Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Health Costs of U.S. Climate Disasters of Last Decade: $14 Billion
Nov 8 2011 // Deaths and health problems from floods, drought and other U.S. disasters related to climate change cost an estimated $14 billion over the last decade, researchers said Monday. “When extreme weather hits, we hear...
In Abrupt Turnaround, Olympus Admits It Hid Losses for Decades
Nov 8 2011 // Japan’s Olympus admitted on Tuesday it had hidden losses on securities investments dating back to the 1980s, succumbing to weeks of pressure to explain a series of baffling transactions that have put the future of...
Best Affirms Hannover Re and Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Positive
Nov 7 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Hannover Rueckversicherung AG (Hannover...
Florida Workers’ Comp Rates to Rise; Doctor-Dispensed Drug Costs Eyed
Nov 7 2011 // Employers in Florida will be paying more for workers’ compensation next year following the state insurance chief’s approval of an 8.9 percent statewide average rate hike. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin...
2011 Agency E&O Survey
Nov 7 2011 // Agency owners have a lot to protect. Of course, first and foremost they must protect their clients. But they must also protect their book of business. They must protect their relationships. They must protect their...
Total Disability to Rise in California in 2012
Nov 7 2011 // The California Division of Workers’ Compensation announced recently that the minimum and maximum temporary total disability rates for 2012 will increase on Jan. 1. The minimum TTD rate will increase to $151.57 and...
Workers’ Comp Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best
Nov 7 2011 // The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance segment continued to face competitive pricing, further rate decreases, weak macroeconomic factors, growing medical costs and an uptick in claim frequency during 2010. As a...
Insurers Eye Increased Risk of Public Entities in Era of Cutbacks
Nov 4 2011 // The climate of government cutbacks is forcing public entities to reduce expenditures while trying not to greatly increase their risk or jeopardize their immunity from lawsuits. Prison overcrowding is one particularly...
S&P Lowers Outlook on Allstate and Subs to Negative; Affirms Ratings
Nov 3 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Allstate Corp., Allstate Insurance Co. (AIC), and its core property-liability insurance companies (collectively, Allstate Protection), as well as the...
Survey of Global Bribery Ranks Countries
Nov 3 2011 //
Steamship Mutual Sets 5% Premium Increase for 2012
Nov 3 2011 // The Directors of the London-based Steamship Mutual P&I Club “recently reviewed the Club’s open policy years, as well as claims in earlier years, and considered the premium ratings required for the 2012...
GAO Report Raises Questions About New York Fed in 2008 AIG Bailout
Nov 2 2011 // A new report from the U.S. Government Accounting Office chronicles the government’s handling of AIG bailout in 2008. In all, the government had invested and made loans worth more than $182 billion for the...
Colorado Workers’ Compensation Rates to Rise in 2012
Nov 2 2011 // Colorado employers will see an increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums in 2012. The Colorado Division of Insurance announced that the “loss costs” component of workers’ compensation...
Best Affirms Mercury General and Operating Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 2 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of L.A.–based Mercury Casualty Group and its members. Best also affirmed...
S&P Affirms Montpelier Re Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 1 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘BBB’ long-term counterparty credit rating on Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. and its ‘A-‘ counterparty credit and financial strength...
S&P Upgrades Swiss Re and Core Subsidiaries to ‘AA-‘; Outlook Stable
Oct 31 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Zurich-based reinsurer Swiss Reinsurance Co. Ltd., and its core subsidiaries (collectively...
Aon Profit, Brokerage Revenues Up in Q3; Hewitt Costs Take a Bite
Oct 28 2011 // Aon Corp. reported a profit jump for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011. Net income increased 38 percent to $198 million, compared to $144 million for the prior year quarter. Total corporate revenue increased 51...
Brokers Flock to Sign up for London Market’s Electronic Trading ‘e-Accounts’
Oct 28 2011 // The London market’s ambition to enable brokers to trade globally with it more easily has taken a significant step closer with phase one of e-Accounts now operational. Brokers using the system can “send and...
Alabama Regulators Call for Hearing on Proposed Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease
Oct 27 2011 // Alabama regulators are preparing to hold a public hearing on a proposed statewide average 9.3 percent decrease in the state’s workers’ compensation rates. The National Council on Compensation Insurance...
Best Affirms W.R. Berkley and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 26 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Berkley Insurance Group, Admiral Insurance Group, Berkley Regional Group...
