Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Top 25 Carriers’ Premium Growth Jumps 11.4% Q1 2011 vs Q1 2010
Aug 1 2011 // Property/casualty insurance companies have faced tough economic decisions over the last few years. Experts and analysts have expressed concern over soft pricing exhibited in the underwriting cycle. To avoid the...
P/C Commercial Prices Showed Modest Increases in Q2: Brokers’ Survey
Jul 28 2011 // Pricing in the U.S. commercial property/casualty market showed modest increases in the second quarter of this year, compared with the first quarter. That’s according to The Council of Insurance Agents &...
Forecasts for 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Largely Unchanged
Jul 28 2011 // Forecasters at Weather Services International stuck with their earlier prediction that the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season would bring 15 tropical storms, with eight of those growing into hurricanes. Four of those were...
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...
