Analysis
Overseas focus - China: a market of opportunity?
With an enormous population and low insurance penetration, China should be a market ripe for entering. Jakki May finds out it isn't as simple as it sounds but reveals an appetite for change and growth.
Durban 2011: More than a once-a-year event
All eyes are focused on Durban for the 2011 UN Climate Change Conference. But according to many this is much more than a once a year event, reports Andreas Spiegel.
Health & safety: A matter of interpretation
Health and safety reform is high on the government’s agenda, but is the problem with application rather than legislation?
Fire protection sprinklers: The market needs saturating
Despite research showing sprinklers significantly reduce economic damage and environmental impact following major fires, hopes for mandatory legislation remain low.
Loss adjuster listings 2011
Now in its sixth year this study, although not an exhaustive review of the industry, shows that loss adjusters experienced a resurgence in turnover in 2010, almost back to the levels of 2008, as the insurance industry spent up to £770.9m (2008: £777.3m)…
The cost of professionalism in Italy
Italy recently passed a law to make professional indemnity insurance compulsory for all members of recognised bodies. Paolo Golinucci discusses what this means for the insurance industry.
Payment protection insurance: Aversion therapy
As PPI mis-selling complaints continue to pour in to the Financial Ombudsman Service, are providers doing enough to salvage the reputation of the sector?
Marine - Post-IUMI: High seas scrutiny
The recent International Union of Marine Insurance conference underlined the escalating piracy problem and tasked underwriters with delivering a cargo-specific solution.
Post Intelligence Benchmarking - Loss adjuster insight: Hitting the bullseye?
Insurance 360 takes another look at the performance of loss adjusting firms to reveal who is performing well and who needs to raise their game.
Keeping pace with the evolution of risk
In the last 18 months, risk managers have faced a complex set of challenges.
Fraud: On the side of the angels
When investigating claims fraud, insurers must not overstep the mark and remain transparent, empathic and ethical.
Claims - Board representation: Staking a claim
Claims representation at insurer board level may remain a relative rarity — but is it a business critical necessity or a luxury?
Legal expenses: Survival of the fittest
Legal expenses insurers must adapt their models quickly to survive the government’s reforms — or risk extinction.
Data usage: Made to measure
Can insurers rise to the challenge of utilising multiple real-time data sources to maximise sales while minimising exposure?
The Cypriot fall out from Vassiliko
In July Cyprus saw its largest insurance loss caused by man and despite doubts as to its quality the insurance industry stood tall according to Konstantinos Dekatris.
Insurer regionalisation: Spreading your wings
A number of industry players have recently bucked the trend of rationalising, to open new regional bases. Is localism a pasing fad or here to stay?
Rehabilitation: Providing the carrot
While the use of rehabilitation has made great strides in the past few years, is a more co-ordinated approach with tangible incentives needed?
Agency workers: Temporary conditions
The Agency Workers Regulations will give temporary staff the same basic rights as permanent employees. What does this mean for liability policies?
Natcats and the insurance sector
The European Union is currently consulting on natural catastrophes. Vic Wyman reports on the part the insurance industry has to play.
The challenge of life sciences
Mid-sized life sciences firms offer an attractive opportunity for insurers in Europe with many entering the market. Yet as Francesca Nyman reports litigation and legislation make this a challenging market too.
Drainage: Money down the drain
Why the ownership transfer of private drains and lateral sewers may increase the cost of drainage claims to insurers.
Marketing: The power of advertising
Effective marketing can be a tough challenge for financial services providers and having a strong presence is not enough, it must also resonate with customers.
Pan-European and global business interruption cover
As businesses become increasingly global Roger Potts explains that brokers must make sure their knowledge of their clients is detailed enough to ensure the correct business interruption cover is in place should the worst happen.
Rating factors - Age: Age-old dilemma
After losing the battle to use gender as a rating factor, could the insurance industry be facing a new threat as age falls under the spotlight?