United States of America (USA)
Brit sees major losses of $250m
Brit saw its combined ratio rise to 112.4% last year following major loss claims of $250m (£177.8m).
Blog: Mystery deepens as founder and funder of peer-to-peer insurtech Hey Guevara deny knowledge of relaunch
You can never keep a good revolutionary down.
Nat cats push Lancashire into loss at full year
Lloyd’s insurer Lancashire reported a net loss of $71.1m (£50.5m) for 2017 as fourth quarter natural catastrophes took their toll on its bottom line.
Kanye West settles lawsuit against Lloyd’s syndicates
Kanye West has settled his lawsuit against Lloyd's of London syndicates.
Axis reports GWP boost despite underwriting loss
Axis Capital's insurance segment saw fourth quarter gross written premiums increase 47%, bolstered by the group’s acquisition of London market carrier Novae.
Nexus snaps up Apsley Specialty
Nexus Group has acquired Lloyd's coverholder Apsley Specialty.
‘Tidal wave’ of alternative capital to disrupt reinsurance market: Aon CEO
Reinsurance renewal rates were beaten down on 1 January by alternative capital markets, Aon Benfield’s CEO said, warning they are poised to be a major disrupter against traditional reinsurance in future.
AIG international GI unit sees $399m loss
AIG’s international general insurance business was hit by $399m (£286.5m) losses in in the last quarter of 2017, nevertheless an improvement on the $441m loss it suffered in Q3 2016.
Allianz shows ‘preliminary’ interest in XL: report
Allianz is reportedly eyeing up XL as a potential acquisition target.
Beazley targets double digit growth for 2018
London market carrier Beazley is to target double digit growth over the next 12 months.
Beazley sees profit fall from nat cats
Beazley saw profits fall by 43% as a result of exposure to “heavy claims” from natural catastrophes.
Brit appoints Christopher Ballantyne as VP
Brit has appointed Christopher Ballantyne to the newly created role of vice president of delegated claim authority.
Marsh and McLennan see revenue up 6% at full year
Marsh and McLennan Companies has reported a 6% boost in full year revenue.
Marsh's Lei Yu on the right cover in the age of product recalls and class actions
While the US has led the consumer rights crusade against defective products, other countries are becoming increasingly protective, writes Lei Yu, managing director, Marsh Hong Kong and Macau.
Chubb sees income drop in Q4 despite US tax reform gains
Chubb reported net income for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 of $1.53bn, a drop from the $1.61bn reported for the same quarter last year.
London market training goes international
The Lloyd's Market Association will begin offering a range of technical programmes and courses internationally.
Editor's comment: An explosive start to the year
I started this year in style watching the fireworks over Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland Paris. Looking at January’s headlines the insurance industry has also started this year with a bang.
Aspen takes $245m underwriting loss in Q4
Aspen expects to post a $245m underwriting loss in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Analysis: Soft reinsurance renewals dash hard market hopes
After five consecutive years of falling rates, global property-catastrophe reinsurance experienced upward pricing pressure at 1 January renewals.
QBE to miss 2017 COR target and fall to loss after "challenging year"
Australian giant QBE is expecting a combined operating ratio of 104% and $1.2bn (£858m) loss for 2017's financial year.
AIG to buy Validus for $5.56bn
AIG has unveiled plans to acquire Validus Holdings for $5.56bn.
McLarens makes two senior appointments
McLarens has appointed Ross Landsbaum as chief financial officer and Adam Weiner as senior vice president, IT strategy & operations.
Some insurtech investment doesn't make sense, conference hears
Some investment criteria into insurtech start-ups “don’t make sense over time”, said Neil Harrison, global head of claims at Aon Risk Solutions, warning against “innovation that is going to cause dissatisfaction”.
Executives admit they were unprepared for 2017 nat cats
Senior executives of major financial businesses admit they were unprepared for the spate of costly natural catastrophes that hit the American coastline at the tale end of last year.