Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
ABI Warns of Increased Flood Risks in England and Wales
Feb 1 2012 // The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned that the flood risk faced by communities in political constituencies across England and Wales presents a “worrying”‘ situation. It selected...
W.R. Berkley Posts Q4 Profit of $118M; Average Renewal Rates Up 4.2%
Feb 1 2012 // W.R. Berkley Corporation reported net income of $117.9 million for its 2011 fourth quarter, a 7 percent decline compared to the same period one year ago when the company reported $126.9 million net income. The Greenwich,...
Report: California Workers’ Comp Insurers Returns Improved in 2010
Jan 31 2012 // After declining for four consecutive years, California workers’ compensation insurers’ return on net worth showed signs of improvement in 2010. That’s according to the data from the National Association...
Best Affirms American Service Pool Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jan 31 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B’ (Fair) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “bb” of Illinois-based American Country Insurance Company and American Service Insurance...
Willis Re Notes 25% Growth in Insurance Loss Warranty Market
Jan 31 2012 // A report from Willis Re in London points to 2011 activity as driving a 25 percent growth in Insurance Loss Warranties (ILWs) volume for 2012. The report estimates that the ILW market reached trading volumes of $6 billion...
French P/C Insurers’ Outlook Now Stable: Moody’s
Jan 31 2012 // In a new industry outlook published today, Moody’s Investors Service says that it has changed the outlook for the French property and casualty (P/C) sector to stable from negative, reflecting insurers’ smooth...
Chubb Says Commercial Renewal Rates Rose 6% in Q4, Up From 4% in Q3
Jan 30 2012 // Chubb Corporation said its commercial insurance renewal rates were up 6 percent in the 2011 fourth quarter, as the pace of renewal rate increases continues to accelerate. Chubb also said it secured renewal rate hikes in...
Agency Compensation Expected to Rise in 2012: Ward Group
Jan 30 2012 // Contingent commission payouts to insurance agencies are estimated to be 12 percent higher in 2012 than 2011, a new study says. The study by the Ward Group also found that carriers are continuing to increase their volume...
Best Revises Chartis, Lexington & Members Outlooks to Stable; Affirms Ratings
Jan 27 2012 // In connection with its revision of its outlook on AIG, A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of Chartis US Insurance...
Best Revises AIG and Subs Outlook to Stable; Affirms Ratings
Jan 27 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” of American International Group. It has also revised the outlook to stable from negative and...
Kansas Farmers Rack Up $1B in Insurance Claims After Drought
Jan 27 2012 // Kansas farmers have claimed nearly $1 billion in insurance to offset crop losses caused by the lingering drought. The federal government says that breaks a Kansas record of $446.8 million for drought claims set in 2002,...
Increase in U.S. Tort Costs Driven by Gulf Oil Spill: Study
Jan 27 2012 // The April 2010 Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico were the key drivers in the 5.1 percent increase in U.S. tort costs in 2010, according to a new report. The 2011...
Travelers CEO: Business Insurance Renewal Price Up 10% in December
Jan 25 2012 // Travelers Companies Inc.’s business insurance had renewal premium rate gains of 8 percent for the fourth quarter 2011 and 10 percent for December, said CEO Jay Fishman. He offered his remarks during the company...
Allstate Wants a Rate Increase in Louisiana
Jan 25 2012 // Allstate Corp. is asking to raise rates for 144,000 Louisiana homeowners who get their insurance coverage from two Allstate companies. According to the state insurance department, Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate wants an...
Study: Major Earthquake Could Hit Tokyo Within Years
Jan 25 2012 // A new study is warning that the Tokyo region has a 70 percent chance of being hit directly by a powerful magnitude-7 earthquake within four years. The study by University of Tokyo seismologists bases the estimate on an...
WillisWire Bloggers Reveal Their Top Emerging Risks for 2012
Jan 24 2012 // A bulletin from Willis Group Holdings identifies 18 “emerging risks,” as causing increasing concern among the world’s insurance community. Willis compiled the list from its new website of intellectual...
Fine Arts Consortium Increases Capacity for 2012
Jan 24 2012 // Ironshore’s Pembroke Consortium has increased capacity to $116 million for 2012 to meet new demand, an expansion over the $105 million it offered in 2011. The increase in capacity comes as the organization closes its...
Travelers: Q4 Profit Down But Pricing Rebounds Sharply
Jan 24 2012 // Travelers Companies Inc. reported a smaller profit for the fourth quarter, as it released less money from its reserves than a year earlier, though it also reported its biggest rate increases in eight years as the industry...
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones: Year One Report Card
Jan 23 2012 // Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones marked his first full year in office last week by looking back on his and the California Department of Insurance’s accomplishments during 2011. “A little over a year ago, I...
Conning: P/C Premiums to Grow 3-4% in 2012
Jan 23 2012 // Property/casualty insurers are facing a difficult environment in 2012, according to a forecast from analysts at a Hartford insurance consulting firm. The difficult environment will include volatility in the economy, the...
