Latest Trends Headlines

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

Outlook Is Cautious As Some States See Major Construction Projects

Jun 18 2012 // Apartment Communities May Be Key to Revival The overall construction industry appears to be making a recovery, albeit, a very slow one. Industry watchers say the outlook is better for big utility and public works...

Atlantic Storm Forecast Raised

Jun 18 2012 // Colorado State University researchers have raised their forecast for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season to 13 tropical storms, with five hurricanes and two major hurricanes. In April they forecast 10 tropical storms, with...

Small Business Owners Dismiss Risk of Data Breach: Survey

Jun 14 2012 // As the number of data breaches involving smaller businesses continues to grow, a new survey by The Hartford finds 85 percent of small business owners believe a data breach is unlikely, and many are not implementing simple...

Storms Increase Insurance Costs In Cheyenne Area

Jun 13 2012 // Severe weather including hailstorms is driving up the cost of homeowners insurance in Wyoming’s Cheyenne area. James Mitchell with the Wyoming Insurance Department says many Wyoming property owners are set to see...

Law Firms Facing Rise in Large Malpractice Claims: Study

Jun 13 2012 // Although the frequency of malpractice claims brought against law firms in the U.S. appears to be leveling office, the number of large claims is rising sharply. A new study by insurance broker Ames & Gough finds a...

Commercial Insurance Prices Continue to Rise: Towers Watson

Jun 11 2012 // Commercial insurance prices in aggregate increased by nearly five percent during the first quarter of 2012, the fifth consecutive quarter that prices rose. In addition, commercial insurers’ loss ratios stabilized for...

Connecticut Survey Finds Teens Often Text While Driving

Jun 9 2012 // Connecticut teens have acknowledged in a state survey that they talk and text on their cell phones while driving.Photo credit: the city of Gahanna, Ohio, websiteThe biennial state survey of risky teen behavior was released...

Best Affirms Fireman’s Fund Ratings, Removes from Review; Outlook Stable

Jun 7 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of...

Best Affirms MAPFRE RE FSR; Downgrades ICR; Off Review; Negative Outlook

Jun 7 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has downgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a” from “a+” and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) of MAPFRE RE,...

Best Affirms AXA U.S. FSR; Upgrades ICR; Off Review; Negative Outlook

Jun 7 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has removed from under review with negative implications and upgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of...

Best Affirms Allianz SE’s Ratings, Removes from Review, Outlook Stable

Jun 7 2012 // Following the rating actions taken in December 2011, A.M. Best Europe announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-”...

Best Affirms MAPFRE PRAICO FSR Ratings; Downgrades ICR; Outlook Negative

Jun 7 2012 // As Best announced in conjunction with these current rating actions, they follow a series of actions taken last December to address the implications for euro zone insurers. Generally it changed the outlook on the ratings,...

Best Takes Generali, Subs Off Review, Affirms Ratings; Outlook Negative

Jun 7 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has removed from under review and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a” and all debt...

Financial Reporting Improved Under 10-Year Old SOX Law: Survey

Jun 6 2012 // Corporations’ internal control over financial reporting has “significantly or moderately improved” in the 10 years since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) became law, according to a majority of executives...

MF Global Trustee Recommends Insurance Fund for Futures Customers

Jun 4 2012 // Futures customers should have access to a fund that guarantees their accounts up to a certain threshold, the trustee liquidating MF Global Holdings Ltd said in a report on Monday. The report, written by Trustee James...

Colorado Researchers Raise Atlantic Storm Forecast

Jun 4 2012 // Colorado State University researchers on Friday raised their forecast for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season to 13 tropical storms, with five hurricanes and two major hurricanes. In April they forecast 10 tropical storms,...

Willis Global Launches New Platform for Sector Growth

Jun 4 2012 // Willis Global, the London headquartered reinsurance, specialties and wholesale arm of Willis Group Holdings, announced a series of what it described as “client-centric measures aimed at significantly growing the $40...

Tennessee Cracks Down on Roofing Contractor Fraud

Jun 4 2012 // Roofing contractors operating in Tennessee will have to provide residents whose homes are damaged due to tornadoes and other storms with more information about their company and about their rights to cancel contracts under...

Future Vision: Will Driving Become Too Safe to Insure?

Jun 4 2012 // What would happen to the auto insurance industry if automobile safety improves to the point that vehicle collisions become relics of the past? That’s the question explored by global consulting and research firm,...

Texas Steps Up Insurance Fraud Fight with New Prosecuting Teams

Jun 4 2012 // Two of Texas most populated counties now have teams dedicated to fighting insurance fraud. Harris County (Houston) and Bexar County (San Antonio) both have new insurance fraud prosecutors and investigators whose salaries...