Nationwide has named James Walsh head of E-Risk Services, its wholesale distribution subsidiary for private company specialty lines underwriting.

US primary casualty rate increases will hit double digits in 2025 as they catch up to excess rate adjustments, while London is “poised to become a more visible player” in US casualty, Amwins has said.

Wholesale giant Amwins expects the US property market to continue to soften despite Hurricanes Helene and Milton, while rates remain softer on the East Coast as well as for insureds with large total insurable value (TIV) overall.

The excess and surplus lines market “is well positioned to continue its upward trajectory”, according to a new report from Amwins, which notes innovation, technology and data-driven underwriting will drive further growth.

Jupiter Risk Services has brought to market a new high value homeowners insurance program, which is offered on a surplus lines basis and backed by AM Best A- rated capacity, with the offering representing parent Risk Theory’s inaugural personal lines play.

Amwins-owned MGU Business Risk Partners (BRP) has brought in Barak Canzano as a senior miscellaneous professional liability (PL) underwriter with the recruit joining from Herbert H Landy Insurance Agency.

Ryan Specialty has launched a $500mn notes offering, which the wholesale giant will use in part to fund future acquisition opportunities.

Insurance buyers in the oil and gas industry are feeling the effects of a “mixed bag of market conditions and geopolitical shifts” in the fourth quarter, according to Risk Placement Services (RPS).

The US umbrella and excess casualty market is seeing continued stress and change amid a greater focus from underwriters on managing capacity in the face of escalating verdicts and settlements along with tougher reinsurance renewal conditions, according to Risk Placement Services (RPS).

Wholesale broker Burns & Wilcox has said the “gradual and consistent shift” in business from the admitted to the E&S market is a trend that is here to stay, as it also highlighted growing US liability concerns going into 2025.