Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
Agents, Brokers, Carriers: Insurance Outlook Good for 2006
Jan 2 2006 // With the insurance industry surviving a year filled with catastrophe losses and the challenge of reauthorizing the terrorism reinsurance backstop legislation, the prospects still seem bright for 2006 according to agents,...
Two Companies Request Rate Increases in Fla.
Jan 2 2006 // Liberty Mutual and Federated National insurance companies have asked Florida regulators for double-digit rate increases. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. wants to raise rates by a statewide average of 25 percent, and Federated...
Sizing Up The Construction Market
Jan 2 2006 // The list of insurers is hsorter and restrictions longer When he is presented with a construction account at his office on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, Rubin Alspector can quickly determine which insurers might write it. He...
Table-top TVs, Web access and other trends
Jan 2 2006 // The National Restaurant Association forecasts the following trends: Restaurants as homes away from home. With growing demand from plugged-in Americans accustomed to operating in a 24/7 society, look for restaurants to...
Table-top TVs, Web access and other trends
Jan 1 2006 // The National Restaurant Association forecasts the following trends: • Restaurants as homes away from home. With growing demand from plugged-in Americans accustomed to operating in a 24/7 society, look for restaurants...
2006 construction forecast: sunny
Jan 1 2006 // Construction executives overall are more cautious than in the recent past two years but still generally optimistic about 2006. Builders in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas are the most optimistic while those in New...
Munich Re to Raise Dividend by 55% Despite Increases in 2005 Cat Losses
Dec 29 2005 // In a year that will go down as the costliest ever for the insurance industry, it seems paradoxical that Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurer – at least until Swiss Re completes its takeover of GE Insurance...
Take Insurance Journal’s Agency Automation Survey
Dec 29 2005 // Insurance Journal is working with Kinetic Information LLC to study how independent insurance agents and brokers are approaching agency automation. The results will appear as an exclusive article in Insurance Journal early...
Insurers’ Income, Surplus Rise Despite Record Catastrophe Losses
Dec 28 2005 // The U.S. property/casualty insurance industry’s net income after taxes rose 4.4 percent, or $1.2 billion, to $28.8 billion in nine-months 2005 from $27.6 billion in nine-months 2004. Reflecting the industry’s...
Guy Carpenter Unveils 2005 Central, Eastern Europe Flood Report
Dec 28 2005 // Guy Carpenter & Company Ltd. reported the release of European Flood Report 2005 – Central and Eastern Europe, a detailed summary and review of 2005 Central and Eastern European flood activity. The report,...
Best Affirms Quanta Group’s ‘A-‘ Ratings; Outlook Negative
Dec 27 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Quanta Reinsurance Ltd. (Quanta Re) and its...
S&P Affirms OIL’s ‘A-‘ Rating, Off CreditWatch; Outlook Stable
Dec 22 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has affirmed its “A-” counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on petroleum industry mutual insurer Oil Insurance Ltd. (OIL) and removed...
Best Affirms XL’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Removes from Review; Outlook Stable
Dec 22 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A+” (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of XL Capital Ltd’s operating subsidiaries....
S&P Affirms Converium’s Ratings; Off CreditWatch; Outlook Stable
Dec 22 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has affirmed its “BBB+” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Swiss-based reinsurer Converium AG and the...
Best Affirms PXRE ‘A-‘ Ratings; Off of Review; Outlook Negative
Dec 22 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has removed from under review and affirmed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” for the reinsurance subsidiaries...
Estimates in Swiss Re <em>sigma</em> Study Confirm 2005 as Costliest Ever
Dec 21 2005 // Ever since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, 2005 looked certain to be a record-breaking year for insured losses. Swiss Re’s newly issued sigma report has now confirmed the sad fact. According to preliminary...
Best Rates U.K.’s Hiscox, Lloyd’s Syndicate, Bermuda Start-Up
Dec 19 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has announced its credit ratings on U.K. specialist and Lloyd’s insurer Hiscox plc. and its operating entities. It affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A-” (Excellent) and the...
IIAT SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS
Dec 19 2005 // Independent insurance agents in Texas report improved homeowners insurance coverage and lower premium prices for both homeowners and auto insurance as the year comes to an end. A survey of more than 1,800 member agencies...
S&P Ups Willis Outlook to Positive; Affirms ‘BBB-‘ Rating
Dec 15 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has revised its outlook on Willis Group Holdings Ltd. to positive from stable and has affirmed its “BBB-” counterparty credit and senior unsecured...
