Economy News

UN Secretary General Urges Climate Agreement ‘Short of Perfect Deal’

Saying the health of the planet is at stake, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged 190 nations meeting in Mexico on Tuesday to agree to steps to fight climate change that fall short of a perfect deal. “We cannot let the …

Swiss Re’s Economic Forum Sees Continued Growth, Pressure and Risks

Swiss Re’s Economic Forum singled out three main factors that will continue to affect the re/insurance market in 2011. The Forum’s economists forecast “continued global economic expansion in 2011, led by emerging markets; insurers’ profitability will remain under pressure amid …

EU Will Back Russia’s WTO Entry

The European Union formally backed Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization on Tuesday, clearing the way for Moscow to join the body in 2011, after 17 years of trying. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Russian Economic …

Ho-Ho-Holidays Can Be Problem for Small Businesses

The holiday season isn’t necessarily the most joyous time of the year for small businesses. Holiday parties and celebrations can turn unpleasant if employees or guests misbehave. Productivity can drop when employees are distracted by all the personal things, including …

Amish Expansion Prompts Culture Clash in Roofing

Main Line roofers say they are taking it on the chin from Amish competitors, who are getting a significant amount of work in Philadelphia’s wealthy western suburbs. Keith McLean, a Paoli roofing contractor, said he lost a job this month …

U.S., South Korea Welcome Long-awaited Free Trade Deal

The United States and South Korea welcomed a free trade deal reached after a three-year delay which U.S. President Barack Obama said would boost exports to South Korea by $11 billion and support at least 70,000 American jobs. An official …

Insurance Industry Outlook Improving, Slightly

The insurance industry is recovering from the economic crisis, but profits are nowhere near where they were prior to the crisis, and it will take California longer than other states to rebound, according to an industry economist. The property/casualty insurance …

Declarations

Commissions and the MLR “After hearing from various interested parties, if HHS does not fix this language before the rule is final, we hope that Congress will step in and revise the MLR formula through the legislative process.” —Charles E. …

Insurance Mergers Complicated by Economy, Low Valuations, Hidden Risks

With organic growth difficult in the current economy and soft market, there could be an increase in insurance industry merger and acquisition activity over the next 12 to 18 months, according to mergers and acquisitions experts. But the experts at …

Fireman’s Fund Ready to Rally

Company Progressing on Mass Market Strategy Fireman’s Fund’s financials, like other insurance carriers’, got bruised a little in the first half of 2010, following some heavy catastrophe losses. But company President and CEO Mike LaRocco said he’s “very bullish” about …