Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
A.M. Best Revises Outlook to Negative for Dallas National Insurance Co.
Jun 18 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” for Dallas National Insurance Company (DNIC) in...
Progressive Sees Increase in Cat Losses in May
Jun 17 2010 // Progressive Insurance has reported 5 percent increases in both net premiums written and earned in May 2010 compared with May 2009, but net income dropped by 19 percent in May 2010 compared with the same month in the...
Obama Demands BP Set Up Independent Account for Oil Claims
Jun 16 2010 // President Barack Obama, seeking to demonstrate strong leadership on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, will demand today that BP set aside billions of dollars to pay damages from the catastrophe. A day after he vowed to fight...
Rise in Employer Healthcare Costs Slowing
Jun 15 2010 // Medical costs for U.S. employers will rise by 9 percent in 2011, slightly less than they have risen this year, according to a survey released Monday. To try to control the impact, employers are turning to wellness programs...
S&P Revises Marsh Mac Outlook to Negative; Ratings Affirmed
Jun 15 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Marsh & McLennan Cos. (MMC) to negative from stable. S&P has also affirmed its ‘BBB-‘ long-term and ‘A-3’ short-term...
Best Affirms Liberty Mutual, Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Negative
Jun 14 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies and Peerless Insurance Company Pool...
Best Affirms NYMAGIC Group, Subsidiaries Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jun 10 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of New York Marine Group. The ratings also apply to the two members of the...
Best Upgrades Travelers Group Issuer Credit Ratings; Revises Outlook
Jun 9 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “aa” from “aa-” of Travelers Group, its P/C members and affiliate, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (TCSA) and...
California Workers’ Comp Premium Down Nearly 10%
Jun 8 2010 // California workers’ compensation total direct written premium (DWP) fell nearly 10 percent last year, dropping to a nine-year low of $6.9 billion, according to market share data from the National Association of...
The Right Relationship Chemistry Can Increase Sales, Create Succession Plan
Jun 7 2010 // As John Lennon and Paul McCartney could tell you, sometimes you just need a little help from your friends. And in the insurance agency business – where building relationships are key to success – that friend...
California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Market More Lucrative
Jun 7 2010 // Prices are improving in the California workers’ compensation insurance market – at least according to one specialty workers’ compensation carrier in the Golden State. According to PacificComp President...
Rating Agencies React to BP’s Oil Spill; Best Revises Jupiter Outlook
Jun 4 2010 // The mounting financial costs for British Petroleum from the multiple impacts of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have placed its formerly strong ratings in peril. Financial rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s have...
Hail Loss Claims Up 61%; Suspicious Claims Up 136%
Jun 3 2010 // The number of hail loss claims filed with insurers increased by 61 percent, from 256,000 in 2006 to over 413,000 in 2009. At the same time, the number of claims referred for suspected fraud increased by 136 percent, from...
CSU Team Increases 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast to 10
Jun 2 2010 // The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to produce 10 hurricanes, five of them major, the Colorado State University hurricane forecasting team said Wednesday, increasing a previous estimate for a “very...
New York Plans Hearing over Increase in Workers’ Comp Loss Costs
Jun 2 2010 // The New York Insurance Department will hold a hearing later this month to consider a 7.7 percent in workers’ comp loss costs that has been recommended by the state’ rate service organization, the New York...
Best Affirms RLI Group’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jun 1 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of RLI Group and its members. Best also affirmed the ICR of...
S&P Lowers State Auto Group’s Ratings to ‘A-‘; Outlook Stable
Jun 1 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has lowered its counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on the operating insurance companies of State Auto Group to ‘A-‘ from ‘A’. S&P...
Florida Reinsurance Prices Decline 10-12% at Renewal: Guy Carpenter
Jun 1 2010 // Reinsurance pricing at the June 1, 2010 Florida renewal are down by 10 percent to 12 percent on average, on a year-over-year risk adjusted basis. That’s according to reinsurance intermediary Guy Carpenter & Co.,...
Best Affirms Hiscox USA Group’s ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
May 28 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Hiscox USA Group, and its lead member, Hiscox Insurance Company Inc....
Saft: Lessons for U.S., UK from Japan’s Lost Decade
May 28 2010 // Deflation and a lost decade can be avoided it seems; all we need are perfect central bankers, sensible politicians, a biddable electorate and cooperative investors. Nothing to worry about there, then. In a speech on...
