Latest Europe Headlines
All the headlines from our Europe Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Torus Strengthens European P&C Platforms with New Appointments
Nov 17 2011 // Torus Insurance announced that it has “enhanced its offering in Europe with the appointment of Brian Byrnes as Senior Underwriter for General Property and Marco Sonntag as Senior Underwriter for Casualty.” They...
Reuters Analyst Warns World Must Keep Focus on Climate Risk
Nov 17 2011 // Gerard Wynn, a Reuters market analyst, has expressed his own views on the necessity of continuing to deal with the challenges presented by extreme weather and its global impact. Rising temperatures are driving more...
HK Shares Close Down 2%; Chinese Insurers Slump
Nov 16 2011 // Hong Kong shares slumped on Wednesday, dragged down by weakness in Chinese insurers and property developers, with turnover low as investors became more averse to riskier assets on fears of contagion from Europe’s...
RSA Makes Changes to Operational Structure, Executive Team
Nov 14 2011 // UK-based RSA has announced announces a number of changes to the Group’s operating structure and Executive Team. As of January first the group will be reorganized into four regions: UK & Western Europe;...
FERMA Pushes Brazil to Relax Reinsurance Regulatory Restrictions
Nov 14 2011 // The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) announced that it has sent “specific recommendations to the Brazilian insurance regulator SUSEP to limit the impact of regulations 225 and 232 on market...
Does the Legacy of the Great War Still Haunt Europe?
Nov 10 2011 // As Americans and much of the rest of the world pause to honor the men and women who have served their country, one is reminded of the significance of the date – November 11. 93 years ago the guns of World War I fell...
Swiss Re Places $130 Million Cat Bond for Hurricanes, European Wind
Nov 9 2011 // Swiss Re has obtained a further $130 million in protection through the Successor X Ltd. catastrophe bond program, which covers exposures to “North Atlantic hurricane and European windstorm.” Swiss Re noted that...
Best Affirms Torus Insurance Holdings and Operating Subs Ratings
Nov 9 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Torus Insurance (Bermuda) Limited, Torus...
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...
