Latest Trends Headlines

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

Weak Equity Markets Hit AXA 1st Half Net Earnings, Down 75%

Aug 12 2003 // Despite a solid operating performance which saw a 6 percent rise in underlying earnings to 1.1 billion euros ($1.25 billion) France’s AXA Group posted a sharp decline in net earnings to 209 million euros ($237...

Long Holds Increase in Fire, EC Rates at 13.6%

Aug 11 2003 // Insurance Commissioner Jim Long signed a settlement agreement with the North Carolina Rate Bureau that raises insurance rates on dwelling fire and extended coverage (fire and EC) by an average 13.6 percent statewide....

NAMIC Launches Online Salary Survey

Aug 6 2003 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) has launched the property/casualty industry’s first online salary survey. Covering more than 50 positions, the NAMIC Online Salary Survey offers...

S&P Affirms ‘A-‘ Ratings on MMA, Outlook Negative

Aug 4 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said that it had affirmed its ‘A-‘ insurer financial strength and long-term counterparty credit ratings on France-based property-casualty insurer Les Mutuelles du...

Benefits Grow Faster than Wages for First Time Since 1992

Aug 4 2003 // Benefits paid to workers and employers’ costs for workers’ compensation rose slightly faster than wages in 2001, according to a new report released by the National Academy of Social Insurance. This is the first...

ABD Ins. & Financial Services Releases Calif. Employee Benefits Survey

Jul 31 2003 // The number one insurance-related concern expressed by employers today is how to contend with the accelerating cost of benefit plans, according to a survey from Redwood City, Calif.-based ABD Insurance and Financial...

St. Paul Surety Claims Brings Earnings Down by $120 Million

Jul 28 2003 // The St. Paul Cos. advised today that the second-quarter 2003 earnings impact related to a surety exposure, with a total aggregate face amount of $120 million as previously described in a Report on Form 8-K filed on April...

S&P Affirms Generali at ‘AA’; Outlook Negative

Jul 28 2003 // Standard & Poor’s has affirmed its ‘AA’ financial strength and long-term counterparty credit ratings on Assicurazioni Generali SpA, the parent and main property-casualty company of the pan-European...

WCIRB to Propose 12% Increase in Pure Premium Rates Effective Jan. 1, 2004

Jul 28 2003 // The WCIRB Governing Committee recently approved the filing of an average 12 percent increase in advisory pure premium rates to be effective on policies incepting on or after Jan. 1, 2004. The recommended increase was based...

NAMIC Says National Leg. Organization Endorsement of Competition in Pricing is ‘Significant Momentum’ to State Regulator

Jul 24 2003 // This week’s endorsement of competition to determine insurance pricing by the nation’s largest organization of state legislatures “sends the strongest message yet that states are prepared to take the...

S&P Affirms Progressive, Outlook Stable

Jul 21 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services affirmed its “A+” counterparty credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Progressive Corp. based on Progressive’s excellent business position, very strong...

As Summer Heats Up, So Does Vehicle Theft

Jul 21 2003 // While some of us may be living easy at the beach or in the mountains during the summer, it’s typically the season when auto thieves do most of their work. And it’s also a time when vehicle theft watchers come...

S&P Revises Infinity P/C and Subs Outlook to Stable

Jul 18 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it revised its outlook on Birmingham, Ala.-based personal lines writer Infinity Property and Casualty Corp. and Infinity’s insurance subsidiaries to...

S&P Revises UMS Generali Marine SpA Outlook to Positive

Jul 17 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said it revised its outlook on Italy-based marine insurer UMS Generali Marine SpA (UMS) to positive from stable. At the same time, S&P affirmed its ‘A-‘...

Benefits Grow Faster than Wages for First Time Since 1992

Jul 15 2003 // Benefits paid to workers and employers’ costs for workers’ compensation rose slightly faster than wages in 2001, according to a new report released today by the National Academy of Social Insurance. This is the...

Arkansas Sees Small Increase in WC Rates

Jul 14 2003 // Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Mike Pickens announced an overall loss increase of 1.8 percent in the State’s Workers’ Compensation voluntary insurance market. This small increase is the first for Arkansas in...

IBC, Crawford Adjusters Team Up to Fight Fraud

Jul 10 2003 // The Insurance Bureau of Canada announced that it has entered into an agreement with Crawford Adjusters Canada to exchange claims data in a common format to combat fraud. “Insurance fraud costs Canadians $1.3 billion...

S&P Revises R&SA Entities Outlook to Negative

Jul 9 2003 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has revised its outlook on various entities of U.K.-based Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group PLC to negative from developing. However, S&P...

Latino Market Heats Up

Jul 7 2003 // It is nearly impossible to deny the impact the burgeoning Hispanic population has and will have on American culture and its markets. The marketplace for insurance is no exception. Hispanics are now the country’s...

Companies Respond to PIACT Performance Survey

Jun 27 2003 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut announced that its recent company performance survey has “garnered positive feedback from the companies about which its members responded.” The survey polled...