Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Survey: Public Opposes Allowing Policyholder Suits Against Insurers
Jul 29 2010 // A majority of Americans believe that laws allowing people to sue their own auto insurance company for punitive damages, in addition to receiving benefits for their insured claim losses, are not a good idea. New public...
North Dakota Property Crime Rate Down, but Violent Crimes on Rise
Jul 29 2010 // Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says North Dakota’s crime rate dropped slightly last year, but the number of violent crimes rose. A new report provides North Dakota statistics for a number of crimes, including...
S&P Raises Arch Capital Group’s Ratings to ‘A-‘; Outlook Stable
Jul 29 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has raised its counterparty credit rating on Arch Capital Group Ltd. to ‘A-‘ from ‘BBB+’. S&P also raised its counterparty credit and financial...
SeaBright Files California Rate Increase
Jul 29 2010 // SeaBright Holdings Inc. announced that its subsidiary, SeaBright Insurance Co., has filed a 15.3 percent rate increase with the California Department of Insurance. The Company plans to apply the increase to California...
Marsh: Offshore Energy Insurance Costs to Increase ‘Modestly’
Jul 28 2010 // Major losses sustained in the Gulf of Mexico will not have the same market-changing impact on the upstream energy insurance market as other major events such as Hurricane Katrina, according to a new report published by...
Best Revises Outlook on Lancashire to Positive; Affirms Ratings
Jul 28 2010 // 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 Lancashire...
Florida Citizens’ Rate Increases Way Below Actuaries’ Indications
Jul 28 2010 // If insurance actuaries had their way, rates for homeowners insured through Florida’s public insurer Citizens Property Insurance would be going up 55.9 percent on average. But state law caps how much Citizens can...
Best Assigns ‘A’ Ratings to China Re Group; Outlook Stable
Jul 27 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a” to China Reinsurance (Group) Corporation (China Re or the Group) and its subsidiaries,...
United Fire & Casualty P/C Unit Sees Decline in Premiums, Claims
Jul 27 2010 // United Fire & Casualty Co., headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, reported that net premiums written in its property/casualty sector declined in the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010, as compared...
Report Forecasts Rough Sailing for Canadian Insurers’ Results
Jul 26 2010 // Investors hoping for improved results from Canada’s insurers may want to brace for disappointment, with weak stock markets and lower bond yields seen taking take a bite out of quarterly earnings. Analysts said the...
BP’s Partners Will Not Set Up Gulf Oil Claims Fund
Jul 23 2010 // The two oil companies that are BP’s partners in the now-capped oil well told Congress Thursday they will not set aside money for cleanup costs along the Gulf Coast because it is BP’s responsibility. Anadarko...
Business Groups Press Emerging Economies over Doha
Jul 22 2010 // Brazil, China and India must use their growing economic might to help revive deadlocked global trade talks, a coalition of business lobby groups said in a letter to U.S. and European Union trade negotiators. The letter,...
Ironshore Aviation Division Enters Global Space Insurance Market
Jul 22 2010 // Ironshore Inc.’s aviation division has entered a treaty reinsurance program with the Starr Group to provide protection against commercial satellite risk. The global space insurance program provides coverages for...
Risk Managers See More Commercial Lines Premium Decreases in Q2
Jul 22 2010 // Decreases in average renewal premiums continued to show up for commercial clients during the second quarter of 2010, according to risk managers. Premium decreases of between 2.5 and 3.8 percent were reported for property,...
Louisiana Workers’ Comp Rates Decreasing Again
Jul 22 2010 // Rates for workers’ compensation insurance continue to decrease in Louisiana based on a recent report from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), according to Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim...
Florida Insurers Need Rate Increases, Says Rating Expert
Jul 21 2010 // Florida’s property/casualty insurers appear to have adequate reinsurance and capital in place to withstand at least two major storms this season but their overall fate could hinge on whether they are allowed to raise...
Private Firm WSI Cuts U.S. Hurricane Forecast to 19 Named Storms
Jul 21 2010 // Private weather forecaster WSI Corp cut its forecast for named storms in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday, but still sees an active season with water temperatures and wind conditions conducive to violent...
New York Approves Increase in Workers’ Comp Loss Costs
Jul 21 2010 // New York insurance regulators have approved a 7.7 percent hike in workers’ compensation loss costs — an increase that will go into effect in October. The New York Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (NYCIRB),...
Gulf Coast Fishermen Angered By Clean-Up Offset Against BP Claims
Jul 20 2010 // Fishermen in Mississippi say they are angry that under the terms of BP’s $20 billion oil spill fund, money they earn doing clean-up will be subtracted from their claim against the company. The fishermen reacted after...
Ohio Auto, Homeowners Insurance Rates Increase Slightly in 2009
Jul 20 2010 // Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson announced that the average rates for the state’s top 10 private passenger auto insurers increased 2.8 percent in 2009. The average rates for the state’s top...