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.

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…

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,…

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.

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…

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…

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

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