Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
P/C Premium Growth Not Enough for Market Turnaround: Conning
May 2 2011 // The property/casualty insurance industry can expect premium growth of between 3 and 4 percent in 2011, and about 5 percent for the following two years, according to a forecast from analysts at Conning Research &...
The Future of the Independent Agency (Has Nothing to Do with Age)
Apr 29 2011 // For the last 20 years, at least, consultants, associations and publications have been worrying about the future of the independent agency system because the average age of agency owners has been in the late 50s. The same...
Young Agents Survey Shows Strong Family Ties
Apr 28 2011 // Bryan Hanes grew up in the family business listening to stories about life in a small town. He heard his grandfather and then father sharing cheerful conversations with local towns folk about personal relationships, local...
S&P: Japan’s Rating Outlook Now Negative on Quake Costs; Affirms Debt Ratings
Apr 27 2011 // Standard and Poor’s threatened to cut Japan’s sovereign credit rating again, warning the huge cost of last month’s devastating earthquake will hurt already weak public finances unless bickering...
W.R. Berkley Reports Slight Price Increases in Q1
Apr 26 2011 // Prices were up in nearly all segments at W.R. Berkley Corp. in the first quarter while overall net written premiums grew 10 percent. Net income for the quarter was $116 million, or 79 cents per share, compared to $119...
Health Insurers’ Claims Cost Continues to Rise
Apr 26 2011 // The cost of claims in employer-sponsored health plans continues to increase, although the rate is slightly lower than six months ago. A new trend survey by Wells Fargo Insurance Services projects that overall claim cost...
Overcapacity in P/C Insurance Keeping Commercial Prices Down
Apr 26 2011 // Most commercial lines insurance prices continued their downward trend in the first quarter, as underwriters’ efforts to hold the line on premiums buckled under the pressure of a highly overcapitalized market. Three...
P/C Premium Growth Not Enough for Market Turnaround: Conning
Apr 25 2011 // The property/casualty insurance industry can expect premium growth of between 3 and 4 percent in 2011, and about 5 percent for the following two years, according to a forecast from analysts at Conning Research &...
Young Agents look for opportunity… and a future
Apr 20 2011 // Come along for a ride with me… or better yet, join me for a cup of coffee in my office, as we discuss articles from the April 4th issue of Insurance Journal magazine about Young Agents and the industry’s...
Fitch Affirms ACE Limited’s and Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Apr 20 2011 // Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ratings of ACE Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively, ACE), and has assigned an ‘AA-‘ Insurer Financial Strength rating (IFS) to Agri General Insurance Company (AGIC). Fitch...
U.S. Credit Outlook Cut by S&P on Deficit Concerns
Apr 18 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Monday downgraded its credit outlook for the United States, citing a risk that policymakers may not reach agreement on a plan to slash the huge federal budget deficit. While the credit rating...
Best Affirms Ariel Re, Ariel Holdings Ratings; Outlook Stable
Apr 18 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of’ ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Ariel Reinsurance Company Ltd., as well as the ICR...
Best Affirms Flagstone Re’s Ratings; Outlook Revised to Negative
Apr 18 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Flagstone Reassurance Suisse S.A. and Flagstone Alliance Insurance and...
Texas Sees Rise in Workers’ Comp Medical Cost per Claim
Apr 18 2011 // Medical costs per claim in Texas rose 8 percent in 2008, after a period of declining costs following reforms enacted in 2001 and 2005, and increased payor focus on managing medical care, according to a study by the Workers...
Health Care Market’s Explosive Growth Offers Agents New Professional Liability Opportunities
Apr 18 2011 // The world of professional liability can be a foreign place for many agents and brokers alike. The policies vary from carrier to carrier so no universal form is used as the standard insuring agreement. Terminology such as:...
Reinsurance Rates Up, But Few Agree How Much
Apr 18 2011 // Reinsurance rates may be edging higher only now, but the companies’ shares could still surge amid investor hopes that disasters, including Japan’s earthquake, will result in much higher rates in the...
California Suspicious Insurance Claims Rise by 9% Since 2008
Apr 15 2011 // California has seen a 9 percent increase in suspicious insurance claims since 2008, according to a new report. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) said questionable claims originating in California and referred to...
As Insurance Rates Rise, Missisippians Urged to Take Mitigation Seriously
Apr 15 2011 // Mississippi Gulf Coast residents have been told mitigation is the answer to the region’s high insurance rates. “What do you do to lower rates? It is pretty simple. If you want to lower rates on the Gulf Coast,...
Survey Shows Opportunity for Carriers to Support Agents in Social Media
Apr 14 2011 // The majority of agents and brokers say using social media is important for business, yet many report not using social media tools in their business today. Seven of 10 independent agents and brokers believe it is important...
U.S. Shuts Down Massive Cyber Theft Ring
Apr 14 2011 // U.S. authorities claimed one of their biggest victories against cyber crime as they shut down a ring they said used malicious software to take control of more than 2 million PCs around the world, and may have led to theft...
