MMC commitment to de-levering and dividend should dispel unrealistic M&A rumor
As the Aon-Willis Towers Watson deal continues to grind through the regulatory approval process, there has been plenty of speculation about how the other member of the big three brokers will respond.
Casualty leads the way as Liberty GRS posts 15% average renewal rate rises in 2020
Liberty Mutual’s P&C, specialty and reinsurance-focused Global Risk Solutions (GRS) business has become the latest US carrier to highlight strong rate momentum in 2020 with average renewal rate increases of 15 percent and casualty classes leading the way.
Lloyd’s 2018 YoA on course for 3% capacity loss
Early syndicate results for the Lloyd’s 2018 year of account (YoA) are pointing towards a market loss of around 3 percent of capacity, according to Argenta Research, with results to date coming in slightly ahead of the previous quarter’s forecasts.
Unprecedented Winter Storm Uri creating complex property loss picture
As frozen pipes thawed and claims picked up pace in Texas after the weekend, the picture emerging from Winter Storm Uri is of a property insurance loss that is likely to be weighted towards homeowners, habitational and small commercial risks with complexity around claims and quantum of loss.
CEOs confident US rates will continue to outpace loss costs
An analysis of US commercial insurance feedback provided by management in earnings releases and on investor calls reveals rate increases continue to accelerate for most, with pricing drivers such as social inflation and the low interest environment expected to persist throughout 2021.
Markets Review: FedNat gains despite choppy weak for Wall Street
Shares in FedNat Holding Company surged more than 13 percent last week to lead gains among NYSE-listed carriers in a choppy five days of trading that saw Wall Street’s benchmarks break a two-week winning streak.
Markets Review: Lancashire falls 7.8% in volatile week for P&C stocks
London-listed (re)insurance stocks sold off last week in a volatile five days of trading as a resurgence in sterling applied pressure on blue-chips which make their money overseas.
Global P&C run-off market expands to record size of $864bn
The global P&C legacy market expanded by 9 percent over the past year to an all-time high of $864bn, according to analysis by consultancy firm PwC.
North American rate momentum set to temper in H2 2021: Aon
Pricing in North America’s insurance market is close to peaking, with the rampant increases seen in recent years expected to temper in the second half of 2021 despite capacity constraints remaining “a serious concern” in certain segments, according to Aon.
QBE Q4 preview – when will the profit warning cycle end?
With QBE’s share price firmly in the doldrums and currently trading at a near 18-year low, the signal from investors to the (re)insurer looks to be clear: patience is wearing thin and decisive steps must be taken to get back on track in market conditions in which a carrier should ...
AIG highlights commercial lines growth and improved underlying CR
As expected, AIG’s earnings call on Wednesday morning was dominated by commentary on pricing momentum in the carrier’s general insurance business, as management highlighted a strong commercial lines outlook after reporting solid growth in 2020 and improving underlying underwriting performance.
FCA test case: Five key areas where the regulator and UK insurers continue to disagree…
As The Insurer reported earlier today, UK commercial insurers and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are once again disagreeing over Covid-19 losses, this time over some aspects of last month’s landmark Supreme Court judgment.
Modelling severe convective storms: how data science is helping fill knowledge gaps
Severe convective storms were the costliest natural peril for the (re)insurance sector during 2020, with losses of around $30bn, and remain among the most challenging to model.
Solvency II overhaul will create “consistent” oversight across the EU: AM Best
The proposed overhaul of European capital rules would give rise to more consistent regulation and provide a better picture of (re)insurers’ balance sheets, according to AM Best.
Markets Review: Lemonade leads gains as benchmarks reach all-time highs
Shares in Lemonade rose more than 13 percent last week to lead gains among NYSE-listed carriers, in a week where Wall Street stocks hit record highs as investors weighed the prospect of increased fiscal stimulus against the possibility of higher inflation.
Markets Review: Scor led gains in muted week for P&C stocks
French reinsurer Scor led the gains in a muted week for European (re)insurance stocks as investors weighed gloomy reports on the UK economy against hopeful signs of progress towards further US stimulus measures.
London combined ratios point to a fourth Lloyd’s underwriting loss year in a row
One notable trait among recent earnings reports from Lloyd’s-focused carriers is for combined ratios to be significantly above 100 percent – a trend which points to a fourth successive year of underwriting losses at Lloyd’s.
