United States of America (USA)
Nat cat losses more than double average in first half 2010
Insurers’ losses from natural catastrophes, including the February earthquake in Chile, totaled $22 billion in the first half of the year, more than double the average for the period since 2000, according to Munich Re.
Haiti and Mozambique most vulnerable to economic losses from natural disasters
Italy, Japan, China, USA, Spain and France also rated “high risk” on The Natural Disasters Economic Loss Index (NDELI), released by risk intelligence and ratings company, Maplecroft.
Tokio Marine to restructure to expand reinsurance and commercial property book
Tokio Marine, the global insurance group, has announced plans to expand its international reinsurance and large commercial property operations. It is also announcing the opening of new offices for reinsurance business in Switzerland and Australia.
Homeserve USA boss joins UK board
Homeserve has appointed Jonathan King, the chief executive of Homeserve USA, to the board as an executive director.
DAS opens up shop in Canada
DAS UK Group has confirmed that its new Canadian subsidiary, DAS Legal Protection Insurance Company, will start writing business in Ontario on 5 July.
Post script – 10 years ago: Garwyn in limbo as QBE goes to Limit
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 10 years ago reveals.
Hurricane Alex makes landfall on Texas-Mexico border
Hurricane Alex drenched the Texas-Mexico border in the early hours on Thursday as the powerful storm slammed into Mexico's Gulf coast, spawning tornadoes and flooding towns, but sparing US oil wells.
House passes financial reform bill
The US House of Representatives approved a landmark overhaul of financial regulations on Wednesday but the Senate put off action until mid-July, delaying a final victory for President Barack Obama.
Climate change - Governance: Running hot and cold
Risk managers have been gearing up for the impact of climate change, but one area of uncertainty remains. Lindene Patton takes a look at the political and regulatory factors.
Technology - Underwriting: Shifting focus
Insurers are upping the pace at which they investigate underwriting IT options and, over the past six months, there has been a substantial jump in the number of carriers looking to engage software houses with projects in this area, says Edward Murray
Ex-AIG's Cassano defends no-losses proclamation
The former head of the AIG unit that led to a $182bn bailout pledge from taxpayers stood by a 2007 proclamation that the insurer would not lose even a dollar on a portfolio of securities that included subprime mortgages.
40% chance of storm passing Gulf spill by end of August: RMS
RMS suggested there is just over a 15% chance that a tropical storm or hurricane will pass within 100 miles of the Macondo oil well before the end of July, rising to more than 40% by the end of August, requiring precautionary evacuation of the…
Alex becomes a hurricane
Alex has intensified to become the first hurricane of the 2010 season, making it the first June hurricane in the Atlantic since 1995. Hurricane forecast to hit Texis/Mexico border on Thursday.
Non-life weathers storm
In the UK non-life premiums fell 3.1% to $92bn (£61bn) in 2009 (which ranked it fourth behind the US, Japan and Germany) out of a total of $309bn (which ranked the UK third behind the US and Japan), and that insurance penetration was 12.9%, according to…
Alex to strengthen as hurricane watches issued for Texas and Mexico
Tropical Storm Alex, the first named system of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, strengthened as it forced the evacuation of some offshore rigs and pushed swells toward a slick left by the Deepwater Horizon spill.
Neal bill opponents respond to “inaccurate and misleading” Berkley statements
A coalition of trade experts, consumer advocates, insurance industry leaders and state officials have protested “inaccurate and misleading” statements made by William Berkley, of WR Berkley, most recently, regarding an online video opposing controversial…
Swiss Re: global non-life premium dips 0.1% in 2009 to $1 735bn
According to Swiss Re’s latest “World insurance in 2009” sigma study, world insurance premium volume fell 1.1% on an inflation-adjusted basis.
Hiscox to cut Lloyd's capacity by £100m in 2011
Hiscox has published a summary of its initial 2011 business forecast for Syndicate 33. A full 2011 business forecast for Syndicate 33 will be submitted to Lloyd's by 9 July.
Swiss Re: global non-life premium dips 0.1% in 2009 to $1 735bn
According to Swiss Re’s latest “World insurance in 2009” sigma study, world insurance premium volume fell 1.1% on an inflation-adjusted basis.
US Congress passes financial reforms
On Friday, after a marathon 20-hour debate, the US Congress passed an amended version of the Dodd-Frank Bill which includes measures to prevent more AIG-style bailouts and a federal insurance regulator.
Alex regains tropical storm strength in Gulf
Tropical depression Alex picked up speed over the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, regaining tropical storm strength, and keeping two key Mexican oil ports closed.
Cat bond prices fall
Catastrophe bonds have seen their sharpest slump since 2008 as forecasters predict a busier-than-usual Atlantic hurricane season.
Bill Hodson appointed senior VP of GossRe
Goss Reinsurance Brokers, the recently launched reinsurance brokerage division of US Risk Insurance Group, has announced the appointment of William Hodson to senior vice president.
Credit Suisse tips RGA or Munich Re for Aegon unit buy
Munich Re and RGA have been named as potential buyers of Dutch insurer Aegon's Transamerica Reinsurance unit, Credit Suisse analysts said on Wednesday.