Latest Trends Headlines
All the headlines from our Trends Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Best Affirms XL’s ‘A+’ Ratings; Removes from Review; Outlook Stable
Dec 22 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A+” (Superior) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of XL Capital Ltd’s operating subsidiaries....
S&P Affirms Converium’s Ratings; Off CreditWatch; Outlook Stable
Dec 22 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has affirmed its “BBB+” long-term counterparty credit and insurer financial strength ratings on Swiss-based reinsurer Converium AG and the...
Best Affirms PXRE ‘A-‘ Ratings; Off of Review; Outlook Negative
Dec 22 2005 // A.M. Best Co. announced that it has removed from under review and affirmed the financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” for the reinsurance subsidiaries...
Estimates in Swiss Re <em>sigma</em> Study Confirm 2005 as Costliest Ever
Dec 21 2005 // Ever since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, 2005 looked certain to be a record-breaking year for insured losses. Swiss Re’s newly issued sigma report has now confirmed the sad fact. According to preliminary...
Best Rates U.K.’s Hiscox, Lloyd’s Syndicate, Bermuda Start-Up
Dec 19 2005 // A.M. Best Co. has announced its credit ratings on U.K. specialist and Lloyd’s insurer Hiscox plc. and its operating entities. It affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A-” (Excellent) and the...
IIAT SURVEY SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS
Dec 19 2005 // Independent insurance agents in Texas report improved homeowners insurance coverage and lower premium prices for both homeowners and auto insurance as the year comes to an end. A survey of more than 1,800 member agencies...
S&P Ups Willis Outlook to Positive; Affirms ‘BBB-‘ Rating
Dec 15 2005 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services announced that it has revised its outlook on Willis Group Holdings Ltd. to positive from stable and has affirmed its “BBB-” counterparty credit and senior unsecured...
Citizens Approves 45 Percent Coastal Rate Increase, 21 Percent Inland
Dec 15 2005 // The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board of governors has decided to approve higher premium increases that average 45 percent on Florida’s coast and 21 percent inland. The state’s insurer of last resort had...
Allstate Survey Offers Advice on Keeping Retirement Resolutions
Dec 14 2005 // Thinking about what New Year’s Resolutions you should consider for 2006? Allstate Corporation has done some background work that could help you make as well as keep those resolutions. The Northbrook, Ill. based...
Pennsylvania Sets Up Farm Risk Management Program
Dec 13 2005 // Pennsylvania is setting up programs to help educate some 4,000 farmers about crop insurance and risk management issues. Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff announced that Pennsylvania won a $754,000 grant from the U.S....
Insurance Dept. Approved Miss. Homeowners Rate Increases Before Hurricane Katrina
Dec 12 2005 // Recent increased in homeowners insurance rates in south Mississippi can not be attributed to Hurricane Katrina, according to Insurance Department officials, who indicate that Allstate, USAA and the Southern Farm Bureau all...
Personal Lines 2006 Outlook Stable, S&P Report Says
Dec 12 2005 // In a report published Monday, Standard & Poor’s stated that it is retaining its stable outlook for the personal lines sector for 2006, despite the losses stemming from 2005’s aggressively violent hurricane...
ACUITY Plans Ariz. Growth in 2006
Dec 9 2005 // ACUITY, a property/casualty insurer based in Sheboygan, Wis., will begin writing business in Arizona in mid-2006. The addition is part of the company’s overall expansion plans. The company currently operates in 14...
Most Texas Employers to See Decrease in Unemployment Insurance Tax Rates
Dec 9 2005 // Citing an improved economy, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) said most Texas employers will see a decrease in their employer tax rate for calendar year 2006 compared to last year. Texas Unemployment Insurance (UI)...
Fitch Revises Aon’s Outlook to Stable
Dec 7 2005 // Fitch Ratings has revised Aon Corporation’s (Aon) Rating Outlook to Stable from Negative. Additionally, Fitch affirms Aon’s ‘BBB+’ long-term issuer rating and related senior debt ratings, as well as...
Ease of Doing Business Survey Sets Benchmark for Carriers to Follow
Dec 5 2005 // Insurer Performance Ranks Well on Average, But Many Could Improve on Key Factors Ease of Doing Business (EDB) has been a bit like the weather–everybody talks about it, but doing something about it is another matter....
Eight Key Litigation Trends
Dec 5 2005 // Following are key findings in the 2005 Fulbright and Jaworski 2005 Litigation Trends Survey. 1) Litigation Dockets –Eighty-seven percent of American companies are engaged in some form of litigation in the United...
Los Angeles All Industry Day Highlights Education, Emerging Trends
Dec 5 2005 // Issues including low cost auto insurance, the changing environment of international insurance and successfully reducing injuries and workers’ compensation costs were among the topics discussed at the annual CPCU All...
NO WORKERS’ COMP PREMIUM INCREASES SCHEDULED IN WASHINGTON
Dec 5 2005 // Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has announced there will be no general increase in workers’ compensation premiums for 2006. In late August, the agency proposed a 3.8 percent increase....
COLO. COMP PREMIUM TO DECREASE
Dec 5 2005 // Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard premium for workers’ compensation in Colorado will de-crease an average of 1 percent, as a result of an order signed by Colorado Insurance Commissioner David Rivera. Although...
