United States News

Hudson Resigning as Ohio Insurance Director

Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson has announced her resignation effective Jan. 10, 2011. Her final work day will be Jan. 7. “I am proud of the many changes that we have implemented over the past four years …

Set yourself apart from 90% of Americans

In my personal reading and research I’ve come across many books from famous sales and personal performance Guru’s that quote a famous Yale study that extol the virtues of setting goals. I have even quoted this survey to give credence …

U.S. Analyst: China May Be ‘Likely Bright Spot’ in Asia Climate Action

The outcome of U.N. climate talks in Mexico this month should boost steps in Asia to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with China a likely bright spot in 2011, a senior analyst at a leading U.S. think tank said. The talks …

Six Keys to Harleysville’s Turnaround

Six years ago, Harleysville Group was in need of a big change. The Pennsylvania-based insurer had just come out of the worst performing year in its history. That’s when newly appointed CEO Michael Browne — who declared the company’s performance …

2010 Was Year of 20 Million Recalls for Car Makers

Automakers recalled about 20 million vehicles in 2010, led by high-profile recalls by Toyota that prompted new scrutiny of the auto industry’s safety record. The number of recalls this year was the largest in the United States since 2004, according …

Obesity Increases the Risk of Disabling Workplace Injuries

Recent research confirms anecdotal data that work-related injuries are far more costly if an injured worker is obese. In fact, a claim with an obese diagnosis can be 30 times to 60 times more expensive than a comparable claim incurred …

Texas Q1 2011 Workers’ Comp Discount, Interest Rate Set at 3.8%

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) has set at 3.8 percent the workers’ compensation interest and discount rate for the first quarter of 2011. This rate is computed by using the treasury constant maturity rate for …

Reinsurance Renewal Rates On the Decline, Reports Claim

Reinsurance rates for 2011 are falling at the same or greater pace than traditional insurers and further softening of the market is to come, according to two industry reports. For the second year in a row, global reinsurance property catastrophe …

Ratings Recap: Allianz Global (US), Balboa Group, North Light, Heritage

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings of “aa” of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty North America (AGCS NA), which includes Allianz Global Risk US Insurance Company, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company, …

Best Assigns Rating to Allianz Risk Transfer AG

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AG (AGCS AG). Best also affirmed the FSR of …