Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Mobile Technology Gaining with Insurers: Survey
Feb 11 2013 // While much of the attention around use of mobile devices in insurance has centered on consumer apps offered by large personal lines insurers, other property/casualty insurers and life/annuity insurers are rolling out...
New MGA Ascent Underwriting Launched in London; Targets Emerging Cyber Risks
Feb 11 2013 // Ascent Underwriting, a specialist Managing General Agent (MGA) providing coverage for emerging cyber risks, has been launched in London, targeting clients ranging from micro businesses to international corporations. The...
Florida’s Workers’ Comp Market Outlook Remains Positive
Feb 11 2013 // The outlook for Florida’s workers’ compensation market continues to be strong as a competitive market offers affordable rates, although costs could be reduced further if the state addressed prescription drug...
A Future Filled With Driverless Cars
Feb 11 2013 // Visions of robotic self-driving cars may appear like something from a George Lucas film but in June 2011, this vision took a giant leap toward becoming reality when Nevada became the first state to enact legislation that...
The Hanover Posts $55M Q4 Loss, but Full-Year 2012 Profit Up 52% to $56M
Feb 8 2013 // The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, Mass., reported a net loss of $55.0 million for the 2012 fourth quarter, in contrast to $49.6 million profit posted for the fourth quarter of 2011. The Hanover’s latest...
Beazley Posts Strong Growth; Pretax 2012 Profits $251.2 Million
Feb 8 2013 // Beazley plc announced strong growth for the year 2012. Highlights of its recently released earnings report include the following: •Profit before income tax of $251.2 million (compared to $62.7 million in 2011) •Return...
Catlin Group’s $339 Million 2012 Profit Less than Forecast as Sandy Loss Widens
Feb 8 2013 // Bermuda-based insurer Catlin said its profit fell short of analysts’ forecasts because of a bigger than expected claims bill from Superstorm Sandy and the Costa Concordia shipwreck. Catlin, operator of the biggest...
Best Affirms Validus’ ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Feb 8 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Validus Reinsurance, Ltd., as well as the ICR of “bbb” and debt...
AIG Survey Shows Top Executives’ Concerns with Cyber Risk
Feb 8 2013 // A survey of perceptions about cyber risk sponsored by the American International Group Inc. (AIG) found that among corporate executives, more are concerned about cyber threats than about other major business risks. More...
MAPFRE Posts 10.1% Rise in 2012 Premiums to $29.28 Billion
Feb 7 2013 // Spain’s MAPFRE Group reported a 10.1 percent increase in premiums in 2012 to €21.5798 billion [$29.2838 billion], with its international business contributing over 60 percent of premiums and results from...
Markel’s 2012 Q4 Profit Rises 13%; Full-Year Profit Up 78%
Feb 5 2013 // Markel Corp. reported 2012 fourth-quarter net profit to shareholders of $56.79 million, up 13.2 percent compared to $50.18 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2011. For the full-year 2012, the Glen Allen, Va.-based...
Missouri Senate to Debate Future of Disability Fund
Feb 5 2013 // Missouri senators are preparing to debate legislation to revive an insolvent fund for disabled workers. The state’s Second Injury Fund has a deficit of about $25 million that is expected to keep growing. The fund...
Brown & Brown’s 2012 Q4 Profit Up 16.8%
Feb 4 2013 // Florida-based national insurance brokerage Brown & Brown Inc. reported 2012 fourth-quarter net profit of $42.64 million, up 16.8 percent compared to the 2011 fourth quarter when the broker reported $36.49 million...
Syndicates Increasingly Using Lloyd’s China Platform
Feb 4 2013 // “A growing number of syndicates are using Lloyd’s platform by placing their own underwriters in China,” says an article on the Lloyd’s website. “This, along with a license granted in 2012 to...
Willis ILS Reports 2012 as 2nd Strongest Cat Bond Issuance on Record
Jan 31 2013 // According to figures compiled for Willis Capital Markets & Advisory (WCMA), part of global insurance broker, Willis Group Holdings, “last year saw the second highest level of catastrophe bond issuance on record...
FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE’s Report on Latin America Market in 2012 Shows Strength
Jan 31 2013 // Of the 18 countries analyzed in the most recent report published by FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE, The Latin American insurance market, saw a 14.1 percent increase in premium volume with respect to the previous year, reaching a total...
Nevada Workers’ Comp Loss Costs: Small Increase in 2013
Jan 30 2013 // Thanks to rising medical costs many Nevada employers will see a small increase in the premiums they pay for workers’ compensation insurance this year, according to the Nevada Division of Insurance. The average...
Delaware Regulators: 2012 Was ‘Best Year Ever’ for Captive Growth
Jan 30 2013 // The Delaware Department of Insurance announced recently the final projection for the number of captive licenses the captive bureau anticipates issuing for 2012. The regulators said 2012 was the best year ever for the...
N.Y. Lawmaker Aims to Clamp Down on Unfair Claim Settlement Practices
Jan 30 2013 // A New York state lawmaker recently introduced a piece of legislation that aims to prevent unfair claim settlement practices during a declared state emergency.N.Y. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis introduced a bill that...
W.R. Berkley’s 2012 Q4 Profit Up 41%; $40M in Sandy Loss Reported
Jan 30 2013 // W.R. Berkley Corp. said its 2012 fourth quarter net profit was $165.49 million, up 41.4 percent compared to the same period in 2011 when it had $117.03 million profit. For the full-year 2012, the Greenwich, Conn.-based...
