Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Improved Profitability Forecast for Marsh, Guy Carpenter
Aug 5 2009 // Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. , the No. 2 global insurance broker, posted quarterly results in line with expectations on Wednesday and forecast improved profitability for its brokerage business, sending its shares up 4.3...
U.S., Colorado Forecasters Trim Atlantic Hurricane Forecasts Again
Aug 5 2009 // The Colorado State University storm research team cut its 2009 Atlantic hurricane season forecast Tuesday, predicting that El Nino would trim the tally to 10 tropical storms, with four becoming hurricanes. The noted...
Survey: Midwest Economy Improving
Aug 4 2009 // The Institute for Supply Management, formerly the Purchasing Management Association, began formally surveying its membership in 1931 to gauge business conditions. The Creighton Economic Forecasting Group uses the same...
Kentucky National Enters Tennessee P/C Insurance Market
Aug 4 2009 // Kentucky National Insurance Co., a Lexington-based property/ casualty insurance company, began offering insurance to customers in Tennessee June 1, 2009. Kentucky National is offering auto, homeowners, boat, renters,...
Home Values Down Across U.S. But Not Rebuilding Costs
Aug 3 2009 // Across America, home sales and values are down. But the costs to repair and rebuild homes have not followed. Rising reconstruction prices are contrary to the economic news of recent months and perhaps contrary to...
2nd ‘Stanford’ Suit Targets Willis; Terrorist Bombs Kill 9 in Indonesia; Insurance Fraud on the Rise in UK; Lloyd’s ‘Fli
Aug 3 2009 // Willis has been named in a second lawsuit stemming from its relation with indicted financier Allen Stanford. A Venezuelan investor, Reinaldo Ranni, filed a class action in U.S. federal court in Miami on July 17, accusing...
Fairfax Sees Insurance Market Turning Corner in ’09
Jul 31 2009 // Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd said Friday it expects the insurance market to turn a corner this year and believes its book value will be “up significantly” in five years. Speaking during a...
Florida Workers’ Comp Claims Costs Grew in Years after Reform
Jul 30 2009 // Medical costs for workers’ compensation claims in Florida grew between 5 and 7 percent in 2005 and 2006, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The growth rate of followed a...
Researchers Hope to Improve Hurricane Prediction
Jul 30 2009 // They’re deceptively simple looking detectors: one an antenna with built-in GPS; the other electronic sensors inside what looks like — and in fact, is — a large, upside-down metal salad bowl. The sensors...
Travelers Earnings Fall 20% in Q2; Net Premiums Down Slightly
Jul 30 2009 // Travelers Cos. Inc. said on Thursday that second quarter earnings fell about 20 percent on lower investment income and underwriting profit. An increase in premium levels helped Travelers’ net policy sales keep pace...
Study: Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp Claim Costs Rising
Jul 29 2009 // Medical costs for workers’ compensation claims in Pennsylvania are typical of those in other states but rising, according to the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). In a new study, the Cambridge,...
Louisiana Private Sector Sees Jobs Increases in June
Jul 29 2009 // The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) has reported that the number of private sector jobs in Louisiana grew by 700 from May to June, led by increases in most major industry sectors. The job gains were offset largely by...
Ohio Auto and Homeowners Insurance Rates Increased in 2008
Jul 28 2009 // Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson announced that the average rates for the state’s top 10 private passenger auto insurers increased 0.8 percent in 2008. The average rates for the state’s top...
St. Johns Enters South Carolina Homeowners Insurance Market
Jul 27 2009 // St. Johns Insurance Co., a Florida domiciled property and casualty insurer, has expanded its presence into the South Carolina homeowner insurance market. Insuring more than 200,000 policyholders in Florida, St. Johns...
Survey: Tennessee Small Businesses Struggling with Health Insurance Costs
Jul 27 2009 // With Congress debating how to reform Athe nation’s health care system, a new survey report reveals that 79 percent of Tennessee’s small business owners, including the self-employed, are struggling to afford...
S&P Affirms Ratings, Revises Outlook on Fortis, after Amlin Acquisition
Jul 23 2009 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook to stable from negative on Netherlands-based commercial lines insurer Fortis Corporate Insurance N.V. (FCI), and affirmed its ‘A-‘ long-term...
Survey: Buyers Prefer Agents When Purchasing Medical Insurance
Jul 23 2009 // A recent online survey of more than 1,000 consumers found that those who purchased individual medical (IM) insurance through a professional agent were significantly more satisfied with their health plans than those who...
Survey: Illinois Small Businesses Crushed by Rising Health Costs
Jul 22 2009 // Illinois small business owners are being crushed by rising health care costs, and feel left out of the current health care debate in Washington, according to a report recently released by Illinois Public Interest Research...
Louisiana Unemployment Rate Rises; Jobs Increase in Some Sectors
Jul 21 2009 // Louisiana was among the 38 states that recorded higher unemployment rates in June, but the state has experienced job growth during the past year in certain industry sectors. The Louisiana rate of 6.8 percent remains...
Best Affirms Munich Re, Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Jul 21 2009 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Munich Reinsurance Company (Munich Re) and its subsidiaries. Best also...
