Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Guy Carpenter, MMC Securities Release Cat Bond Survey
Mar 6 2007 // Guy Carpenter & Co., the global risk and reinsurance specialist of the Marsh & McLennan Companies, and its affiliate MMC Securities Corp. have published their fifth annual Cat Bond survey: “Catastrophe Bond...
Best Affirms Misr Ratings; Outlook Revised to Negative
Mar 6 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating “a-” of Egypt’s Misr Insurance Company. However, Best also revised its ratings outlook...
A.M. Best: Commercial P/C Outlook Stable Despite Price Competition
Mar 5 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has completed its assessment of the U.S. commercial market and revised the outlook to stable from negative for 2007. Although A.M. Best says there continues to be evidence of pricing deterioration, the level...
Best Revises 2007 Global Reinsurance Outlook to Stable
Mar 1 2007 // Following its upbeat analysis of the personal lines market (See related article in National section), A.M. Best Co. has also given a thumbs up to the global reinsurance market. Best revised its 2007 outlook for the sector...
More Than Half of Adults Could Not Meet Expenses If They Became Disabled, Survey Shows
Feb 28 2007 // Most Americans are not prepared to deal with the possibility of becoming disabled and, in turn, unable to work, according to new research by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). More than half (56...
Chicago Specialty Underwriters Report 4th Quarter, Year-end Results
Feb 28 2007 // Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. has announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006. Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2006 include: * Gross written premium growth...
Chicago Exchange offering futures contracts on ’07 hurricanes
Feb 26 2007 // The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the largest derivatives exchange in the U.S., is launching contracts that will allow insurers and others to hedge risk against hurricane damage. The exchange, a unit of CME Holdings Inc.,...
Flooding hazard alert: Melting ice and snow increases risk
Feb 26 2007 // We all know that catastrophes come in all forms and shapes, not just as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and mudslides. In light of the recent devastating winter ice and snow storms that crossed the Midwest and then moved to...
Ohio auto and homeowners rates decrease in 2006
Feb 26 2007 // The Ohio Department of Insurance recently announced that the average rates for the state’s top 10 auto and homeowners insurers — which represent 72 percent of both markets — decreased 1.2 percent and 0.8...
Corporate governance, capital drive D&O liability prices down
Feb 26 2007 // Changing corporate governance practices and excess capital in the insurance market have made directors’ and officers’ liability premiums drop in recent years, and rate level erosion in almost every line of...
Premium Growth: A measure for a response to changing needs?
Feb 26 2007 // Virtually all industries respect and demand top line growth. Publicly traded companies, competing for capital, are required to demonstrate an ability to facilitate top line growth. In stark contrast to other industries,...
Five casual ways to pump up CSR sales
Feb 26 2007 // CSR selling doesn’t happen by decree. Principals can’t simply declare a sales quota and expect instant results. It is a long-term process getting customer service representatives involved in selling. Management...
Editor’s Note: Flooding hazard alert: Melting ice and snow increases risk
Feb 25 2007 // We all know that catastrophes come in all forms and shapes, not just as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and mudslides. In light of the recent devastating winter ice and snow storms that crossed the Midwest and then moved to...
Ohio auto and homeowners rates decrease in 2006
Feb 25 2007 // The Ohio Department of Insurance recently an-nounced that the average rates for the state’s top 10 auto and homeowners insurers — which represent 72 percent of both markets — decreased 1.2 percent and 0.8...
Corporate governance, capital drive D&O liability prices down
Feb 25 2007 // Changing corporate governance practices and excess capital in the insurance market have made directors’ and officers’ liability premiums drop in recent years, and rate level erosion in almost every line of...
Premium Growth: A measure for a response to changing needs?
Feb 25 2007 // Virtually all industries respect and demand top line growth. Publicly traded companies, competing for capital, are required to demonstrate an ability to facilitate top line growth. In stark contrast to other industries,...
Five casual ways to pump up CSR sales
Feb 25 2007 // CSR selling doesn’t happen by decree. Principals can’t simply declare a sales quota and expect instant results. It is a long-term process getting customer service representatives involved in selling. Management...
Top 25 Property/Casualty Companies in Premium Growth
Feb 25 2007 // 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2006, versus Sept. 30, 2005 (000 Omitted) DPW Change DWP DWP DWP $ DWP % Rank Company Name 9/30/2006 9/30/05 Change Change 1 Lexington Insurance...
French Insurance Giant AXA’s 2006 Profit Rises 18%
Feb 23 2007 // French insurance giant AXA SA said Thursday that improving sales in its life insurance and asset management businesses helped lift 2006 profit 18 percent. Beating analysts’ predictions, AXA’s net income rose to...
More Catastrophe-Related Laws Enacted in 2006, Survey Shows
Feb 23 2007 // Enacted catastrophe-related laws increased dramatically in the states last year, according to the annual survey of state insurance laws prepared by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). “Ten...
