Fitch Ratings News

‘Systemically Important’ Label Can Be Avoided: Fitch

Fitch Ratings said that newly established transparency about the designation process for globally systemically important insurers (G-SIIs) could help more to proactively stay off the list in the first place. The International Association of Insurance Supervisors, a global standard setting …

UK’s Insurance Act May Lead to More Intense Rate Competition: Fitch Wire

A new U.K. law, designed to make it harder for insurers to dispute commercial insurance claims, could lead to more intense price competition and slimmer margins for the sector, according to Fitch Ratings. The Insurance Act, due to take effect …

Tornado Hits Hamburg – Latest in Europe’s Destructive Summer Storms

A tornado tore through the northeast of Hamburg on Tuesday evening, blowing off the roofs of several buildings, uprooting dozens of trees and damaging cars and a power line as storms that have raged across Europe this month continue to …

Update: German Flood Claims Estimated at $1.1B, Says Fitch Ratings

Insurers will face higher-than-expected claims related to floods in Germany, according to Fitch Ratings, dealing another blow to an industry squeezed by low interest rates and decreasing prices for policies. Claims linked to torrential rain, thunderstorms and floods that hit …

Solvency II Will Increase Reinsurance Buying Demand: Fitch

Solvency II will increase insurers’ demand for reinsurance products as they seek to strengthen their capital positions via risk transfer, according to a report published by Fitch Ratings. Reinsurance can help reduce volatility or improve the certainty of cash flows, …

Fitch Expecting P/C Commercial Insurance Business to Deteriorate

Underwriting performance for the commercial lines sector of the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) insurance industry is likely to deteriorate in 2016, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings. The expected decline would come on the heels of three straight years …

Global Reinsurer Profits Expected to Dip in 2016 as Soft Market Takes Toll: Fitch

Global reinsurance sector profits in 2016 will fall below 2015 levels as soft market rates, low investment income and an over-supply of capital continue to take their toll on the market, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings. Fitch …

White Mountains Closes $2.6B Sale of Sirius to China Minsheng Investment

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. completed its $2.6 billion sale of Sirius International Insurance Group to a division of China Minsheng Investment Corp. Ltd., nine months after the deal was first announced.Out of that total, White Mountains used $160 million …

Low Interest Rates, Soft Market Pricing Hit London Market Insurers: Fitch

The negative impact of low interest rates and soft market pricing on London market insurers has been partially offset by low levels of large claims, according to Fitch Ratings in a special report. London market insurers tend to hold a …

Strong Reinsurer Results Hide Difficult Business Conditions: S&P, Fitch Reports

Weak business conditions in the reinsurance industry are being masked by a low level of catastrophes and a high level of reserve releases, said Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Fitch Ratings in new reports. “Stripping out these two factors, …