United States of America (USA)
Two hurricanes predicted to strike US in 2012
Hurricane activity this season is expected to be close to average, with scientists predicting four tropical storms including two hurricanes to strike the US between June and November.
Xchanging targets North American growth
Business process outsourcing company Xchanging is to expand its insurance offering to the North American market.
McLoughlin returns to Sevitt as project director
Setanta Insurance's former Ireland general manager, Deirdre McLoughlin, has returned to Sevitt Group as project director.
AIG to divest shares in AIA in September
American International Group will sell its shares in Asian insurer AIA Group after a lock-up period expires in early September, Reuters has reported.
Extraterritorial regulation prevents firms entering foreign jurisdictions
Extraterritorial regulation is preventing financial firms from entering overseas jurisdictions, according to a recent survey.
Markel promotes Leach to senior contingency underwriter
Specialist insurer Markel International has promoted James Leach to the position of senior contingency underwriter in its speciality division.
'Significant' loss will harden rates outside cat exposed regions in July renewals
Price increases in the July reinsurance renewal period could be restricted to loss-affected sectors unless there is a further significant insured loss for the industry, Fitch Ratings has said.
Top 10 news stories
The top 10 most popular articles published on insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Swiss Re secures nat-cat buffer of $400m via bond market
Swiss Re has obtained an extra $400m in natural-catastrophe protection via a catastrophe bond through newly formed issuer Mythen Ltd.
Adverse April conditions wreak havoc across the globe
Severe weather conditions across central and southern sections of the US last month have caused upwards of $1bn (£620m) in insured losses, according to Aon Benfield's Global Catastrophe Recap report.
Marsh sells portfolio of four businesses to R K Harrison
Marsh has reached an agreement to sell a portfolio of four businesses within Gibbs Hartley Cooper, a part of Marsh UK, to R K Harrison.
Willis Re appoints Welsch as executive director
Willis Re has named Andrea Welsch as executive director effective from 28 May.
US Solvency II equivalence suffers setback
The US National Association of Insurance Commissioners has been vocal in its opinion of the EU's aim to make the country a Solvency II equivalent.
Canopius details Omega takeover savings and possible Tower Bermuda sale
Canopius chairman Michael Watson said that taking over Omega will be the "last big deal", but is not the end of its "ambitions".
Natural disaster: Filling the $254bn insurance gap
The problem of underinsurance has been seen with a number of natural catastrophes recently. Lucia Bevere explains why relying on governments as a last resort is a risky strategy, and what insurers can do to tackle this area.
Chubb's A++ financial strength rating affirmed
AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of AA+ for the Chubb Group and its property/casualty members.
Admiral sells Chiarezza to BlackFin Assurance
Admiral has sold its Italian price comparison venture to BlackFin Assurance Courtage.
Onshore captives on the rise, says Marsh
Organisations are increasingly forming captives onshore in the European Union or United States, while the use of alternative captive structures is growing, especially among smaller organisations, according to Marsh.
Iran insuring oil tankers as sanctions bite
Iran is insuring tankers transporting its oil to buyers at a cost of millions of dollars per delivery, according to reports.
Aviva sale of US life assurance business could raise £1bn
Aviva group chief executive Andrew Moss has allegedly revealed that the firm may consider offers worth around £1bn for its US life assurance business, according to reports in the FT.
Property rates to keep rising in the short term
Despite the absence of a major natural catastrophe in the first quarter, rates rose for catastrophe and non-catastrophe exposed risks in most geographies, according to a Marsh report.
The challenges of the solar market
Solar power is a firm part of the green movement in Europe but, with government cuts becoming increasingly common, Jakki May asks whether this renewable energy will continue to be affordable and efficient.
Guy Carpenter reports reinsurance rises
Research by Guy Carpenter shows reinsurance rates rose at the 1 April round of renewals as the market continues to work through the impact of the events of 2011.
Aon’s McKenna steps down
Aon’s lead director Andrew McKenna has resigned.