WTW is ramping up its search for M&A deals, according to CEO Carl Hess, who said the firm’s strong organic growth figures in recent quarters have been driven by its reloaded talent base, with its specialisation strategy also paying dividends.

Data is the oil that lubricates the (re)insurance engine. However, poor quality data, particularly in the property sector, is creating friction within this engine, and reducing the market’s overall performance.

(Re)insurers must develop stronger exposure management techniques to better quantify the impact of liability losses, according to Verisk’s Eric Gesick, particularly in light of emerging exposures around PFAS and climate change reporting reporting.

Moody’s is looking to expand its casualty modelling capabilities by size and geography following its recent acquisition of Praedicat, with head of insurance solutions Mike Steel telling The Insurer that the past few years have seen greater engagement between insurers and modelling firms.

Well-performing corporates coming to market to renew their insurance could achieve rate reductions in the low single digits next year, while those operating in more challenged industry segments or exposed to certain problematic perils will face continued upwards pricing pressure.

Cyber risks and escalating geopolitical conflicts have the potential to pose investment risks and potentially ratings actions for European insurers, according to S&P Global Ratings’ Volker Kudszus.

Markel International is set to grow its premiums across Asia Pacific beyond $200mn this year as the carrier continues its expansion in the region.

The role of political risk and credit insurance in addressing climate change and nature loss is increasingly being demonstrated through sovereign debt conversions in developing nations, as seen in the most recent Nature Bonds project in The Bahamas, Axa XL’s Stuart Barrowcliff has argued.

Aon’s new cyber risk analyzer will drive differentiated placement outcomes, give clients a deeper view of their cyber risk profile, and has the potential to drive new client wins, according to the broker’s Christian Hoffman.

Asia is a leading provider of key crops such as rice and wheat but insurance availability across the continent is struggling to keep pace with rising exposures.