Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Upgrades Lancashire’s Ratings to ‘A’; Outlook Stable
Jun 23 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a” from “a-” of the Bermuda-based...
Analysts Debate Outlook for Reinsurance Stocks
Jun 23 2011 // With reinsurance stocks trading below book value, equity analysts basically agree on the factors affecting these stocks but differ on their outlook on the sector. Property/casualty insurance analysts Meyer Shields, analyst...
Boating Deaths in New Jersey Rise in 2010
Jun 23 2011 // Coast Guard figures show New Jersey bucked a national trend of record low recreational boating deaths in 2010. Eight people died in boating accidents in the Garden State last year, two more than in 2009. There have been no...
State Farm Wants 8% Homeowners Rate Increase in Louisiana
Jun 22 2011 // State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., Louisiana’s largest insurer of homes, is asking state insurance regulators for permission to boost premiums by an average 8.5 percent. In a filing released by the state insurance...
P/C Insurers’ Profits Fell in Q1 as Underwriting Losses Grew
Jun 22 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...
Mobile Food Vendor Market Explodes as Insurance Market Evolves
Jun 21 2011 // In just about every metropolitan area nationwide hungry customers can appease their appetites by visiting the neighborhood taco truck. The traditional taco truck sells more than just tacos these days – a lot more....
Minnesota Workers’ Comp Claims Decrease
Jun 21 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). According to the “2009...
Survey: Insurers Say Mergers Yield Stronger Competitive Position
Jun 20 2011 // More than 60 percent of insurers say that their most recent merger accomplished the desired objective of competitive position strengthening— double the success rate reported by non-insurers involved in mergers. While...
Calif. Workers’ Comp Total Temporary Disability Rates to Increase
Jun 20 2011 // California workers’ compensation total temporary disability (TTD) rates are likely to rise, thanks to new U.S. Department of Labor data that shows California’s State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) rose more than...
Commercial Insurance Prices Still Flat But Workers’ Comp Moving Up
Jun 20 2011 // Commercial insurance prices were relatively flat for the ninth consecutive quarter, and new data confirm the deterioration of loss ratios in accident-year 2010. Price reductions continued for commercial property and...
U.S. Retailers Report Rise in Organized Crime, Cargo Theft
Jun 20 2011 // Sophisticated technology, less staff at stores and more gang activity are all contributing to more U.S. stores being hit by organized crime, according to a survey by an industry group. Of 129 retailers, primarily national...
Environmental Insurance Market Broadens to Meet Growing Needs of Today’s Contractors
Jun 20 2011 // The insurance needs of contractors continue to become more complex as the economy works its way out of the recession. Part of that increased complexity involves a company’s environmental exposures and how it chooses...
Massachusetts Tornado Claims Now Up to $140 Million
Jun 17 2011 // The financial toll from tornadoes that ravaged Springfield and several smaller communities has risen dramatically. The state’s Division of Insurance estimated Thursday that residents have filed 8,200 insurance claims...
Best Revises Liberty Mutual Holding and Subs Outlook to Stable
Jun 17 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Liberty Mutual Insurance...
Calif. Temporary Total Disability Rates to Increase
Jun 17 2011 // As predicted by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, the temporary total disability rate in California for 2012 will increase to $1010.50. The state Division of Workers’ Compensation announced the...
Average Long Term Care Liability Claim Rising: Aon Study
Jun 17 2011 // Long term care liability costs are rising because the average claim size is increasing even as claim frequency declines. There has been a four percent increase in the average claim size, according to research by Aon Risk...
New Zealand Quakes Drive Insurance Market Changes
Jun 16 2011 // A string of earthquakes in New Zealand is sending tremors through the global insurance market with some companies delaying underwriting policies and others turning to capital markets to offset the risk of pile-on damage...
Cincinnati Financial Expects Up to $290M in Storm Losses for Q2 2011
Jun 14 2011 // Cincinnati Financial Corp. reported that The Cincinnati Insurance Companies’ property casualty group expects its second quarter 2011 results to include pre-tax catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance, of approximately...
Vietnam Insurance Market Readies for Foreign Insurers, New Regulations
Jun 14 2011 // The Vietnamese insurance industry is expected to experience significant change within the coming years as it continues to open up to foreign insurers, and the country’s regulatory framework evolves. Vietnam’s...
Commercial Insurance Prices Still Flat But Workers’ Comp Moving Up
Jun 13 2011 // Commercial insurance prices were relatively flat for the ninth consecutive quarter, and new data confirm the deterioration of loss ratios in accident-year 2010. Price reductions continued for commercial property and...
