Latest USA Headlines
All the headlines from our USA Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Meningitis Outbreak Spurs Calls to Boost Pharmacy Oversight
Nov 14 2012 // U.S. and state health regulators called on Congress on Tuesday to strengthen federal oversight of compounding pharmacies as lawmakers prepared for two days of hearings on a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak linked to a...
Best Affirms Markel Corp. and U.S. Subs Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 14 2012 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of the members of the Markel North America Insurance Group. Best also...
Best Affirms Markel International, Lloyd’s Syndicate Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 14 2012 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a+” of UK-based Markel International Insurance Company...
Insurer ING US Files for IPO
Nov 12 2012 // ING U.S. Inc, a unit of Dutch financial services group ING Groep NV, filed to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering as its parent complies with a European Union mandate to split its businesses. ING Groep...
Thoughts on a Day to Remember and Honor Those Who Fought
Nov 12 2012 // There is a scene at the beginning of the World War I-based play “WarHorse” in which a cavalry troop of British soldiers going to France in August of 1914, extol their readiness for combat and their belief that...
Supreme Court to Hear Amex Appeal on Mandatory Arbitration Clause
Nov 11 2012 // The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider whether American Express Co may invoke an arbitration clause to prevent merchant customers from banding together in an antitrust lawsuit against the company. The court...
IMF Urges Permanent Fix to U.S. ‘Fiscal Cliff’
Nov 9 2012 // The International Monetary Fund on Thursday urged the United States to quickly reach an agreement on a permanent fix to avoid automatic tax hikes and spending cuts early next year, saying a stop-gap solution could be...
Senate Banking Committee Post Possible for Wall Street Critic Warren
Nov 9 2012 // The chances are good, but not guaranteed, that Elizabeth Warren will secure a highly coveted seat on the Senate Banking Committee, a move that would dramatically elevate her campaign against Wall Street excess. Senior...
Plaintiffs, BP Urge Judge to Approve $7.8 Billion Oil Spill Settlement
Nov 9 2012 // BP Plc and lawyers representing over 100,000 individuals and businesses claiming economic and medical damages from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Thursday urged a U.S. judge to approve a proposed $7.8 billion...
Torus Adds Media Liability, Financial Institution Coverages
Nov 9 2012 // Torus has expanded its U.S. management liability and professional lines practice with the addition of two new specialty insurance products: media liability coverage for the media & entertainment segment; and financial...
Kreidler’s 4th Term in Washington: Healthcare, Climate Change, Excess Surpluses
Nov 8 2012 // Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler won nearly six in 10 votes in his re-election bid, giving him bragging rights as the U.S.’s longest currently serving insurance commissioner. Kreidler won 57.7 percent...
U.S. Weather Forecaster Drops El Niño Watch
Nov 8 2012 // The U.S. national weather forecaster has called off its El Niño watch five months after raising the alert as it is now less likely that the much-feared phenomenon that can wreak havoc on global weather will emerge. Since...
Insurer Aviva Nearing Sale of U.S. Business
Nov 8 2012 // Aviva, the UK’s second-biggest insurer, is closing in on the sale of its underperforming U.S. business, a key part its drive to strengthen its finances in an uncertain economic climate and revive its share price. The...
Sandy Could Force 250,000 Cars to Scrap Heap
Nov 8 2012 // Superstorm Sandy may consign as many as a quarter of a million new and used cars and trucks to the scrap heap, a loss that could eventually lead to a spike in new auto sales, automakers and dealers said. So far, automakers...
Post-Election Congress Expected to Target Crop Insurance
Nov 8 2012 // Federally subsidized crop insurance will be a big target for lawmakers looking to cut the budget deficit in the lame-duck session of Congress opening next week, agricultural policy experts agreed the morning after a...
New York, New Jersey Order Evacuations Ahead of New Storm
Nov 7 2012 // [The National Weather Service updated its nor’easter forecast Wednesday morning. The agency said this strengthening coastal storm will impact northeast Wednesday into Thursday. A low pressure system off the...
Election Gamble Backfires for Financial, Energy Firms: Commentary
Nov 7 2012 // “Elections have consequences, and Eric, I won,” President Barack Obama famously told House Republican Whip Eric Cantor shortly after his first inauguration in January 2009. Four years later, Wall Street as well...
Berkley Technology to Cover U.S. Tech Business through Lloyd’s
Nov 6 2012 // Berkley Technology Underwriters, LLC, a Minneapolis-based global technology underwriter and part of the W.R. Berkley Group, announced that it has “been accredited as a Coverholder on behalf of Lloyd’s of...
Supreme Court to Hear Comcast, Amgen Cases on Class Action Limits
Nov 6 2012 // The U.S. Supreme Court considered appeals by Comcast Corp. and Amgen Inc. that could help determine what kind of evidence must be presented before companies may be the subject of class-action lawsuits. Monday’s...
State Elections to Decide Insurance Commissioner, Ballot Initiatives, Court Contests
Nov 5 2012 // For the insurance industry, there is more at stake in the Nov. 6 election than who goes to or stays in the White House and Congress. The insurance industry will be watching who wins the gubernatorial races in 11 states,...