Aon-Willis Re combined 2020 reinsurance revenues top ~$2.5bn
Although Q4 typically only accounts for around 10 percent of reinsurance broker annual revenue, strong organic growth from Aon helped cement its position as the largest standalone firm in the sector, while Willis Re’s 22 percent showing means that the combined businesses would top $2.5bn in 2020 revenues, analysis by ...
Retroactive BI legislation back on agenda as five states introduce bills in 2021
At least five US states have introduced retroactive Covid-19-related business interruption (BI) legislation this year, joining a similar bill introduced in Texas in December, as focus among some lawmakers again turns to forcing insurers to retroactively cover losses from the pandemic.
Mapfre shares dragged down by Brazil crisis; P&C to improve at Q4
Shares in Spanish (re)insurer Mapfre have underperformed the wider insurance sector by around 15 percent since the pandemic-induced sell-off in global equities last year and remain under pressure as the carrier’s return on capital is weighed down by its exposure to the volatile Brazilian real.
Markets Review: FedNat leads gains as US P&C stocks clock best week since November
Markets Review: Europe’s P&C stocks rise in best week since November
ESG creating new challenges as the global regulatory spotlight shifts to risk
Hannover Re met with positive investor response as books 5.5% rate increases at 1.1
Cyber market saw “rapid deterioration” in Q4: Woodruff Sawyer
Spotlight on Beazley: will it regain its halo tomorrow?
Record $11bn in property cat bonds placed in 2020: Aon
Olympic boost for insurers as organisers plan to push ahead with Tokyo Games
Markets Review: US P&C stocks slide in worst week since October
Markets Review: Beazley falls 9.7% in volatile week for P&C stocks
Brokers well positioned for growth after better-than-feared 2020: S&P
Only a fifth of drivers received premium refunds despite industry pledges
December insured cat losses 16% below long-term average
US agent/broker M&A goes into overdrive in Q4
Markets Review: CinFin sheds 6.8% as P&C equities dip on virus concerns
European P&C stocks slip for a second week on gloomy economic data
Truist’s bullish growth outlook bodes well for brokers: Wells Fargo
One week on from the Supreme Court judgment: what do we know now?
UK motor premiums stabilise ahead of FCA pricing crackdown
Cavanagh: current market is “more like” 2006 than 2002
Messy Q4 earnings expected but focus will be on 2021 outlook
Markets Review: Hiscox and Scor make gains as Euro P&C stocks end green streak
Supreme Court overrules insurer-friendly Orient Express decision
What is the best (and worst) the industry can hope for from the FCA appeal judgment
US sports teams shoot for major league Covid-19 payouts
Upstream energy rates soggy in contrast to wider sector momentum
Conduit jigsaw falls into place as Whelan and Hampton arrive
US insurance broker M&A deal volume up 4.3% in 2020: MarshBerry
Markets Review: Europe’s P&C stocks clock best week since November
Rising cost of severe convective storms set to spark renewed reinsurance interest
Wall Street points higher as stimulus hopes outweigh chaos in Washington
P&C stocks fall despite positive pricing outlook in 1.1 reports
USI sees tempering of rate increases in property
US P&C stocks trail benchmarks in turbulent 2020
London market carriers begin 2021 buoyed by capital injections
European P&C stocks suffer worst year since financial crisis
BI litigation dominates the US insurance headlines in 2020
2020: A year in natural catastrophes (Part Two)
2020: A year in natural catastrophes (Part One)
2021 poised to be the year of the (re)insurance SPAC
Lloyd’s 2020 stamp capacity grows 8.9% in 2021
Markets Review: Brexit fears push Euro P&C stocks lower
Highly differentiated casualty renewal driving range of outcomes on quota shares
Signs of US price increases plateauing but momentum will last well into 2021
Medical PL hardening picks up pace as frequency and severity bite
Munich Re eyes primary specialty growth in pursuit of 2025 targets
Fitch bullish on US P&C sector outlook
Markets Review: Mapfre led gains in muted week for Euro P&C stocks
Jefferies: Casualty claims to keep rising until tort reform addresses social inflation
Rate of the Union: US commercial insurance pricing momentum continues