Fitch Ratings News

Pandemic Boosted Personal Auto Insurers’ Profits in the Short-Term

As bad as the coronavirus pandemic has been for many insurance lines, personal automobile profits have soared thanks to reduced driving, as quarantines and shelter-at-home restrictions took hold across the United States earlier in 2020, Fitch Ratings said. “Commercial [insurance/reinsurance] …

Pandemic-Hit Re/insurers Expect a Costly Hurricane Season – and Rates Are Rising

The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on Monday could signal more steep losses for insurers and reinsurers, already battered by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their underwriting and investment positions. However, recent years of hefty damage …

Reinsurers Will Fail to Earn Cost of Capital in 2020, Leading to More Rate Hikes: Fitch

Global reinsurers will fail to earn its cost of capital in 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis, which will help maintain price increases for the sector during the year ahead, said Fitch Ratings. Financial performance will be hit by mortality claims …

Fitch Sees Little Stress on Insurer Ratings From Pandemic. Thus Far.

Having reviewed 70% of all of the North American insurers it rates for the effects of the coronavirus and economic downturn, Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ratings of 72% of the carriers with stable outlooks. Only 4% have been downgraded. …

For Global Insurers, Pandemic Likely to Erase Profits Until 2021 Second Half: Fitch

While insurance rates have risen for nine consecutive quarters due to large catastrophe losses and accelerating claims inflation, Fitch Ratings expects that technical profits won’t be seen until the second half of 2021 as a result of the effects of …

New Business Interruption Insurance Poses Risks to Chinese Insurers, Says Fitch

At the direction of the Chinese government, domestic insurers started selling business interruption insurance to cover Chinese enterprises against disruptions from the coronavirus outbreak, which may have unintended consequences. Fitch Ratings cautions that the move could pose risks to the …

Fitch Places Lloyd’s of London’s on Rating Watch Negative on COVID-19 Crisis

Fitch Ratings has placed Lloyd’s of London’s ‘AA-‘ Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings on rating watch negative, on the uncertainty and increased risk to Lloyd’s earnings and underwriting performance due to claims from the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative rating watch …

Fitch Revises Rating Watch on Sirius to ‘Evolving’ on Uncertainties over Planned Sale

Fitch Ratings has revised the rating watch to evolving from negative on all ratings for Sirius International Group, Ltd. and its operating subsidiaries, including its ‘A-‘ (Strong) Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating, its ‘BBB’ Long-Term Issuer Default rating (IDR), and …

The Longer Coronavirus Crisis Lasts, the More Uncertain Is P/C Insurance Outlook

North American property/casualty insurers reported improved 2019 operating performance, but near-term performance will likely be more challenging with the onset of coronavirus and the resulting economic impact, according to a report from Fitch Ratings. Fitch’s rating outlook for the U.S. …

Fitch Revises Outlook for London Insurance Sector to Negative on COVID-19 Impact

Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook for the underlying fundamentals of the London market insurance sector to negative from stable. The sector outlook revision reflects increased concerns over the COVID-19 disruption and the related impacts on the credit quality of …