Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Willis: Increase in Capacity, Downturn in Energy Sector Tempers Hardening Market
Mar 3 2009 // With capacity levels up at the start of 2009, the energy insurance market remains relatively stable — says a new industry report — despite insurers seeking rate increases and the energy industry trying to...
Insurance Fraud Arrests and Convictions on the Rise in Virginia
Mar 3 2009 // The Insurance Fraud Program (IFP) of the Virginia State Police said it made 307 arrests for insurance fraud last year — a 47 percent increase over the previous year. In addition, convictions for insurance fraud in...
Best, S&P See No Change in AIG’s Ratings, But Outlook Remains Negative
Mar 3 2009 // A.M. Best Co. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services have both issued statements in relation to American International Group’s announcement of a $61.7 billion fourth quarter loss, and the subsequent...
Best Downgrades Hartford’s Life and P/C Ratings; Outlooks Mostly Negative
Mar 3 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A+’ (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a+” from “aa-” of the key...
S&P Says Allianz Ratings, Outlook ‘Unaffected By 2008 Loss’
Mar 2 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has stated that its ratings and outlook on Germany’s Allianz SE (AZSE – rated AA/Stable/A-1+) and various core operating entities “are unaffected by the...
Catlin Sponsored Arctic Survey Team Begins Ice Study
Mar 2 2009 // The Bermuda-based Catlin Group Limited announced that a team of three British explorers has commenced a vital scientific expedition to the North Geographic Pole. They hope to help establish how long the sea ice floating in...
Cooper Gay: Premiums Rise as Reinsurers Recover
Feb 26 2009 // Reinsurers have begun 2009 determined to wrest back the initiative from a period of softening rates and savagely declining investment returns. As a consequence, underwriters are increasingly being governed by the...
SeaBright Revenue Up 5.2% in Q4; Up 5% for Year-End 2008
Feb 25 2009 // SeaBright Insurance Holdings Inc., based in Seattle, Wash., reported net income for the fourth quarter 2008 increased 2.3 percent year-over-year, to $10.2 million compared to net income of $10.0 million for the same period...
Kingsway Financial Loss Worse Than Forecast
Feb 23 2009 // Toronto-based Kingsway Financial Services Inc. said Friday its quarterly loss came in even deeper than it had estimated a week ago, leading the company to chop its dividend and sending its shares 15 percent lower. The loss...
Mercury Insurance Chairman: Independent Agents Will Always Have Future
Feb 22 2009 // Despite the seemingly difficult times independent insurance agents may be facing today, they will always have a future, according to George Joseph, chairman and founder of Mercury Insurance, considered one of the most...
U.S. Regulator Sees Future Role for Mortgage Insurance Industry
Feb 20 2009 // The main regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Thursday said he sees a future for mortgage insurance companies that underwrite many loans for the two mortgage finance giants. “They’re very important,”...
Harleysville Premiums Up 5% in Q4; Combined Ratio 98.5%
Feb 20 2009 // Pennsylvania-based Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ:HGIC) reported fourth quarter net written premiums increased 5 percent to $214.5 million in 2008, compared to $203.6 million in the same period in 2007. Net written...
Nevada Workers’ Comp Loss Costs, Risk Rates to Decrease
Feb 13 2009 // Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper has approved revised workers’ compensation voluntary loss costs and assigned risk rates filed by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). The revised loss...
Fitch Report ‘Remains Negative’ on Bermuda Insurance Market
Feb 13 2009 // Fitch Ratings stated in a Special Report today that its Rating Outlook for the Bermuda (re)insurance market remains negative, “reflecting uncertainty tied to the continued highly volatile investment markets and a...
Marsh Sees Growth in 2009 Boosted by Acquisitions
Feb 12 2009 // Marsh & McLennan Cos Inc , the No. 2 global insurance broker, reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, helped by lower costs, and forecast higher profits in 2009, sending its shares up 16 percent. The...
S&P Affirms XL and Subsidiaries Ratings; Outlook Remains Negative
Feb 12 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘BBB+’ counterparty credit rating on XL Capital Ltd. and its ‘A’ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on XL’s core...
S&P Affirms Mercury General Ratings; Revises Outlook to Negative
Feb 12 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on Los Angeles-based Mercury General Corp. and units to negative from stable. S&P also affirmed its ‘A-‘ counterparty credit and senior...
Marsh & McLennan Profits Up for 2008; Down 9% in Q4
Feb 11 2009 // Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. reported profits were up 4 percent for the full year 2008, but fourth quarter revenue was down some 9 percent over the previous year’s quarter. In the fourth quarter 2008,...
Identity Theft On the Rise But Costs per Incident Fall Sharply, Report Finds
Feb 10 2009 // The number of Americans ensnared by identity theft is on the rise, but victims are striking back more quickly and limiting how much is stolen. In 2008, the number of identity theft cases jumped 22 percent to 9.9 million,...
Insurers’ Stocks Down 14%; Middle Market Carriers Active in Intermediary Acquisitions
Feb 8 2009 // Stock Price: Commercial lines stocks mirrored those of major indices in 2008, trading down 14 percent. Mergers & Acquisitions: Middle market carriers continue to be major players in the acquisition market as they look...
