Latest Market Headlines

All the headlines from our Market Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Dale Reports Miss. Insurers Have Made Solid Progress

Mar 15 2006 // A report in Jackson, Miss. by Insurance Commissioner George Dale shows that six months after Hurricane Katrina struck a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast, major insurers have made solid progress and are committed to...

Cornerstone Appraisal Services and MSB Form Strategic Alliance

Mar 14 2006 // High value home inspection vendor joins forces with MSB Valparaiso, Indiana and Los Angeles – Cornerstone Appraisal Services (Cornerstone) and Marshall & Swift / Boeckh (MSB), an MDA company, are pleased to...

Miss. Wind vs. Flood Lawsuit Remanded Back to State Court

Mar 13 2006 // The Mississippi lawsuit to force insurance companies to honor their policies and pay for damage caused by storm surge has been remanded back to the Chancery Court of Hinds County. Since the state is seeking injunctive, the...

Multi-State Class Actions Could Infringe on State Regulators’ Authority, Interfere with Claims Adjudication

Mar 10 2006 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has joined other members of the insurance industry in filing an Amici Curiae brief involving a multi-state class action appeal currently before the Washington...

Workers’ comp tug-of-war

Mar 6 2006 // A political tug-of war is now taking place in South Carolina involving Gov. Mark Sanford, Insurance Commissioner Elanor Kitzman, legislators and insurance industry representatives. The governor has responded that he...

U.K. Auto Market Going to the Internet

Mar 1 2006 // A new study from the Dublin-based consultants Research and Markets notes that the U.K.’s automobile (motor) owners are increasingly using the Internet when it comes to insuring their cars. “Buying insurance...

Americans for Insurance Reform Report Says Med-Mal ‘Crisis’ is Over

Mar 1 2006 // Americans for Insurance Reform (AIR) has released a new study confirming the wholesale decline of medical malpractice insurance rates nationwide. The AIR study also indicates that this phenomenon is occurring whether or...

Quanta Names Baker, Shapiro to Board

Feb 28 2006 // Bermuda-based Quanta Capital Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Roland C. Baker and Robert B. Shapiro to its Board of Directors and to its Audit Committee. Baker was also appointed to the Compensation Committee and...

N.Y. Homeowners Insurance Market: Strong or Weak?

Feb 28 2006 // New York’s homeowners insurance market is either strong, stable or fragile depending upon whether the speaker is an agent or an insurer. Also, Allstate Insurance Co.’s decision to limit its business in eight...

S&P: Insurer Reserving For Soft Market Years Remains Problematic

Feb 24 2006 // Confidence in the reserve adequacy of U.S. insurers increased modestly for accident years 2003 and 2004, according to Standard & Poor’s, but the rating agency said insurers’ ability to attain adequate...

Insurers Ready to Testify That N.Y. Homeowners Market is Healthy

Feb 23 2006 // The New York homeowners insurance market is stable, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Kristina Baldwin, PCI’s regional manager, will testify to that effect Monday before a hearing of...

Lloyd’s Underwriter Survey; ‘Cycle’ Remains Primary Concern

Feb 22 2006 // According to Lloyd’s newly released annual underwriter survey, “managing the insurance cycle as the most important challenge facing the global industry for the second year running.” The survey also found...

N.M. Legislators Adjourn on Quiet Note for Industry, Says NAMIC

Feb 22 2006 // New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session, which ended last Thursday, was predominantly focused upon budget related legislation, but a few insurance related bills were introduced, according to the National Association...

Actuaries to Research Avian Flu Pandemic Impact on Industry

Feb 21 2006 // The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is beginning research on the possible implications of an avian flu pandemic on the insurance industry. The SOA expects to provide insight into the potential impact a pandemic could have on...

Louisiana’s Robert Wooley: Leaving office, not the industry

Feb 20 2006 // Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley announced he would step down as commissioner Feb. 15, 2006, leaving the office he has held since 2000. Although he is returning to the private sector, Wooley indicated he...

Meetings

Feb 20 2006 // Introduction to Insurance Glendale Community College (Calif.) has added new credit courses for training in the insurance industry. Courses were developed as part of a $1.2 million President’s Community-Based Job...

New Mexico considering commercial lines file and use system

Feb 20 2006 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and the insurance industry are working with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to finalize and implement proposed rate regulations that would convert...

Louisiana’s Robert Wooley: Leaving office, not the industry

Feb 19 2006 // Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley announced he would step down as commissioner Feb. 15, 2006, leaving the office he has held since 2000. Although he is returning to the private sector, Wooley indicated he...

Meetings

Feb 19 2006 // Glendale Community College (Calif.) has added new credit courses for training in the insurance industry. Courses were developed as part of a $1.2 million President’s Community-Based Job Training Grant involving 16...

News Currents

Feb 19 2006 // New Mexico considering commercial lines file and use system The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and the insurance industry are working with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to finalize...