Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Europe’s Insurers Turn to Risky Property Investments, in Hunt for Better Returns
Mar 3 2016 // Traditionally conservative European insurers and pension funds are turning increasingly to risky property bets on everything from new homes in provincial Britain to car parks at Brussels airport, as they feel the pinch...
Iran Still Faces Curbs on Oil Exports from Ongoing Insurance Issues: Oil Official
Mar 2 2016 // Iran still faces constraints on oil exports as buyers are cautious about boosting trade immediately because of banking and ship insurance difficulties, a senior Iranian oil official said, despite seeing a...
‘Brexit’ Could Hurt Investments, Cause Regulatory Uncertainty: UK’s Direct Line
Mar 1 2016 // A British exit from the European Union could hurt UK insurer Direct Line’s investment portfolio and cause regulatory uncertainty, it said on Tuesday after posting a 3 percent rise in 2015 operating profit. Britain...
5 Governments Write to China, Expressing Concern over New & Draft Laws
Mar 1 2016 // The United States, Canada, Germany, Japan and the European Union have written to China to express concern over three new or planned laws, including one on counterterrorism, in a rare joint bid to pressure Beijing into...
Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook for W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe)
Feb 29 2016 // A.M. Best has revised the issuer credit rating (ICR) outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the ICR of “a+” of W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd....
G20 Puts ‘Brexit’ on List of Top Global Risks After Push by UK Government
Feb 29 2016 // British finance minister George Osborne pushed financial leaders from the top 20 economies to include the risk of Britain leaving the European Union in their list of dangers to the world economy on Saturday, gaining...
As UK Debate over Brexit Heats Up, Some Suggest Looking at Lessons of History
Feb 26 2016 // Cities don’t stay on top forever. Just look at Venice in the 15th century, Philadelphia in the 18th or even Vienna in the 19th. It’s a lesson some Londoners worry is being forgotten when it comes to the...
RSA’s CEO Warns That UK Withdrawal from EU Could Have Negative Impact
Feb 25 2016 // RSA chief Stephen Hester said a British exit from the European Union could have a negative impact on the insurer’s business and investment returns, underscoring a warning from top executives about the impact of...
AXA’s 2015 Net Income Rises 12% on Life Insurance Sales in Europe, Asia
Feb 25 2016 // AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, said 2015 profit rose 12 percent, helped by higher life insurance sales in Europe and Asia. The shares rose. Net income climbed to 5.62 billion euros ($6.2 billion) from 5.02 billion...
Allianz Puts South Korean Life Insurance Unit on Block: Sources
Feb 24 2016 // Europe’s largest insurer Allianz has put its South Korean life insurance business on the block as part of a global overhaul in a tough low-interest rate environment, sources with direct knowledge of the matter...
‘Brexit’ Would Risk Economy & Jobs, Caution 200 Executives in Open Letter
Feb 23 2016 // The bosses of a third of Britain’s biggest companies warned on Tuesday that an exit from the European Union would put the economy at risk and threaten jobs. In a letter to the Times newspaper, bosses from big...
British Corporate Leaders Will Likely Vote to Remain in EU: UK Business Groups
Feb 22 2016 // British corporate leaders will likely vote for the U.K. to remain a part of the European Union, according to lobby groups for business, manufacturing and financial services. The Institute of Directors said the deal reached...
What Will ‘Brexit’ Mean for London’s Financial Center? Some Questions Answered
Feb 19 2016 // The U.K.’s looming in/out referendum on European Union membership, which may come as early as June, has sparked jitters, with analysts predicting declines in everything from London property prices to the pound. But...
Allianz Q4 2015 Profit Rises to $1.6B on Cat Claims; Lower Than Analyst Estimates
Feb 19 2016 // Allianz SE missed analyst estimates for fourth-quarter profit because of claims from natural catastrophes. Net income at Europe’s biggest insurer increased to 1.42 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in the quarter from...
FACTBOX: What Will ‘Brexit’, a British Exit from the EU Look Like?
Feb 17 2016 // As Britons debate whether to stay in or leave the European Union at a membership referendum, one of the key arguments is what a British exit, or “Brexit,” would look like? Below is an outline of the process...
British Departure from EU Would Put at Risk $670 Billion of U.K. Trade: Study
Feb 16 2016 // A British departure from the European Union would put at risk 466 billion pounds ($670 billion) of U.K. trade with nations in Europe and beyond, according to a report published by the Centre for Economic and Business...
Liberty Specialty Announces Specialty Lines and Fine Art & Specie Appointments
Feb 12 2016 // Liberty Specialty Markets, part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has promoted Mike Gosselin to the role of chief underwriting officer for specialty, while also naming David Saillen as head of fine art & specie –...
‘Brexit’ Will Create Real ‘Risks & Uncertainties’ for Lloyd’s & London Market
Feb 11 2016 // A UK exit from the European Union will create a “rarely experienced” level of uncertainty for Lloyd’s, the London market as well as the UK and other European economies, according to Sean McGovern,...
Top Generali Investors Making Their Influence Felt in Hunt for New CEO
Feb 10 2016 // French corporate raider Vincent Bollore is making his influence felt in corporate Italy by defying the country’s old guard in choosing a replacement for Mario Greco as Generali chief executive. Greco may have...
Generali Names Galateri as Interim CEO After Greco Departs for Zurich Insurance
Feb 9 2016 // Assicurazioni Generali SpA appointed its Chairman Gabriele Galateri, as acting chief executive officer after CEO Mario Greco decided to quit Italy’s biggest insurer to become the head of Zurich Insurance Group...
