Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
IMF Head Warns World Economy Risks a ‘Lost Decade’
Nov 9 2011 // The head of the International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday that Europe’s debt crisis risked plunging the global economy into a “lost decade” and said it was up to rich nations to shoulder the burden...
EU Finance Ministers Reaffirm Climate Funding for Developing Countries
Nov 9 2011 // EU finance ministers on Tuesday signed off on more than €4 billion ($5.5 billion) in short-term funding to help developing countries adapt to climate change and curb emissions — even as they met to grapple with...
Ratings Recap: Tokio Millennium Re, Alterra Re Europe, Harmony General
Nov 7 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A++’ (Superior) from ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating to “aa+” from “aa-” of Bermuda-based Tokio...
Broker/Analyst Cheuvreux Urges Buffett to ‘Come to Europe’
Nov 4 2011 // Warren Buffett should come to Europe to tap regional champions at knock-down valuations, including in his favored sectors, Cheuvreux analysts said in an open ‘letter’ to the billionaire U.S. investor detailing...
France, Germany Give Greece Ultimatum on Euro
Nov 3 2011 // The leaders of Germany and France told Greece on Wednesday it would not receive another cent in European aid until it decides whether it wants to stay in the euro zone. They also made clear that saving the euro was...
US, EU, Japan Press China on Financial Services Reform at WTO
Nov 1 2011 // The United States criticized China on Monday for failing to fulfill World Trade Organization commitments to open its financial services market, while the European Union and Japan pressed for answers on specific areas of...
EU Says Doha Deal Could Boost World Exports by $505 Billion, If Revived
Nov 1 2011 // Moribund talks for a global accord to open up trade could boost world exports by more than half a trillion dollars a year if they were revived and completed, lifting global economic growth by 0.2 percent, an EU report said...
Greek Referendum Plan Threatens New Euro Zone Crisis
Nov 1 2011 // Prime Minister George Papandreou’s shock announcement that he will put Greece’s bailout to a referendum threatened to intensify the euro zone crisis, and brought complaints in Germany that Athens is trying to...
Liberty International Opens New Office in Hamburg
Nov 1 2011 // The London-based Liberty International Underwriters in Europe (LIU Europe), a member of Liberty Mutual Group, has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany, aimed at to strengthening “its position as a competitive,...
Markets Cheer Euro Deal But Questions Remain
Oct 27 2011 // The euro and stocks rallied on Thursday after European leaders struck a deal to provide debt relief for Greece, but analysts warned the plan would fail to halt the euro zone’s two-year-old debt crisis unless crucial...
Europe’s Risk Managers Concerned by Social Media Reputation Damage
Oct 24 2011 // The U.S. isn’t alone in having to deal with the increased threats from social media and the potential they pose to reputation risk, as well as the protection of confidential information. These risks are also becoming...
Best’s Managing Director-Europe: Solvency II is Coming to an Insurer near You
Oct 24 2011 // Stefan Holzberger, A.M. Best’s managing director-analytics, recently moved to London from the U.S. He is well placed to analyze the impact of the European Union’s Solvency II regulations, not only on the...
Germany Rebuffs France on Euro Zone Solution; Insurance for Bonds an Option
Oct 21 2011 // France’s push to use more European Central Bank money to fight the euro zone debt crisis ran into strong resistance from Germany and other EU partners on Friday, leaving Paris increasingly isolated before a crucial...
Willis Launches Liability Coverage for Hedge Fund Directors
Oct 18 2011 // The ongoing financial crisis has claimed many victims over the past few years, but while banks and their depositors have been largely protected by taxpayer bailouts, the investment fund community, and the hedge fund...
Europe’s Fleet Vehicle Market Valued at $23 Billion
Oct 18 2011 // New research by Finaccord, a specialist market research consulting firm, estimates that the market for motor insurance for fleet vehicles across ten European countries is worth €15.8 billion [$21.77 billion] in premiums...
Report AXA, Generali, Tokio Marine, MS&AD Submit Bids for HSBC Unit
Oct 14 2011 // European insurers AXA SA, Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Japan’s Tokio Marine and MS&AD Insurance Group are among suitors to submit first round bids for HSBC’s non-life insurance business, sources with...
Best Affirms Aspen UK, Bermuda Companies and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 14 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Ratings Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) and Aspen...
Best Affirms QBE and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 12 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe)...
FERMA’s President on the Risk Managers’ Role, Transparency, Innovation
Oct 6 2011 // Peter den Dekker has been a busy man. However, the President of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations* (FERMA) took time out to talk to the IJ on the expanding role risk managers are playing in these...
Deutsch Bank Head Sees ‘Fundamental Reassessment’ of Financial Industry
Oct 5 2011 // Dr. Josef Ackermann’s keynote speech to delegates at the Risk Management Forum of the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) basically described the global financial system as broken and in need...
