Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Survey Shows Texans 50% Ready for Major Hurricane
Jul 7 2006 // Insured homeowners in Eastern and Southern Coastal Texas have, on average, taken roughly 50 percent of the steps to prepare their homes and property to recover from a major hurricane, according to a new Hurricane Readiness...
TWIA Reminds Agents of Binding Procedures, Sept. 1 Rate Increases
Jul 7 2006 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association posted a bulletin on its Web site to assist agents with its coverage binding procedures in the event a hurricane threatens the Texas coast. TWIA said no new or additional coverages...
S&P Affirms Norwegian Hull Club ‘A’ Ratings, Stable Outlook
Jul 6 2006 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its “A” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Norway’s marine insurer Norwegian Hull Club (NHC or the club)...
California Workers’ Compensation Loss Ratios Down Significantly
Jul 6 2006 // The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has completed its report summarizing insurer loss and premium experience through March 31, 2006. According to the report, workers’ comp reforms...
Ark. Police See Rise in Copper Thefts
Jul 5 2006 // Record prices for copper have made the metal an attractive target for thieves in Arkansas, police say, just as it is elsewhere in the country. Little Rock police say copper thefts are “rampant.” Thieves even...
GMAC/ABA Seguros enters Mexico Tourist Auto Insurance Market
Jul 5 2006 // Flagstaff, Arizona – As the premium volume for Mexico tourist insurance continues to boom, fueled by an increase in the Hispanic market and escalating tourism to Mexico, another well-respected insurer has entered the...
California earthquake insurance rates decreasing
Jul 3 2006 // California earthquake insurance policies issued by the California Earthquake Authority will see rate decreases by an average of 22.1 percent. Approximately 85 percent of CEA policyholders will see their rates reduced...
Farms Increasingly Rely on Subcontracted Farmworkers
Jun 29 2006 // After 33 years of planting, pruning and harvesting grapes that make world-renowned wine, Jorge de Haro is about to lose the only job he’s ever had. De Haro and his co-workers at Charles Krug’s Napa Valley,...
Swiss Re Economists Analyze Global Situation; Insurance Outlook
Jun 28 2006 // Swiss Re’s economists held their “Mid-year Economic and Insurance Industry” teleconference yesterday, June 27, covering concerns on inflation, interest rates, high oil prices and the outlook for the...
Compensation Survey: Agencies Reward on Organic Growth, Profitability, Retention
Jun 27 2006 // With fewer large books of business changing hands recently, insurance agencies are relying on staff-driven, organic growth to expand their operations. Compensation packages and new recruitment and training strategies have...
California State Fund Raised $50,000 for Community Programs in Past Decade
Jun 22 2006 // California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund’s Santa Rosa District Office employees have raised nearly $50,000 during the past decade for various charities including $3,000 at the recent 25th annual...
California Earthquake Insurance Rates Decreasing
Jun 20 2006 // California earthquake insurance policies issued by the California Earthquake Authority will see rate decreases by an average of 22.1 percent, said Nancy Kinkaid, CEA spokeswoman. Approximately 85 percent of CEA...
Lloyd’s forecast for Northeast: Storms, global warming threats are real
Jun 19 2006 // The prospect of another nasty hurricane season has everyone in the insurance industry braced for a white-knuckle ride. The spectre of a hurricane hitting a major Northeast population center is hardly the stuff of Hollywood...
Florida’s home insurance market: domiciled insurers persist
Jun 19 2006 // At the outset of 2006, the 21 Florida-domiciled insurers rated A or better by Demotech Inc., had an 18 percent share of the voluntary market. Their total 2005 writings were $977 million. Over a dozen have begun writing...
California State Compensation Insurance Fund files average 10 percent premium decrease
Jun 19 2006 // California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund filed its sixth consecutive rate reduction, reflecting an average collectible premium decrease of 10 percent on new and renewal workers’ compensation policies with...
IBC Study Finds Canada’s Legal Environment is ‘Increasingly Uncertain’
Jun 16 2006 // The Insurance Bureau of Canada notes the conclusions of a new study that found the country’s home, car and business insurers believe that “the legal environment in Canada is becoming increasingly uncertain, and...
Employers Insurance Group’s Outlook Positive
Jun 16 2006 // Reno, Nev.-based Employers Insurance Group’s financial strength rating has been raised from “stable” to “positive,” and A- (Excellent) forthe group of workers’ compensation insurance...
Car Crash Death Rate for Seniors, Already High, Expected to Rise
Jun 15 2006 // A study co-authored by a University of Virginia professor suggests that seniors citizens will die in car accidents at a higher rate in the years ahead as America’s 75 million baby boomers age, grow more frail and...
Best Affirms AXA Canada P/C Subsidiaries Ratings; Revises Outlook to ‘Stable’
Jun 14 2006 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of several of AXA Canada Inc.’s property/casualty insurance subsidiaries, as follows: the FSR of “A” (Excellent) of AXA Assurances Inc....
For Reinsurers, Demand Is Up, Capacity Is Down, Alternatives Gaining
Jun 14 2006 // Whether in the U.S., the U.K., Bermuda, or elsewhere, the message from reinsurance companies is the same: demand is up, and capacity is down. However, it is still a lively market, with alternative capital sources such as...
