Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Reinsurance Outlook
Jan 22 2006 // Although Katrina is long gone, the clouds of misfortune she and her sisters generated will linger for decades. They radiate well beyond Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and other regions into the heart of...
Fitch Predicts Stable Outlook for Broker Industry in 2006
Jan 20 2006 // New York-Chicago-based Fitch Ratings is predicting stability and growth for the broker industry in 2006, while admitting that earnings will be down in 2005 because of litigation connected to New York Attorney General Eliot...
AUGIE Launches Agency Survey
Jan 20 2006 // The ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange (AUGIE) reported its benchmark Agency Technology Survey is now available to complete and encourages independent insurance agents and brokers to participate. The Florida...
CII Survey Examines Changes in Broker/Insurer Relations
Jan 20 2006 // The U.K.’s Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Faculty of Insurance Broking, in conjunction with Oracle, the enterprise software company, has issued a new study – ” Opinion Leader Research: Broker...
As Rates Rise, Delaware Solicits Changes to Workers’ Comp Classes
Jan 20 2006 // Delaware Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn has asked Delaware businesses to submit requests for classification changes under the workers’ compensation insurance system if they believe that changes would make more...
Best Affirms FSR for Central Reinsurance; Outlook is Stable
Jan 19 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a-” of Central Reinsurance Corporation (Central Re) (Taiwan). The outlook for both ratings is...
Aon U.K. Sees Riskier Outlook for Businesses in 2006
Jan 18 2006 // Aon Limited, The U.K.-based insurance broker and risk management consultant for the Aon Group, has published its 2006 Risk Report assessing some of the major new and existing risk challenges for UK businesses. Climate...
Best Downgrades FSR for Louisiana Farm Bureau; Outlook Negative
Jan 18 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to B+ (Very Good) from A- (Excellent) of Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (LFB) (Baton Rouge, La.). The rating has been removed from under review and...
SCOR’s P/C, Credit and Surety Treaty Renewal Premiums Up 25%
Jan 16 2006 // France’s SCOR Group announced that “premium income linked to Non-Life and Credit & Surety treaties up for renewal on 1 January 2006 is up by around 25 percent.” The bulletin added, “these...
S&P Survey of Australia NZ Market Notes M&A Activity; Rating Changes
Jan 16 2006 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has issued a report which notes: “Rating actions picked up noticeably in Australia and New Zealand in 2005, as merger and acquisition (M&A) activity intensified and...
HCC Expects Earnings Growth in 2006
Jan 11 2006 // HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. provided earnings guidance for the period ending Dec. 31, 2006. In a news release, HCC said management is confident they will achieve or beat consensus earnings of $2.55 per fully diluted share...
S&P Maintains Stable Outlook on Italian Insurance Industry
Jan 9 2006 // In a recently issued study “Insurance Industry Risk Analysis: Italy (Republic of),” Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said it is maintaining its stable outlook on the Italian insurance industry....
ACE Cites Increased Risks in Outsourcing IT Systems
Jan 9 2006 // ACE European Group Limited has issued a warning to organizations who outsource their IT systems, which indicates they “are increasing their potential vulnerability to security breaches causing possible long term...
‘EuroTempest’ Introduced to Forecast Potential Windstorm Damage
Jan 6 2006 // A team in the U.K. has produced a new wind damage prediction tool called EuroTempest, designed to provide local damage forecasts for European windstorms. An announcement on the Lloyd’s Website (www.lloyds.com) notes...
R&M Study of Irish Insurance Market
Jan 6 2006 // Research and Markets has announced the addition of Ireland Insurance 2005 to their offering. “Our Ireland Insurance 2005 report provides 2004 year-end market data, with 2005 estimates and five-year forecasts,”...
EGI Financial Motors Into Ontario Motorcycle Insurance Market
Jan 6 2006 // Toronto-based EGI Financial Holdings Inc. reported that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Echelon General Insurance Company, is entering the Ontario motorcycle insurance market with a $5 million brokerage agreement with Riders...
Lloyd’s Survey Confirms Small Business Confidence in Brokers
Jan 5 2006 // A survey, commissioned by the General Insurance Market Association (GIMRA), which queried 500 small and medium-sized businesses (SME’s), has determined that they continue to have confidence in traditional insurance...
Analysts Predict Faster P/C Premium Growth, Underwriting Profit in 2006
Jan 5 2006 // Record catastrophe losses will weigh heavily on 2005’s underwriting results, pushing what would have been the industry’s largest underwriting profit ever into a loss situation, according to the Insurance...
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Cost to Miss. Motorists to Increase
Jan 3 2006 // Thousands of Mississippi motorists will see a higher bill when they renew their automobile insurance in 2006. A new law that took effect Jan. 1 doubles the minimum amount of liability insurance Mississippi drivers must...
Virginia OKs Workers’ Comp Rate Changes, Up and Down
Jan 3 2006 // Virginia officials have approved changes that will increase overall workers’ compensation premium levels in the voluntary market for the industrial and federal (F) classes while decreasing premiums levels for coal...
