Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Gateway Insurance Ratings Affirmed; Outlook Revised to Negative
May 26 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from positive and affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Gateway Insurance Co. (Gateway) in St. Louis,...
South Carolina Beach Pool Rates Going Up 9.8%
May 25 2011 // For the first time in four years, South Carolina residents living along the state’s coastline are going to have to pay more for insurance. The South Carolina Department of Insurance has approved a statewide average...
Catastrophes Issue Wake Up Call on Supply Chain Risks
May 24 2011 // The Japanese earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March 2011 served as a wake up call of sorts for businesses vulnerable to supply chain exposures. Subsequent intense weather events in the United States during April and...
Opinion: Financial Regulation Reform Risks Overkill in Emerging Markets
May 24 2011 // There is no doubt that some of the busiest people since the financial crisis are at the Financial Stability Board. The G20 recommendations have been wide ranging, from private sector practices such as compensation schemes...
Oklahoma Schools Insurance Rates Go Up After Storms
May 23 2011 // More than 400 Oklahoma schools have received notices of expected insurance rate increases averaging 19.5 percent. The notice from the Oklahoma Schools Insurance Group, which provides various types of coverage to 440 of...
Bribery Widespread Across Europe’s Top Companies: Survey
May 23 2011 // More than one third of employees at large European companies are prepared to offer cash or lavish gifts and entertainment to win business as the economic downturn prompts firms to cut corners to stay ahead. In its 2011...
NOAA Forecasts ‘Above Normal’ Atlantic Hurricane Season
May 20 2011 // The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season will be “above normal”, spawning six to 10 hurricanes of which around half could become major, the U.S. government’s weather agency forecast Thursday. However, as the...
Agency Salary Survey Reveals Frozen Salaries; Time to Evaluate Compensation
May 19 2011 // Any business owner knows that a great employee is worth a lot. That holds true for independent insurance agencies when it comes to great producers and the employees that support them. Agencies need good producers, says Al...
National Interstate Enters Ambulance Insurance Market
May 18 2011 // National Interstate Insurance Co., a provider of transportation insurance, has entered the ambulance insurance market through a relationship with McNeil & Company, Inc.. The Ambulance Services Insurance Program (ASIP)...
Americans Oppose Accident Response Fees: Insurance Industry Survey
May 18 2011 // Sixty-eight percent of adults oppose local governments charging accident response fees to individuals involved in traffic accidents, according to a new insurance industry survey. The Insurance Research Council (IRC) survey...
Calif. Workers’ Comp Premium Written Edges Up to $7.1B
May 18 2011 // California workers’ compensation insurers’ total direct written premium (DWP) rose 3.1 percent to $7.1 billion last year, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) posted...
Best Revises Montpelier Re Outlook to Positive; Affirms Ratings
May 18 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Bermuda-based Montpelier...
Finaccord Forecasts Growth for Europe Professional Indemnity Coverage
May 18 2011 // A new study from financial market research consultants Finaccord forecasts that the market for professional indemnity insurance across ten European countries – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland,...
Calif. Surplus Line Premiums Down 4.34%
May 17 2011 // The Surplus Line Association of California Stamping Office announced premiums processed for the first quarter of 2011 of $953.7 million, a decrease of 4.34 percent from the total premiums processed in the same period in...
A.M. Best: Outlook Negative for Badger Mutual, A-Rating Affirmed
May 17 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Badger Mutual Insurance Company (Badger) of...
Survey: Commercial Lines Prices Fall 3% in Q1
May 16 2011 // Commercial property/casualty pricing declined again with an average decline of 3 percent in the first quarter of 2011. But according to a new industry survey, the pace of pricing declines may be slowing down. The market...
Survey Shows Opportunity for Carriers to Support Agents in Social Media
May 16 2011 // The majority of agents and brokers say using social media is important for business, yet many report not using social media tools in their business today. Seven of 10 independent agents and brokers believe it is important...
Outlook Negative but ‘A’ Rating Affirmed for Motorists Insurance Pool
May 13 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a” of The Motorists Insurance Pool (Motorists...
A.M. Best Revises Outlook, Affirms Financial Rating of Andover Cos.
May 12 2011 // Ratings firm A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the issuer credit ratings of “aa” of the Andover, Mass.-based Andover Companies Pool and its members. The members are...
S&P Changes Outlook on Navigators to Negative; Affirms Ratings
May 12 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on New York-based Navigators Group Inc. and its insurance units to negative from stable. S&P also affirmed its ‘BBB’ counterparty credit...
