Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Commentary: Rebuilding After Sandy, Building for the Future
Nov 26 2012 // Facing the largest natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina, America’s property/casualty insurers have already begun paying tens of thousands of claims to the victims of ‘Super Storm’ Sandy, honoring...
AIR Worldwide Survey Team Describes Sandy Losses in N.J., N.Y.
Nov 21 2012 // AIR Worldwide recently concluded damage survey of areas impacted by Superstorm Sandy, which made landfall on Oct. 29, five miles southwest of Atlantic City, New Jersey. On November 11, 2012, AIR teams were deployed to...
Florida OKs Allstate’s Castle Key Rate Increases
Nov 21 2012 // Florida regulators have approved a statewide average rate increase of 14.9 percent for Allstate ‘s Florida unit, Castle Key Insurance Co. The change will apply to Castle Key’s existing homeowners, renters and...
AIG, Others to Take up Half of China PICC’s $3.6 Billion Hong Kong IPO
Nov 21 2012 // Chinese state-owned insurer PICC Group has secured pledges from American International Group (AIG) and other investors to buy about half of its up to $3.6 billion IPO, set to be the biggest in Hong Kong in two years. The...
Maine Approves Decrease in WC Loss Costs; $3.5M in Savings Expected
Nov 19 2012 // Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa announced last week that the state’s Bureau of Insurance has received, reviewed and approved the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s 2013 loss cost filing...
World Economic Climate Continues to Decline: ICC/Ifo Survey
Nov 19 2012 // The health of the world’s economy continues to deteriorate as insufficient demand, unemployment and the on-going debt crisis in Europe undermine recovery efforts, according to the latest findings from the ICC-Ifo...
Best Affirms Torus Group Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 19 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Ratings Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Torus Insurance (Bermuda) Limited, Torus...
Best Revises ICR Outlook to Negative for QBE North America Group; Affirms Ratings
Nov 16 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of the pooled and reinsured members of QBE North America Insurance Group...
Best Affirms Allied World and Subs Ratings; FSR Outlook Stable; ICR Positive
Nov 16 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd and its operating affiliates. The...
Best Revises ICR Outlook to Negative for QBE Group and Subs; Affirms Ratings
Nov 16 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe)...
Best Affirms Aspen UK, Bermuda and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 16 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Ratings Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) and Aspen...
Post-Sandy Survey: Only Minor Damages to Buildings From Direct Wind
Nov 14 2012 // Damage from storm surge and flooding caused by Superstorm Sandy is widespread and extensive — but there is only minor damage to buildings from direct wind, according a field survey report this week from Willis...
A.M. Best: Outlook Positive for Oklahoma’s National American Insurance Co.
Nov 14 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb+” of National American Insurance Co. (NAICO) in Chandler,...
Best Affirms Markel Corp. and U.S. Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 14 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of the members of the Markel North America Insurance Group. Best also...
Best Affirms Markel International, Lloyd’s Syndicate Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 14 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a+” of UK-based Markel International Insurance Company...
Q&A With Attorneys on Emerging Business Insurance Topics
Nov 13 2012 // As companies large and small grapple with losses in Sandy’s aftermath, a number of critical — and costly — business questions have emerged. Darlene Alt and Robert DiUbaldo, two experienced insurance...
Louisiana Citizens Considering Commercial Property Rate Increase
Nov 7 2012 // Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s board is expected to approve increasing its commercial coverage rates by an average of 45.1 percent statewide this week. Almost all of Citizens’ roughly 5,700...
Munich Re Raises 2012 Profit Forecast on Stronger 9-Month Results
Nov 7 2012 // Munich Re said it expects a higher consolidated result for 2012 than previously envisaged. Following a profit of €2.7 billion [$3.47 billion] for the first nine months of 2012 (same period last year: €80 million...
Which Insurance Products Do Europeans Rate Tops? Zurich Survey Answers
Nov 7 2012 // Pressure at work and school, the financial crisis and concerns about their families are keeping Europeans awake at night, according to a survey conducted by Zurich Insurance Group in eight European countries. Getting sick...
Risk Retention Groups’ Assets, Surplus Continue to Rise: Demotech
Nov 6 2012 // Risk retention groups reported an underwriting loss but a net income gain in the first half of 2012, according to a review of their financial data by the Ohio-based actuarial firm Demotech. RRGs continued to grow and...