Latest Market Headlines

Congress Examines Municipal Bond Ratings, Bond Insurance Industry

Mar 13 2008 // The fast-spreading U.S. mortgage crisis prompted lawmakers Wednesday to explore problems with municipal bonds, painting a bleak outlook for bond insurers that one official said imposes a “secret Wall Street...

Climate Change No. 1 in Top 10 Risks Facing the Insurance Industry

Mar 12 2008 // Potential climate change is the greatest strategic risk currently facing the property/casualty insurance industry, with demographic changes taking priority for the life insurance industry, according to a new study by Ernst...

Expect Consolidation in Nonstandard Auto Insurance Market, Conning Says

Mar 11 2008 // The nonstandard auto insurance market is being redefined by the influence of technology and other external forces, according to a new study by Conning Research and Consulting. “As predictive modeling has become more...

Skin in the Game

Mar 10 2008 // Since this issue of Insurance Journal puts the spotlight on agency salaries, it’s only fair that the compensation of corporate CEOs come in for some scrutiny as well. No, we’re not going on a paycheck hunt,...

Mar 10 2008 // People Ken Ross has been named commissioner of the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services. Ross has been the acting commissioner since Linda Watters left the post in October. He has been with the state agency...

Things to Consider When Estimating Subprime D&O Losses

Mar 10 2008 // Several observers and analysts have recently tried to estimate the insurance industry’s aggregate subprime-related loss exposure. At one end, Bear Stearns has estimated the industry’s exposure at $8 billion to...

Skin in the Game

Mar 10 2008 // Since this issue of Insurance Journal puts the spotlight on agency salaries, it’s only fair that the compensation of corporate CEOs come in for some scrutiny as well. No, we’re not going on a paycheck hunt,...

Industry Fights Back Against Charges of Bad Faith

Mar 10 2008 // The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business’ latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that property and casualty insurers continue to rank above average in customer service compared to...

Florida Insurance Market Showing Signs of Improvement

Mar 10 2008 // The insurance market in Florida is adjusting to changing conditions — some man-made, others resulting from forces of nature — all of which make property insurance for Florida homeowners more available and more...

Skin In the Game

Mar 10 2008 // Since this issue of Insurance Journal puts the spotlight on agency salaries, it’s only fair that the compensation of corporate CEOs come in for some scrutiny as well. No, we’re not going on a paycheck hunt,...

Industry Fights Back Against Charges of Bad Faith

Mar 10 2008 // The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business’ latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that property and casualty insurers continue to rank above average in customer service compared to...

Skin In the Game

Mar 10 2008 // Since this issue of Insurance Journal puts the spotlight on agency salaries, it’s only fair that the compensation of corporate CEOs come in for some scrutiny as well. No, we’re not going on a paycheck hunt,...

As the Soft Market Continues, Calif. Wholesalers Seek Specialty Niches

Mar 10 2008 // Relationships with agents, brokers and regulators critical to CIWA members The members of the California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) play a vital role in the state’s insurance market. To find out how...

People

Mar 10 2008 // Denver-based Van Gilder added three persons to its staff. Tony Dodd joined the firm as an account executive specializing in homeowner association risk management programs. Kyle Krisman assumed the role of business...

Who’s Worth What?

Mar 10 2008 // Agency Salary Survey: Survey reveals fewer pay raises in 2007 but most agencies’ salaries hold firm Fewer independent agencies gave salary increases to managers, sales producers and support personnel in 2007 compared...

Nanotechnology: A Big Risk in a Small Package?

Mar 10 2008 // Nanotechnology presents great opportunity, but the impact on insurance is still unknown Insurance professionals gathered in the oak-paneled Old Library of Lloyd’s of London this past December to learn more about a...

Aon Study Finds Aerospace Premiums Down by 11%

Mar 7 2008 // Aon’s recently published “Aerospace Insurance Market Review 2007” highlights the year’s “soft market driven by high capacity and historically low claims.” Aon determined that the...

Fitch Conference Call Today Analyzes Bermuda (Re)Insurance Market

Mar 5 2008 // Fitch Ratings will host a teleconference today, Wednesday, March 5, to discuss the Bermuda insurance and (Re)insurance markets and trends expected to affect this industry in 2008. Fitch’s analysts will also delve...

Fitch Reports on Bermuda Insurance, Reinsurance Market

Mar 4 2008 // Fitch Ratings has released a new “Special Report” examining the state of Bermuda’s insurance and reinsurance industry, which concludes that it “continues to develop as a thriving domicile for...

Willis Exec Lists Industry ‘Megatrends’

Feb 28 2008 // Speaking to over 400 insurance industry executives at A.M. Best’s 15th Annual Review and Preview Conference in Naples, Fla., Tom Ealy, most recently COO of the Willis North America unit of Willis Group Holdings,...