Opinion
View from the top: Election outcomes
With opinion polls suggesting the margin has narrowed to as little as 7% between the Conservatives and the Labour Party, all eyes are on the coming general election.
Looking Back - Recall costs could reach the billions
Insurers will not foot the bill for the biggest product recall in UK history — but the cost of paying out on related policies, defending claims and establishing liability, could reach billions of pounds.
Looking Back - UN to play key role in development
The United Nations has a key role to play in the development of insurance in developing countries.
Looking Back - Inquiry into the missing Salem tanker
Fraud squad officers are planning a month-long inquiry in South Africa, Greece and Liberia into the riddle of the missing $24m tanker Salem (215 000 tons) and its oil cargo worth $56m, which vanished en route to Europe in January.
Penny black's insurance week
Penny was out and about with Hastings CEO Edward Fitzmaurice this week, and one couldn't help but be surprised by his music taste. After a discussion of the fine arts — and not so fine arts — something of a revelation occurred. Among the standard…
Postbox - Blindingly obvious conclusion
I read the interview with Merlin's CEO and could not believe Richard Webster's conclusion, after breaching banking covenants, that "what we have learnt is... if you are exposed to the household market, you will see your demand go up and down alongside…
Postbox - Rate increase charades
The logic of the recent rating announcements from AA Insurance, Zurich et al ticks all the right boxes for shareholders but lacks any credibility, given how insurers still have so many areas where the figures on rate increases bear no relevance to the…
View from the top - Lex Baugh: Is Jackson beneficial?
What are we to make of Lord Justice Jackson's proposals for civil litigation costs? Are they beneficial for the insurance industry? And what of the claimant?
Penny black's insurance week
Penny was not the only lady wowed by race driver and stuntman Ben Collins at the 10th annual motor claims conference. The handsome gent, who worked on a number of stunts for the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, told tales of celebrity encounters,…
Motor Claims 2010: All change for motor
The UK motor claims sector is going through a period of rapid change, with the impending introduction of the Ministry of Justice reforms very high on the industry's agenda.
Postbox : Claims process still needs streamlining
While putting a 'disaster plan' in place ('History in the remaking') is prudent method of minimising risks to a historically sensitive building, sadly it may not stop the full insurance claims process being drawn out over many months.
View from the top: Value of human capital
Despite signs of rates hardening in some lines of business, plenty of capacity coupled with the wider economic situation are driving the extremely competitive pricing we are seeing today.
5 Years ago: Passive smoking implications
Two passive smoking litigation test cases that could have "massive implications" for insurers are set to be heard in May.
20 Years ago: Eagle Star to be boycotted
Eagle Star will be boycotted by the 700 members of the Institute of Insurance Brokers if it does not agree to stop undercutting brokers through its direct underwriting arm. IIB director general Andrew Paddick is writing this week to all members to inform…
30 Years ago: Cost of fire damage hits £1m a day in Great Britain
The estimated cost of fire damage in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) in 1979 was £355.3m, representing an increase of about 15% over the 1978 figure (£309.3m) and averaging close on £1m a day throughout the year.
Penny black's insurance week
And so another member of the dwindling ranks of the NIG class of 2006 management team bails out, leaving only one Peter Johnson working within the Royal Bank of Scotland's insurance division. Penny wonders what will be awaiting him when, indeed if, he…
The science behind VSA needs to be proven
I read the article Fraud — Voice Stress Analysis with some interest and congratulate you on a balanced piece of reporting.
Editor's comment: Sants - is he quackers to give up FSA position?
A headline screaming "lame duck" and "Financial Services Authority" was put up on the Post website on Tuesday following the resignation of the regulator's chief executive Hector Sants.
Capital reserve rethink on industry agenda
The demand of Solvency II for companies to hold greater capital reserves will apply to some, though not all, in the industry, leaving many to consider the new requirements very carefully, writes Henry Keeling