Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Affirms Allstate New Jersey ‘A-‘ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Dec 23 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Allstate New Jersey Insurance Group and its members. The outlook for all...
S&P Revises Outlook on Credit Insurer Coface to Negative
Dec 22 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it has revised its outlook on the core operating entities of French credit insurance group Coface to negative from stable. The core entities are: —...
Washington Keeps Auto Rate Down $26 Million
Dec 22 2009 // Rate reviews by the Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s office reduced proposed automobile insurance rates by $26 million over the first 10 months of this year, a reduction of about 1 percent. In 2008, the rate...
Best Analyzes AIG; Affirms Most P/C, L&H Ratings; Outlook Negative
Dec 21 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of most P/C life/health insurance subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc., as well as the ICR of “bbb”...
2009? Mission Accomplished. Now, on to the Next Decade
Dec 20 2009 // 2010 — Can it really be 10 years since the world survived Y2K? Here is a bold prediction … we will survive this present situation, also. In January 2020, we will look back at our current struggles and view them as...
Increasing Benefits Lengthens Workers’ Compensation Claim Duration: Study
Dec 20 2009 // States that increase the maximum weekly benefit for workers compensation can expect to see injured workers with temporary total disability making claims for longer, almost a week longer, according to a new study released...
Trends For Insurance Industry To Watch…
Dec 20 2009 // The PricewaterhouseCoopers report suggests that successful insurers will be those that carefully weigh the following considerations: Consolidation: The U.S. insurance market remains highly fragmented, and the strong...
Six Factors Create Volatility in Calif. Workers’ Comp Insurance Market
Dec 18 2009 // “Since insurance rates were partially deregulated in 1995, the California workers’ compensation insurance market has been very volatile. For reasons that go beyond price deregulation, there have been dramatic...
Marsh Warns Recent Losses May Hit UK Jewelry Insurance Market in 2010
Dec 17 2009 // Marsh UK has issued a warning to retail jewelers to review their risk management and security practices ahead of the 2010 insurance renewal season, or risk facing sizeable increases in their premiums next year. Marsh said...
Best Affirms Arch Re and Affiliates ‘A’ Ratings; Stable Outlook
Dec 16 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Bermuda-based Arch Reinsurance Ltd. and its reinsured affiliates. Best...
Best Affirms Swiss Re and Subs ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Dec 15 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd. and its subsidiaries. Best also affirmed...
S&P Upgrades Catlin’s Subsidiaries Ratings to ‘A’; Outlook Stable
Dec 15 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on the following core subsidiaries of Bermuda-based Catlin Group Ltd. to ‘A’...
UN Reports Natural Disasters at Decade Low in 2009
Dec 14 2009 // The world this year suffered the fewest number of natural disasters in a decade, but floods, droughts and other extreme weather continued to account for most of the deaths and economic losses, according to a United Nations...
NOAA Forecasts El Nino to Last into Spring 2010
Dec 11 2009 // The U.S. Climate Prediction Center, service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (http://www.noaa.gov), said Thursday the El Nino weather anomaly should continue at least into the Northern...
Allianz Forecasts Emerging Asian Markets to Lead Global Growth in 2010
Dec 10 2009 // An anlaysis from Allianz Insurance Management Asia Pacific concludes that regional GDP is expected to grow by 6.7 percent in 2010, with Asia contributing “almost 39 percent to next year’s global economic...
Drunk Driving Death Rates Decline in 40 States
Dec 9 2009 // Drunken driving fatality rates have fallen in 40 states and the District of Columbia, an encouraging sign that crackdowns are improving highway safety. The Transportation Department said that 11,773 people were killed in...
SEC Settlements Declined in 2009 For Second Straight Year
Dec 8 2009 // The number of Securities and Exchange Commission settlements declined for the second consecutive fiscal year in 2009, with 626 defendants, compared to 673 in FY 2008, according to the global consultng firm, NERA Economic...
S&P Revises Ratings Outlook on White Mountains, OneBeacon to Stable
Dec 7 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. (WTM), OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd. (OB), and the members of OneBeacon Insurance Group (OneBeacon) to stable...
Fraudulent Claims from Hailstorm on the Rise in El Paso
Dec 7 2009 // That fraudulent insurance claims related to a severe hailstorm that hit the city of El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 16 are on the rise comes as no surprise to Ray Niblett. Niblett, an investigator for the National Insurance Crime...
Study Says Increased WC Benefits Lengthens Claim Duration
Dec 7 2009 // States that increase the maximum weekly benefit for workers compensation can expect to see temporarily total disability, injured workers making claims for longer, almost a week longer, according to a new study released by...
