Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Best Revises Allied World, Affiliates ICR Outlook to Positive; Affirms Ratings
Oct 26 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd and its operating affiliates. Best also affirmed the...
Survey Finds Africa, Asia Cities Most at Risk from Global Climate Change
Oct 26 2011 // Countries and megacities in Africa and Asia are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change over the coming years, a global survey shows, underscoring the risks from floods, rising sea levels, droughts and...
Florida Approves 8.9% Workers’ Comp Rate Increase
Oct 25 2011 // Employers in Florida will be paying more for workers’ compensation coverage next year following the state insurance chief’s approval of an 8.9 percent statewide average rate hike. Florida Insurance Commissioner...
Energi to Enter Canadian Insurance Market, Forms Energi of Canada LTD
Oct 24 2011 // Energi has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Energi of Canada LTD and is entering the Canadian insurance market. Initially, Energi will offer its Energy Property Insurance Program along with Energi’s Energy Savings...
California’s Temporary Total Disability Rate for 2012 To Increase
Oct 21 2011 // The California Division of Workers’ Compensation announced on Friday 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...
Last Chance to Participate in IJ’s Agency E&O Survey
Oct 21 2011 // Don’t miss your chance to find out what’s been going on with insurance agents’ errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The deadline to participate is Monday, Oct. 24. This annual survey solicits the...
Global Retail Theft Up 6.6% in Past Year
Oct 19 2011 // Shoplifting, employee theft and organized crime cost the global retail industry $119 billion in the 12 months ended in June, up 6.6 percent from a year earlier, according to survey results released Tuesday. A sluggish...
Don’t Miss This Year’s Agency E&O Survey
Oct 18 2011 // Once again, Insurance Journal is polling its readers asking for their thoughts on today’s agency errors and omissions market. Don’t miss your chance to find out what’s been going on with insurance...
Workers’ Compensation Market Outlook Still Grim: A.M. Best
Oct 18 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...
Oklahoma Workplace Deaths Up in 2010, as Jobs Added
Oct 17 2011 // Oklahoma workplace deaths rose 11 percent last year, but the increase was likely caused by people returning to work following the steep economic downturn of the year before, a federal official said. There were 91...
Quake Project Aimed to ID Future Hotspots
Oct 17 2011 // Scientists have embarked on an ambitious experiment to better anticipate earthquakes by identifying the likeliest places where magnitude-4.9 quakes or stronger will occur in seismically active California over a five-year...
Auto Insurers’ Loss Ratios Rise in Q2 2011
Oct 17 2011 // Tornadoes and thunderstorms in the South and Midwest made the 2011 second quarter tumultuous for U.S. property writers. The industry loss ratio, before consideration of reinsurance, climbed to 70.6 percent, marking the...
Survey: A Few More Years Before Med Liability Market Hardens
Oct 17 2011 // According to a new annual rate survey by Medical Liability Monitor, base-rate premiums for medical professional liability insurance (MPLI) continued their downward trend for a sixth consecutive year. The current soft...
Nationwide, Harleysville CEOs Say Merger All About Growth
Oct 17 2011 // The merger of insurer Nationwide Mutual with regional carrier Harleysville Mutual is all about growth, not only for the companies but also for their independent agents, according to the CEOs of the two...
Top 25 P/C Insurers’ Direct Premium Growth Increases 11%, June 30, 2011 Versus June 30, 2010
Oct 17 2011 // Property/casualty insurance companies continued to serve their clients despite the tough economic conditions that have defined the better part of the past decade as well as an increased number of catastrophic events in the...
Florida Lawmakers Contemplate the Future of Citizens
Oct 17 2011 // With four months to go before Florida’s legislative session, lawmakers are already considering the future of the state’s largest homeowners’ insurer. However, there are few easy answers in sight. Citizens...
IronHealth Introduces Adverse Health Survey Cost Coverage for Nursing Homes
Oct 14 2011 // IronHealth, the specialty healthcare unit of Ironshore Inc., has introduced a companion policy for existing insurance clients to complement its suite of professional and general liability coverages for nursing home...
Ex-AIG Unit AIA Group’s Growth Jumps in Q3 as Insurance Demand Rises
Oct 14 2011 // AIA Group Ltd, Asia’s No.3 insurer, said growth accelerated in the third quarter, with its value of new business rising 53 percent as strong performance in markets such as Malaysia helped boost earnings. The...
Best Affirms Aspen UK, Bermuda Companies and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Oct 14 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Ratings Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Aspen Insurance UK Limited (AIUK) and Aspen...
