Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Private, Nonprofit D&O: Gallagher’s Norton on Claims, Coverage Expansion and Outlook
Feb 10 2014 // Much has changed in the insurance industry throughout the past 20 years. What hasn’t changed so much is the type of claim to strike the private company and nonprofit directors and officers (D&O) sector. What has...
Securities Class Actions Up 9% in 2013, But Below Average
Feb 10 2014 // Plaintiffs filed 166 new federal securities class actions in 2013, a 9 percent increase over 2012. However, the 2013 total is 13 percent below the average from 1997 to 2012, despite a second-half surge. The slump in...
N.Y. Regulator Talks About Insurance Markets, 2014 Agenda
Feb 10 2014 // A top official from New York State’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently spoke about the state’s property/casualty insurance markets, calling it overall very good but “a bit more of a mixed...
N.H. Gov.: Businesses Need Relief From Rising Workers’ Comp Costs
Feb 8 2014 // New Hampshire’s businesses need relief from rising workers’ compensation costs and more access to capital investment partners. That’s the message from New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan who urged lawmakers...
Commercial Insurance Markets Looking Favorable for Buyers in 2014: Marsh
Feb 7 2014 // The ample capacity and competition that helped temper firming of U.S. commercial insurance rates in 2013 is expected to continue into 2014, unless catastrophe losses turn out higher than expected, according to a report by...
Hannover Re Confirms 2014 Profit Forecast despite Decreased Revenues
Feb 7 2014 // Hannover Re, the world’s third- biggest reinsurer, confirmed its profit target for this year even as the prices it charges customers for coverage fell. “Although the rate level in non-life reinsurance was...
SCOR’s GWP up 8% in 2013; 5% for January 1 Renewals
Feb 7 2014 // France’s SCOR Group confirmed that the reinsurer “booked 8 percent gross written premium growth (at constant exchange rates) for the full year 2013, to €4.85 billion [$6.58 billion]. SCOR Global P&C also...
Allstate Sees No Need for Big Homeowners Rate Increases
Feb 6 2014 // Allstate Corp. aims to grow its share of the U.S. home and auto insurance markets without the need for “abnormally large” rate increases, its CEO said, after the company’s profit more than doubled in the...
European Banks have $3.4 Trillion of Exposures to Emerging Markets
Feb 5 2014 // European banks have loaned in excess of $3 trillion to emerging markets, more than four times U.S. lenders and putting them at greater risk if financial market turmoil in countries such as Turkey, Brazil, India and South...
Hartford Catastrophe Costs Fall, 4Q Profit Rises to $314M
Feb 4 2014 // Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., now focusing on property/casualty coverage, posted a profit in the fourth quarter as catastrophe costs fell. Net income was $314 million, or 65 cents a share, compared with a loss of...
Rate of School Shootings in U.S. Unchanged Amid Increased Security
Feb 3 2014 // There’s been no real reduction in the number of U.S. school shootings despite increased security put in place after the rampage at a Connecticut elementary school in December 2012 left 20 children and six educators...
Best Affirms Mercury General and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Feb 3 2014 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of the insurance entities within the Mercury Casualty Group Best also...
Best Affirms Allstate Group and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Feb 3 2014 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of the members of Allstate Insurance Group (Allstate). Best also affirmed...
Best Affirms Swiss Re, Europe Affiliates ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jan 31 2014 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd, European...
N.Y. Regulator Talks About Insurance Markets, 2014 Agenda
Jan 30 2014 // A top official from New York State’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) recently spoke about the state’s property/casualty insurance markets, calling it overall very good but “a bit more of a mixed...
Senate Begins Amending Bill to Halt Flood Insurance Rate Increases
Jan 30 2014 // The Senate has begun adopting amendments to the bill (S.1926) that seeks to delay flood insurance premium increases called for under the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. The Senate bill would halt premium...
Securities Class Actions Up 9% in 2013 But Below Average
Jan 28 2014 // Plaintiffs filed 166 new federal securities class actions in 2013, a nine percent increase over 2012, however, the 2013 total is still 13 percent below the average from 1997 to 2012 despite being boosted by a second-half...
Case Before Ohio Court May Impact Future Coverage for Fracking Liability
Jan 27 2014 // The oil drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been blamed – rightly or wrongly – for various hazards ranging from earthquakes to water pollution. While the technique has generated a lot of...
Analysts Weigh In on Travelers Earnings, Commercial Lines Pricing Trends
Jan 27 2014 // The Travelers Cos.’ earnings, one of the first major insurance earnings to be reported each quarter, are often closely observed by industry participants as a bellwether for marketplace trends. And the company’s...
Small Increase in Nevada Workers’ Comp Loss Costs In 2014
Jan 27 2014 // Many Nevada employers will see a small increase in the premiums they pay for workers’ compensation insurance this year. The average premium increase in the voluntary market will be about 3.2 percent. Nevada employers...
