Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Affirms Hiscox and Operating Companies ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 28 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” of Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited,...
Insured Loss Estimate from Hurricane Irene Rises to $4.3 Billion
Nov 28 2011 // An insurance industry service that tracks catastrophe losses has sharply raised its estimates for August’s Hurricane Irene, projecting insured property damage of $4.3 billion from the first hurricane to hit the...
Best Affirms AXIS Specialty, Affiliates Ratings; Raises Outlook to Positive
Nov 23 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Bermuda-based AXIS...
Best Affirms Zurich American and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 22 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Zurich American Insurance Company (Zurich US), headquartered in...
Agency E&O Survey: Why Agents Buy Coverage
Nov 22 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...
Record High Greenhouse Gases to Linger for Decades
Nov 22 2011 // Concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases blamed for global warming reached record levels in 2010 and will linger in the atmosphere for decades, even if the world stops emissions output today, the U.N.’s...
Ohio Rolls Out Rating Plan Aimed at Increasing Return to Work Rates
Nov 21 2011 // The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has introduced a new rating plan that encourages employers to maintain safe workplaces and to work with injured workers to speed their return to work. The new rating...
Best Affirms Zurich Insurance ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 21 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa-” of Zurich Insurance Company Limited (ZIC),...
Agents say Arkansas Earthquake Insurance Sales Up
Nov 21 2011 // Insurance agents say the recent 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma has led many Arkansans to add earthquake insurance to their homeowner policies. The Nov. 5 quake east of Oklahoma City left damage over a wide area and...
Nationwide, Harleysville CEOs Say Merger All About Growth
Nov 21 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...
Are You Prepared for the Changing Insurance Market?
Nov 21 2011 // In today’s personal property/casualty insurance market, agents and brokers face increasing uncertainty. Staying the course is no longer an option to drive profitable growth. You must understand your performance...
Insurance Executives Turn Pessimistic Over Business Outlook: Survey
Nov 21 2011 // Many U.S. insurance executives believe that business conditions have worsened compared to a year ago. Faced with continuing economic sluggishness and a changing regulatory environment, they remain guarded about their...
Small Business Owners Trust Their Agents, Survey Reports
Nov 21 2011 // Small business owners trust their independent insurance agents and commercial insurance carriers more than other financial services businesses, a new study reports. The study, commissioned by The Hanover Insurance Group...
Maine Workers’ Comp Rates to Go Down Next Year
Nov 18 2011 // Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa said the Bureau of Insurance has approved the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s request to decrease workers’ comp loss costs in the state by an average of...
Best Affirms Arab Re’s Ratings; Outlook Revised to Stable
Nov 18 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has revised the outlook to stable from positive and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Arab...
Allianz Asia CEO Says Thai Floods Could be Costliest Disaster in a Decade
Nov 18 2011 // Insured losses from Thai floods could be in the double-digit billions of dollars and the disaster will lead to a re-assessment of weather risks to industries in Asia, a senior official from global insurer Allianz...
Fast Growth in Price for Non-hospital Services in Indiana Work Comp
Nov 17 2011 // The price for non-hospital services in Indiana’s workers’ compensation system in 2010 was the third highest of the 25 states in a study conducted by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The price...
Int’l Chamber of Commerce Survey: ‘World Economic Climate Has Worsened’
Nov 17 2011 // According to the World Economic Survey (WES), published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Munich-based Institute for Economic Research (Ifo), “the world economic climate has worsened in the...
Fitch Affirms Everest Re’s Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 17 2011 // Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ratings of Everest Re Group, Ltd.’s debt-issuing holding company, Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. “Everest’s debt ratings are only one notch lower...
Soft Market Has Hit Bottom for Commercial Lines, New RIMS Survey Says
Nov 16 2011 // Risk and Insurance Management Society’s latest survey found average renewal premium rates rising in three out of the four business lines it tracked. This “strongly suggests” that an eight-year period of...
