fitch

Fitch Ratings’ outlook for global reinsurance remains negative given intense market competition, the influx of alternative capital that continues to pressure pricing and persistently low investment yields that strain reinsurer profitability. However, Fitch expects to affirm the majority of its …

Everest Re Expects Q1 Catastrophe Losses of $100M on Rising California Wildfire Claims

Everest Re Group Ltd. estimates it will incur $100 million of catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance recoverables and reinstatement premiums, in the first quarter of 2018, largely arising from the California wildfires and related events. Everest said its original loss …

Natural Disasters Cost Insurers a Record $144 Billion in 2017: Swiss Re’s sigma

Global insured losses from natural catastrophes were US$144 billion in 2017, the highest-ever recorded in a single year, according to the latest sigma study from the Swiss Re Institute. The biggest losses came from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria (HIM), …

Final Loss Estimate for Australia’s Cyclone Debbie Is A$1.7B (US$1.3B): PERILS

The final property insurance loss estimate for Australia’s Tropical Cyclone Debbie is A$1.7 billion (US$1.3 billion), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. Cyclone Debbie hit the Australian states of Queensland and New South …

PERILS Revises Loss Estimate for Europe’s Windstorm Zeus to €272M ($335.1M)

The final estimate of insured property market losses for extratropical cyclone Zeus, which mainly hit France last year on March 6-7, have been revised to €272 million (US$335.1 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe …

Commercial Insurance Prices Rise in Q4 2017, Reversing 4½ Years of Rate Cuts: Marsh

Average global insurance pricing in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased for the first time since Q1 2013, driven largely by global property insurance pricing following the third quarter’s large catastrophe losses, according to Marsh’s latest Market Index report. The …

Widespread Market Firming Unlikely Even as Property Rates Rise: WTW

Commercial property insurers are seeking double-digit rate hikes on catastrophe-exposed insurance programs following 2017’s record catastrophes; however, abundant capacity in the form of traditional and alternative capital is likely to depress widespread market firming, according to global advisor Willis Towers …