Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Moody’s: U.S. P/C Insurers’ Report Meaningful 2010 Reserve Releases
Jul 26 2011 // U.S. property/casualty insurers reported meaningful reserve redundancies in their 2010 earnings, Moody’s Investors Service said, marking the sixth straight year in which the industry has posted a benefit to...
Best Affirms MAPFRE RE ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Remains Negative
Jul 22 2011 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Spain’s MAPFRE RE, Compania de Reaseguros, S.A....
Best May Cut Ratings Outlook on Life Insurers
Jul 19 2011 // Ratings agency A.M. Best may lower its outlook on the U.S. life insurance and annuity sector to “negative” from “stable,” it warned Tuesday, as American and European sovereign debt concerns continue...
S&P Revises Outlook on Nationwide to Stable; Affirms Ratings
Jul 18 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. (NMIC) and its property/casualty (P/C) affiliates (collectively referred to as Nationwide) to stable from...
Best Affirms SOVAG’s Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jul 18 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and the issuer credit rating of “bbb” of Germany’s SCHWARZMEER UND OSTSEE Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft SOVAG, both...
Hurricanes Could Alter Insurance Markets
Jul 18 2011 // Reacting to the recent spate of major natural catastrophes, insurers are being more selective in the capital they deploy and have in some cases withdrawn from catastrophe affected regions and loss-making sectors of...
Calif. Workers’ Comp Loss and Expense Payments Increase Nearly 3%
Jul 13 2011 // California workers’ compensation insurer’s loss and expense payments totaled more than $11 billion in calendar year 2010, according to the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, which issued a report...
Alabama Governor Names Insurance Market Study Commission
Jul 11 2011 // Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has appointed 24 people to a panel that will examine the state’s insurance market and suggest improvements. The commission will be led by Baldwin County Probate Judge Tim Russell. Bentley...
Amlin Updates Cat Loss Estimates; Reports Increase in Reinsurance Rates
Jul 8 2011 // UK and Lloyd’s insurer Amlin plc held a presentation for analysts today focused on updating its catastrophe estimates. Amlin estimated that net claims from the two major U.S. tornadoes during April and May 2011 were...
Workers’ Comp Rates for Ohio Marine Industry Employers Decrease 20%
Jul 8 2011 // The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has reduced its rates for marine industry employers by 20 percent, effective July 1, the BWC said. The change lowers the rates for employers conducting business on Ohio...
Best Affirms Navigators Group Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jul 7 2011 // A.M. Best Co. announced at the end of June that it has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Navigators Insurance Group, which is...
New Swiss Re sigma study Reveals Global Premium, Capital Growth
Jul 6 2011 // A new study in Swiss Re’s sigma series concluded that the global insurance industry has returned to a pattern of growth. The study – World insurance in 2010 – reveals growth in global premium volume and...
Arkansas’ Revenues Rise Above Forecast; Insurance Dept. Funds Help
Jul 6 2011 // A state finance report shows that Arkansas brought in more money than expected during the 2011 fiscal year. The report, released by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, show that the state’s net...
Crime Insurance Steps Up to Plate for Little Leagues As Thefts Rise
Jul 5 2011 // A new lock, a thick door and a steel bar across the shuttered front counter of the Canyon Lake Little League concession stand still couldn’t prevent the youth baseball league from taking a hit. The president of the...
Catastrophes Issue Wake-Up Call on Supply Chain Risks
Jul 4 2011 // The Japanese earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March served as a wake-up call for businesses vulnerable to supply chain exposures. Subsequent intense weather events in the U.S. during April and May have underscored...
P/C Insurers’ Profits Fell in Q1 as Underwriting Losses Grew
Jul 4 2011 // Private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ net income after taxes dropped to $7.8 billion in first-quarter 2011 from $8.9 billion in first-quarter 2010, with insurers’ annualized rate of return on average...
Minnesota Workers’ Comp Claims Decrease
Jul 4 2011 // Minnesota workers’ compensation claims have fallen 44 percent relative to the number of employees from 1997 to 2009, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). The “2009 Minnesota...
Commercial Auto Claims on the Rise – Will Rates Come Next?
Jul 4 2011 // An increase in claims from cargo theft and freight physical damage is expected to lead to higher insurance rates in the commercial auto class, a welcome development for some insurers after years of prices going...
Lloyd’s Sees Opportunities in Emerging Markets
Jul 1 2011 // As levels of international trade and the importance of emerging economies increase, Lloyd’s has been very active in its efforts to open up access to overseas markets. However, in an article on its web site it called...
Survey Shows Europe’s Top 10 P&C Insurers Grew Premiums by 5.2% in 2010
Jul 1 2011 // Spain’s MAPFRE has published its 7th annual survey of Europe’s non-life insurers, ranking them by gross premiums written. The survey found that “all the companies achieved an increase in premium revenues...
