Latest Trends Headlines

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

Homeowners Insurance Claims Cost Rising Rapidly: Study

Oct 8 2012 // The cost of homeowners insurance claims has been rising rapidly because of the combined effects of rising claim severity and increases in claim frequency, according to an insurance industry report. A new Insurance Research...

Employees Staying Put Even If Unhappy: Talent Survey

Oct 8 2012 // As high unemployment persists and the global economic recovery remains halting and uneven, the “resume tsunami” seems to have subsided to a “resume riptide.” According to Deloitte’s latest...

Homeowners Insurance Claims Cost Rising Rapidly: Study

Oct 8 2012 // The cost of homeowners insurance claims has been rising rapidly because of the combined effects of rising claim severity and increases in claim frequency, according to an insurance industry report. An Insurance Research...

Chairman Nelson Charts Future Course for Lloyd’s

Oct 8 2012 // Lloyd’s of London Chairman John Nelson knew when he acceded to his post one year ago that his predecessor, Lord Peter Levene, would be a hard act to follow. Levene served for nine years and oversaw significant...

Slow and Steady: Surplus Lines Industry Reverses Downward Trend; Optimism Good for 2012

Oct 8 2012 // Despite catastrophic events in 2011, low investment yields and competitive pressures, surplus lines specialists — especially market leaders — generated healthy operating profits and returns on both revenue and...

Best Revises HDI V.a.G., Talanx ICR Outlook to Positive; Affirms Ratings

Oct 5 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has revised the outlook of the issuer credit rating (ICR) to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the ICR of...

Best Affirms XL Group’s P&C Subs, XLIT Ratings; Outlook Stable

Oct 5 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of the property/casualty subsidiaries of the holding company, XL Group plc,...

CPC Forecasts Weak El Niño for Northern Hemisphere Winter

Oct 5 2012 // The U.S. national weather forecaster still expects the much-feared El Niño phenomenon, which can wreak havoc on global weather, to remain weak into the Northern Hemisphere winter, even after its development slowed last...

Study: Poor Roads Cost Texans $23 Billion a Year

Oct 4 2012 // A nonprofit highway industry group says its study found decaying Texas roads are costing motorists more than $23 billion a year. TRIP is sponsored by insurance companies, highway and transit engineers and builders and...

North Carolina Insurers Seek 17.7% Increase in Homeowners Rates

Oct 4 2012 // North Carolina homeowners could see their first rate increase in four years as the state’s rating bureau called for a statewide average 17.7 percent increase in loss cost rates. The North Carolina Rate Bureau filed...

Best Affirms QBE Insurance Group ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

Oct 1 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)...

Florida Approves State Farm 6.4% Homeowners Rate Increase

Sep 28 2012 // Florida regulators have approved an average 6.9 percent rate hike for State Farm Florida Insurance Co., which is the insurer’s fifth increase in as many years. The insurer had initially sought an average 14.9 percent...

Best Affirms Donegal Group’s Members, Affiliates Ratings; Outlook Stable

Sep 28 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 Donegal Insurance Group, based in Marietta,...

Best Affirms Colonial Group and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable

Sep 28 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of the life/health and property/casualty operating subsidiaries of...

291 Died in NYC Traffic Accidents Last Fiscal Year: Mayor’s Report

Sep 27 2012 // The latest management report from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg shows there were 291 citywide traffic fatalities for the fiscal year that ended June 30. It’s up 23.3 percent from the year before when there...

Vermont Captive Insurance Leader Discusses Emerging Areas, Challenges

Sep 26 2012 // Vermont is the leading onshore captive insurance domicile. The Green Mountain State now has over 900 captives, having licensed more than four times the number of captives than any other domestic competitor. Richard Smith,...

Homeowners Insurance Claims Cost Rising Rapidly: Study

Sep 26 2012 // The cost of homeowners insurance claims has been rising rapidly because of the combined effects of rising claim severity and increases in claim frequency, according to an insurance industry report. A new Insurance Research...

Best Reports on MENA Insurance Market; Regulatory Change Coming

Sep 26 2012 // A report from A.M. Best examines the current state of the insurance market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It notes that “over the past decade, the insurance industry has experienced strong growth...

Catlin Sponsored ‘Seaview Survey’ Launched to Study Coral Reefs

Sep 26 2012 // The Catlin group has invited “people around the world” to participate in its newest project, the “Catlin Seaview Survey,” which it, described as “a series of scientific expeditions to explore...

Florida’s Citizens Defends Proposed 11.2% Rate Increase at Hearing

Sep 25 2012 // Executives of Florida’s state-backed insurer defended a proposed statewide average 11.2 percent increase in homeowners rates as regulators, consumer advocates and other officials questioned the need for the...