Commercial
Lucas Fettes appoints management duo to Manchester team
Growth-hungry broker Lucas Fettes has backed up its acquisition of Cougar Underwriting with two senior additions to its Manchester team.
New LMA property risks wordings to provide clarity for underwriters
A new standard wording for power and utility property risks placed in the Lloyd's market was unveiled at this week's London Power Forum.
Markel boss credits investment returns for 'excellent' nine months
Markel International has chalked up a substantial drop in its combined operating ratio for the opening nine months of 2012 to 86% compared with 119% for the same period last year.
Crawford & Co staff homeless after Sandy
Up to 660 Crawford & Company employees have been affected by superstorm Sandy, including nine people whose homes were destroyed.
Allianz UK delivers stable performance
Allianz UK saw gross written premiums grow by 1.9% to £473.2m (€593m) in the third quarter, but operating profits in the business division took a £2m dip to £40m (€50m).
GAB Robins reports profit rise in 2011
GAB Robins' pre-tax profit increased to £2.14m for the full year 2011, from £1.56m in 2010.
Two aviation underwriters join Antares
Lloyd's insurer Antares has appointed Simon Hennessy and Russell Mason as aviation underwriters.
Xchanging secures Lloyd's claims reporting contract
Business technology services provider Xchanging has landed a contract to build a platform for the Lloyd's claims reporting suite.
Novae insurance income to dwarf reinsurance earnings
Novae Group's investment returns grew by £6.5m to £22.1m for the first nine months of 2012, but gross written premiums remained flat at £510.6m (2011: £516.4m).
Chartis appoints regional head
Chartis has appointed a new regional manager for the Midlands and south west.
RSA 'well positioned' for economic woes, analysts say
Analysts have responded positively to RSA's results for the nine months to 30 September 2012, but warned that a series of storms like Sandy could affect its "attractive" dividend yield.
RSA UK premiums flat as international business grows
RSA is on target to deliver a combined operating ratio of around 96% and £500m investment income for the 2012 full year after reporting a 4% jump in net written premiums to £6.2bn for the nine months to 30 September 2012.
Aviva reveals 97% COR in steady results
Aviva's general insurance business delivered a combined operating ratio of 97% in the first nine months of 2012, in line with the previous year, excluding RAC.
Davies signals 'time for change' with staff shake-up
Former Merlin Claims director John Watson is joining Davies Group amid a shake-up in which chief executive Charles Crawford and two senior colleagues are leaving.
Proposed cuts to fire service budgets could have major impact on insurers
The insurance industry is urging the government to implement a central fire and rescue policy in England amid fears that sweeping budget cuts will result in insurers paying the price for longer response times.
Insurers await outcome of 'dishonest' evidence appeal in Axa case
Several insurers are awaiting a Court of Appeal decision on Axa's use of allegedly "false" Autofocus evidence before potentially resuming out-of-court negotiations with Accident Exchange.
Motor insurance market reviews plans ahead of legislation and slowdown
Direct Line Group is primed to "execute a range of strategies" depending on how changes to the legal landscape play out next spring, according to the insurer's chief executive Paul Geddes.
International brokers target London market for growth opportunities
International brokers are looking to London for opportunities to grow their businesses amid signs that the capital's mergers and acquisitions market is heating up.
View from the top: Models behaving badly
As with widely reported sat-nav disasters, what is going on in the banking sector as financial institutions embed the Basel III regulatory framework is testing investors' faith in what their computers are telling them, says Roger Bickmore.
In Series: Data Sharing - Sharing solution
When it comes to data sharing, the insurance industry should follow the lead of the banking sector by unleashing competition among multiple data suppliers.
Business interruption: Playing with fire
Confusion and costs have led to fewer businesses taking out adequate business interruption cover, putting them at risk of significant losses. How can the industry rectify the situation?
In Series: Data Sharing - Sharing is caring
Data sharing among insurers offers a range of benefits, but could firms' desires to retain a competitive edge hamper such collaboration?
Health and safety: Staying safe
The Health and Safety Executive is set to exempt businesses in lower-risk sectors from routine inspections, and insurers and brokers have an important role to play in ensuring that standards don't slip.
New Yorkers to fall victim to second storm in less than two weeks
New York residents could be told to evacuate the city for a second time this month as winter storm Athena makes its way to the same areas battered by Sandy last week.