Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Survey Shows Signs of Midwest Economic Slowdown
Nov 3 2015 // Figures plunged in an October survey of supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states, the third straight month of declines that suggest a regional economic slowdown, according to a report released on Nov. 2. The...
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Cuts Profit Forecast on Pension Changes, Strong Pound
Nov 3 2015 // Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc lowered its expectations for 2015 profit after government pension changes hurt the insurance broker’s U.K. employee benefits business and the stronger pound cut income from overseas....
A.M. Best: Europe Insurance Market Begins Recovery; Life Sector Drives Growth
Nov 2 2015 // Europe’s largest insurance markets have continued to show some signs of recovery, with many experiencing top-line growth, driven by the life sector, according to a new report by A.M. Best. In general, the increases...
TWIA Request for Increased Liability Limits Denied
Nov 2 2015 // Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax has denied a request by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) to increase limits of liability for residential and commercial properties it covers along the Texas...
Outlook for Homeowners Insurance Market Improves: Report
Nov 2 2015 // The outlook for the U.S. homeowners market has improved over last year thanks in part to rate increases and lower reinsurance costs, according to reinsurance intermediary Aon Benfield. A new report by Aon Benfield...
Wildfires Threat in Texas Increased Over Past 15 Years
Oct 30 2015 // Larger, more threatening wildfires are occurring at greater rates as Texas faces lingering drought, consistent development — driven by millions of new residents and the spread of outlying suburbs — and changes in how...
Aon’s Q3 2015 Net Income down 5%; 15% for 1st 9 Months
Oct 30 2015 // Aon plc’s third quarter and 1st 9 months 2015 Earnings report shows an overall decline in revenue and profits, compared to the same periods in 2014. Net income attributable to Aon shareholders was $295 million, or...
A.M. Best: Outlook Stable for Midwest Builders’ Casualty Mutual, Subs
Oct 29 2015 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” for Midwest Builders’ Casualty Mutual Insurance...
Swiss Re’s 1st 9 Months 2015 Consolidated Net Income up 12% at $3.659 Billion
Oct 29 2015 // Swiss Re reported consolidated net income of $3.659 billion, a 12 percent increase, for the first nine months of 2015, compared to $3.255 billion for the first 9 months of 2014. $1.399 billion was earned in the third...
Premiums on New Jersey Health Exchange Rising 5%
Oct 28 2015 // The premium for a mid-level plan offered on the federal government’s health insurance exchange will be up by 5 percent in New Jersey in 2016. But premiums will be lower, as expected, for people choosing a new plan...
New Hampshire Approves Workers’ Comp Loss Cost Decrease of 5.9%
Oct 28 2015 // The New Hampshire Insurance Department announced that it has approved the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s advisory loss cost and rating values filling to be effective Jan. 1, 2016. The approved voluntary...
Target Markets Study: Program Business Revenue Doubled in 5 Years
Oct 28 2015 // The financial performance of commercial property casualty insurance program administrators continues to outpace the performance of the overall property casualty insurance markets, according to the most recent study for the...
Best’s Italian Insurance Sector Report Sees Growth Despite Weak Economy
Oct 28 2015 // A special report from A.M. Best concludes that “Italy’s insurance market remained buoyant in 2014 and is well-placed to continue to grow in 2015, driven by demand for life products.” Best foresees a...
Ping An Profit Rises 32% as Higher Premiums Offset Stock Market Slump
Oct 28 2015 // Ping An Insurance (Group) Co., China’s second-largest insurer, said third-quarter profit rose 32 percent as higher premium income and banking revenue helped offset the impact of a stock market rout on investment...
Outlook for Homeowners Insurance Market Improves: Aon
Oct 27 2015 // The outlook for the U.S. homeowners insurance market has improved over last year thanks in part to rate increases and lower reinsurance costs, according to reinsurance intermediary Aon Benfield. A new report by Aon...
XL’s Q3 Operating Net Income Down to $70.8M on Integration Costs, Cat Losses
Oct 27 2015 // Dublin-headquartered XL Group reported third quarter operating net income of $70.8 million, or $0.23 per share, down from $187.1 million, or $0.70 per share, in the prior year quarter. The current quarter’s results...
Judge Claims Regulators Not Enforcing Duke Coal Ash Clean-Up in North Carolina
Oct 27 2015 // North Carolina’s environmental watchdog agency has not been trying very hard to force Duke Energy to clean up toxic groundwater pollution near a coal-burning power plant where neighbors can’t drink their well...
Louisiana Workers’ Comp Insurance Rates Set to Decline Again
Oct 26 2015 // Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon reports that Louisiana businesses are expected to see a decrease in their workers’ compensation rates in 2016. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) recently...
Qatar Insurance Posts 20% Premium Rise for 1st 9 Months of 2015
Oct 26 2015 // Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), the parent company of Qatar Re and Antares, has announced that for the first nine months of 2015 its gross written premiums increased by 20 percent from $1.23 billion to $1.48 billion. It...
Best Affirms Munich Re and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 23 2015 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings of “aa-” of Munich Reinsurance Company and its subsidiaries. Best has also affirmed the...
