Latest Trends Headlines

All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Why Insurance Costs Go Up and What Customers Can Do To Save Money

Sep 30 2002 // As renewal notices go out in the mail, insurance agents across Texas are answering calls from their policyholders, some of whom are facing rising homeowners and auto insurance rates. Texas law requires proof of financial...

Survey: Pa. Med-Mal Coverage Elusive

Sep 27 2002 // A survey conducted by the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society of its member physicians indicates that medical malpractice insurance coverage is getting harder to obtain as rates continue to increase. According to the...

2002 Agency Universe Study Reveals Trends in Industry

Sep 25 2002 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) released preliminary results of the Future One 2002 Agency Universe Study, highlighting current demographic trends among independent agents. The study was...

AIR Releases Climate Forecasts for Winter Season

Sep 23 2002 // AIR Worldwide Corporation (AIR), a provider in catastrophe modeling and weather risk management, has released its ClimateCast™ forecasts through March 2003, encompassing the heart of the winter season. The heating season...

Local Reports Find Big Increases in Med Mal, Home Owners Rates

Sep 20 2002 // One report spotlights the crisis among doctors in North-eastern Ohio, who are refusing to deliver babies due to higher medical malpractice insurance premiums; another report from Detroit says that home owners insurance...

S&P Keeps Zurich on CreditWatch, Outlook Still Negative

Sep 18 2002 // Standard & Poor’s indicated that its ratings on Switzerland’s Zurich Financial Services (ZFS) will “remain on CreditWatch with negative implications, where they were placed on Sept. 5, 2002, pending...

New Guy Carpenter Study Finds Reinsurance Markets Worldwide Hardened in 2002; Rates Increased in All Regions for Virtual

Sep 17 2002 // Rates in 2002 for reinsurance covering the property catastrophe risks of insurance companies increased in all regions for virtually all insurance companies, according to a new report by Guy Carpenter & Co., Inc. The...

NAII Provides Overview on Recent Homeowners Trends

Sep 17 2002 // Growing losses and expenses from an increase in mold claims, weather-related losses, and a significant reduction in investment income have contributed to rising rates for many homeowners’ insurers, according to the...

Conning Says Despite Predictions of Their Demise, Small P/C Insurers Excel

Sep 16 2002 // While many experts have questioned the continued viability of small insurers, this group actually grew faster than the largest insurers and achieved better underwriting results during the period 1996-2000, according to a...

HARTFORD SURVEY FINDS BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS FACE HIGHER RISK OF INJURY

Sep 16 2002 // A national workplace survey sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group has found that although blue-collar workers expect to be injured more frequently than white-collar workers, many lack a full understanding of...

Berkshire Hathaway Outlook Stable

Sep 16 2002 // S&P’s affirmed its “AAA”/”A-1+”counterparty credit, “A-1+” commercial paper, and “AAA” senior debt ratings on Berkshire Hathaway Inc. because of the...

PartnerRe Updates 1997 Flood Study

Sep 13 2002 // Bermuda-based PartnerRe announced that it has reprinted its research report, “Floods – Causes, Effects and Risk Assessment, ” following the devastating flooding in Europe in August. Originally published...

La. Okays State Farm Auto Rate Increases

Sep 13 2002 // The Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission approved automobile insurance rate increases for State Farm Group that were less than those originally requested by the insurer. According to A.M. Best regulators approved a 14...

Federal Reserve Economic Survey Shows Slowing Midwest Growth

Sep 12 2002 // The most recent economic survey released by the Federal Reserve regional banks indicates a general slowing of economic growth in most Midwestern regions, with a mixture of good news and bad news and some increases in the...

Inreon Offers Facultative Liability Reinsurance, Demand and Capacity Set to Grow

Sep 6 2002 // Inreon, the Internet trading platform launched by Munich Re and Swiss Re, announced that it has expanded its scope to offer reinsurance buyers facultative liability cover via the platform from a panel of blue chip...

AGF 1st Half Net Up Slightly, Despite Fall in Equity Values

Sep 4 2002 // Assurances Generales de France (AGF), the French subsidiary of Germany’s Allianz, announced 1st half net income of €364 million*, a 1.4 percent increase over the same period last year, despite taking a €333...

German Insurers Set Up Terror Risk Vehicle

Sep 4 2002 // 16 leading insurance companies, including Munich Re, Swiss Re and Allianz, announced the foundation of “Extremus,” a jointly owned insurance vehicle which will provide excess coverage for losses caused by...

SCOR 1st Half Net Profit Down 58% to €21 Million – In Talks with Gerling

Sep 4 2002 // SCOR, France’s largest reinsurer, reported that its 1st half net income had dropped 58 percent to € 21 million* from € 50 million* in the same period last year, due to the now familiar problem of declining equity...

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies Named as Top Performer in Ward Survey

Sep 4 2002 // The Cincinnati Financial Corporation announced that the Ward Group has named The Cincinnati Insurance Companies as one of the nation’s top performers in both property casualty insurance and life and health insurance...

AXA Confirms 17% Increase in 1st Half Operating Earnings to €1.02 Billion

Sep 3 2002 // France’s AXA Group confirmed its earlier estimates (See IJ Website Aug. 21) by officially posting 17 percent growth in operating earnings to €1.022 ($1 billion) for the period ended June 30, compared to €876...