Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Moody’s Sees Stable Outlook for Personal Lines Insurers
Aug 30 2011 // The personal lines insurance sector maintains a stable outlook in the face of a highly competitive environment, 2011 catastrophe losses and sluggish economic conditions, according to a report from Moody’s Investors...
Irene Blamed for 38 Deaths; $20 Billion Economic Loss; Worst Flooding in Decades
Aug 30 2011 // New Jersey and Vermont struggled with their worst flooding in decades Monday, a day after Hurricane Irene slammed an already soaked U.S. Northeast with torrential rain, dragging away homes and submerging neighborhoods...
Swiss Re Analyzes Effects of Economic Crisis on Nordic Insurance Market
Aug 30 2011 // Swiss Re, as host of its Nordic Risk & Insurance Summit (NORIS™) conference, warned that the “economic environment in the wake of the financial crisis is still very challenging and turbulent.” Swiss Re...
Best Affirms China Re and Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Aug 26 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings of “a” of China Reinsurance (Group) Corporation (China Re) and its subsidiaries, China...
Willis, ACE Team-up for First ‘e-Accounting’ Processing in London Market
Aug 25 2011 // ACE’s London based operations have teamed up with Willis Limited, the UK insurance broker, to successfully launch a fully electronic accounting process between the two companies. The achievement marks the first time...
Profits Soar at Australia’s IAG, but Outlook Hits Shares
Aug 25 2011 // Insurance Australia Group, Australia’s top home and car insurer, reported a more than two-fold jump in annual net profit on Thursday but its outlook knocked the shares lower. IAG forecast profit margins of 10-12...
Recap of Forecasts for 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Aug 24 2011 // Private forecaster Weather Services International (WSI) Tuesday increased to 18 from 15 the number of named storms it predicted for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. WSI said it still predicted 8 hurricanes, four of...
Hurricanes May Be Catalyst for Insurance Rate Increases
Aug 23 2011 // Hurricane Irene, threatening to become the first hurricane to hit the United States in three years, could be the catalyst the insurance industry has been seeking in its quest for across-the-board premium increases after...
Last Chance: Complete the Best Agencies to Work For Survey Now
Aug 22 2011 // Is your independent insurance agency a GREAT place to work? If so, don’t miss this LAST CHANCE to recognize your agency as one of the best places to work. The deadline to nominate your agency for Insurance...
S&P Revises Outlook on AEGON to Stable; Affirms Ratings
Aug 22 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on AEGON N.V. and its operating subsidiaries to stable from negative, and has affirmed the ‘AA-‘ long-term counterparty credit and insurer...
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...
