Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Survey Says Washington Drivers Go Slow to Save
Aug 19 2011 // A recent poll from Northwest insurer PEMCO Insurance reveals that while a majority of drivers say they take steps to reduce the amount of gas they use, about eight out of 10 drivers in Washington and the greater Portland...
Chinese Insurer Ping An Posts 33% Rise in 1st Half Profits
Aug 19 2011 // Ping An Insurance Co. of China Ltd. said Thursday its fast-growing banking business helped to boost profit for the first half by nearly 33 percent. Profit for the six months ending June 30 was 12.8 billion yuan ($1.9...
QBE 1st Half Net Profits up 53% to US$673 Million
Aug 19 2011 // QBE, Australia’s global insurance group, announced a 53 percent increase in the half year net profit after tax of US$673 million. The group noted that this figure was “within the range provided to the market on...
Nationwide Mutual’s Profit Down on $1.5 Billion Disaster Losses
Aug 15 2011 // Insurance company Nationwide Mutual said profits in the first half of the year fell by more than half after paying claims, like the rest of the industry, for some of the worst tornadoes in U.S. history. Privately held...
Banks Seek Liability Shield for Future Home Mortgages
Aug 15 2011 // U.S. banks still wrestling with legal troubles springing from the subprime mortgage crisis are lobbying the new consumer agency for strong legal protection for future home loans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is...
La. First-Time Unemployment Claims Increase
Aug 14 2011 // First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Aug. 6 increased from the previous week’s total. The state labor department figures released Friday show the initial claims increased to...
Best Affirms Infrassure’s ‘A-‘ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Aug 12 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Swiss-based Infrassure Ltd. and its affiliate, Infrassure Ltd., Vaduz, which is...
Don’t Miss This Year’s Best Agencies to Work For Survey
Aug 9 2011 // Do you love your boss? Do you love your agency? Do you think your independent insurance agency or brokerage firm is a GREAT place to work? If so, don’t miss this opportunity to recognize your agency as one of the...
Americans Support National Law on Teen Driving: Survey
Aug 9 2011 // Nearly six in 10 Americans favor a federal law that would impose driving restrictions on teen drivers and institute a graduated driving license system. A recent national survey from Allstate Insurance shows that support...
S&P Revises Outlook on Platinum to Negative; Affirms Ratings
Aug 8 2011 // In an announcement that received slightly less notice than the downgrading of the U.S.’ ratings from ‘AAA’ to ‘AA+’, Standard & Poor’s also announced that it has revised its outlook...
Best Revises Alterra, Operating Subs Outlook to Negative; Affirms Ratings
Aug 8 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Alterra Bermuda Limited)...
Asbestos Claims on Rise at MetLife
Aug 5 2011 // Asbestos-related claims against MetLife Inc. rose 11 percent in the first half of the year, the company said Friday, mirroring recent comments by other large insurers who have experienced more claims than they...
Atlantic Hurricane Forecast Revised
Aug 4 2011 // Federal storm watchers issued an updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook today, raising the number of expected named storms from its pre-season outlook issued in May. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and...
UK’s ABI Details Increase in Fraudulent Claims – $29 Million per Week
Aug 4 2011 // The Association of British Insurers reports that the UK’s insurance companies are “detecting more fraudulent claims than ever: over 2,500 worth £18 million [$29.446 million] every week.” A number of...
Meadowbrook Sees Operating Income Decrease, Premium Increase in Q2
Aug 3 2011 // Meadowbrook Insurance Group Inc., based in Southfield, Mich., reported second quarter 2011 net operating income of $8.5 million, compared to $12.6 million for the same period last year. The accident quarter combined ratio...
State Auto Reports Increase in Net Loss and Premium Written in Q2
Aug 2 2011 // Columbus, Ohio-based State Auto Financial Corp. reported a second quarter 2011 net loss of $201.4 million, or $5.01 per diluted share, versus a net loss of $26.2 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for the second quarter...
Survey: Americans Think They Are Great Drivers; Habits Show Otherwise
Aug 2 2011 // The majority of Americans consider themselves to be good drivers but their habits on the road tell a different story. American drivers believe their own driving knowledge, ability and safe driving habits are well above...
Allstate Reports High Catastrophe Losses, Increased Revenues for Q2
Aug 1 2011 // Allstate Corp. reported improved underlying profitability across all business lines for the second quarter quarter, but those gains were more than offset by $2.3 billion in record second quarter catastrophe...
The Future in Auto Claim Prevention
Aug 1 2011 // Vehicle Technology Tools, Red Light Cameras, Better Roads and More Give Way to Reduction in Claims There has been a reduction in auto insurance property damage and injury claims within the past 50 years through the...
Waffle House Serves Up Lessons in Risk Management
Aug 1 2011 // What can Waffle House teach about disaster preparedness and risk management, especially in the wake of this spring’s devastating tornadoes? Plenty, says a supply chain expert at Olin Business School, Washington...
