India
Munich Re pulls Indian reinsurance support over premium concerns
Munich Re has almost pulled out of India entirely, it has been reported.
India's insurance sector faces manpower shortage
India's insurance sector is facing a potential dearth of qualified professionals owing to the rapid growth of insurance penetration in the country, according to industry insiders.
Travelers considering India market entry
US-based Travelers Group is believed to be in talks with Indian farm equipment maker Mahindra & Mahindra regarding a bid to enter the country's fast growing general insurance market.
ISA 2012: Insurer bosses claim no foreign player has 'Pan-Asian edge'
As mature markets sink deeper into the eurozone crisis, Asia remains a bright spot for global insurers. That was the view of Johnny Chen, CEO of Zurich Financial Services, who told the audience at ISA 2012 yesterday that he remains positive in his firm's…
Talanx enters Indian market via joint venture
Talanx-owned insurer HDI-Gerling will enter the Indian market through a joint venture with Indian firm NBFC Magma Fincorp after a three-year bid to gain a licence for the region.
Indian health insurance dependent on income
Around 15% of Indian households have reported hospitalisation of one member at least once in the past year, according to an ICICI Lombard-NCAER survey.
Consumers will suffer if Indian insurers can't increase rates
Pricing is a major challenge for India’s insurance industry, according to the new head of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.
Countdown to ISA: Is the renminbi the new dollar?
As the valuation of the Chinese renminbi has an impact on the global currency markets, Andrew Leung looks at Chinese monetary policy and the Global Reserve Currency System in a global context.
Q&A with RSA's Phil Bulgin
Despite media coverage of Asia's restrictive and sometimes protectionist regulatory regimes, the markets remain appealing to foreign insurers. Philip Bulgin, RSA's head of mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets, spoke to Francesca Nyman about Asian…
Malaysian employers must insure foreign workers
Malaysia's government has promised to take a hard line on employers that flout rules on insuring foreign workers.
Microinsurance not an adjunct to microfinance, says Indian regulator
Microfinance institutions have come under fire from the head of India's insurance regulator for high service charges on the sale of microinsurance products.
Japan and South Korea petition EU for Iran sanctions exemption
South Korea and Japan are asking the European Union to allow access to European insurance for Iranian oil shipments even after a 1 July embargo comes into effect, according to Al Arabiya news.
FDI raise postponed as government fails to win over doubters
The long awaited decision on India’s foreign direct investment cap has been deferred by the cabinet and may not be revisited until after the 2014 elections.
Countdown to ISA: Q&A with RSA's Chris Colahan
As part of a series counting down to Insurance Strategy Asia, Insurance Insight spoke to Chris Colahan about his views on the Asian insurance market.
HSBC rumoured to be considering exit from Indian JV
Rumours in the market suggest that banking giant HSBC may exit its Indian insurance venture.
IRDA will pave way for Lloyd's to enter India
India's government is planning to push through the insurance reforms bill that is set to retain the foreign direct investment cap in the sector at 26%, but will allow "modifications" to enable Lloyd's of London to enter the Indian market.
Insurance Insight - Fueling growth
Recent deals struck in Asia by the likes of Axa, QBE and Catlin, looking to expand their footprints in the region, have highlighted the insurance industry's growing activity in the continent, and so, we take a closer look at the markets here and ask what…
Buffett targets Asia for reinsurance expansion
Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, is aiming to pursue more opportunities in Asia after boosting reinsurance sales in the region.
Iran sanctions may force India and Greece to find alternative oil suppliers
The repercussions from US and EU sanctions on Iranian crude oil are being felt far beyond the Islamic Republic, according to a report by Exclusive Analysis.
Insurance the micro way
Much of the world's population has now moved out of extreme poverty and into the lower middle class. Francesca Nyman examines whether there is a market for micro-insurance in this demographic.
Indian insurer will provide liability cover for tankers carrying Iranian crude
State-owned Indian insurer General Insurance Corp of India will step forward to provide third-party liability cover of up to $50m for ships bringing Iranian crude oil from Iran, according to reports.
Indian Reserve Bank says case for FDI hike exists
The Reserve Bank of India has said there is a case for raising the foreign direct investment cap in insurance in view of India's growing integration with the global economy.
IRDA asked to relax branch opening rules in rural areas
India's government has asked the country's insurance regulator to be more lenient when applying branch opening norms in rural areas in the hope that the presence of more insurance firms will increase insurance penetration.
China considering sovereign guarantees to keep oil flowing
China will review the possibility of sovereign guarantees to enable the nation's ships to import Iranian crude oil after EU sanctions come into effect in July, the head of the China Shipowners' Association has said.