Feature
Customer retention: Rewarding loyalty
Insurers spend vast amounts on acquiring new customers, but customer churn remains high. Should they be doing more to retain existing policyholders instead?
To list or not to list? More Chinese insurers tipped to seek IPOs in 2013
Chinese insurers have started to raise money from equity issuance in the past two years as regulations and market appetite make the option more attractive, writes Andrew Tjaardstra.
Mergers & Acquisitions: How's your appetite?
With industry commentators split on how mergers and acquisitions might unfold this year, is there evidence that firms are hungry for more after a busy 2012, or have they had their fill for now?
Weathering the growing subsidence risk
Subsidence is increasingly frequent and research shows that, with climates getting hotter, this is only going to continue. Edmund Tirbutt looks at how the market covers subsidence and whether it will continue to do so.
The importance of disaster restoration
Insurers in Asia are increasingly turning their attention to property restoration following natural disasters, spurred on by the possibility of huge cost savings, writes Nicky Burridge.
Insurance contracts: Watch your mouth
A Court of Appeal ruling on contract law allowing verbal discussions to be incorporated into a contract at any stage could have far-reaching implications for the industry.
In Series: Outsourcing - Clear the decks
Having underwriters carry out administration tasks wastes time and doesn't make business sense, says Paul Firkins.
In Series: Outsourcing - Can't someone else do it?
Outsourcing administration can ease the pressure on staff, allowing them to focus on the jobs they were hired to do.
Costa Concordia one year on: Sea change
A year after the Costa Concordia disaster the insurance market is still picking up the pieces, but what will be the long-term impact?
Marketing and advertising: Small screen, big rewards?
Television advertising has become a major marketing tool for many in the industry, but how do firms get it right, and can those with smaller budgets compete?
Online sales in Asia: ready to take off
Internet access in Asia is growing at 30% a year. Neera Bhardwaj discovers whether this is translating into online sales for the region’s insurance market.
The lure of China
Insurance penetration in the Chinese market is in single figures, and foreign insurers are keen to expand their market share. But, as Nicky Burridge discovers, there are challenges as well as opportunities in the market.
European environmental liability options
Environmental damage costs have hit the headlines in recent years and the European Commission is looking at the option of a fund to control them. But, as Sam Barrett finds out, the insurance industry is not the number one fan of this idea.
Reputation management: It's good to be liked
With customers increasingly taking to the internet to share opinions on insurers, it's more important than ever that firms manage their image.
In Series: Outsourcing - Sharing the load
How can outsourcing services to specialist third parties help insurers achieve their growth goals?
Cyber liability: The shape of things to come
How is the cyber liability market likely to evolve in a technology landscape fraught with great risk?
Broking: Lloyd's & London market - Capital investment
Strong US interest in the Lloyd's and London market is driving acquisition activity in the broking sector, but will the City continue to prove popular with overseas investors in 2013?
Telematics: Revolution on the roads?
Telematics has finally arrived, and most insurers and large brokers announced pilots or launches this year. Yet insurers are still only dipping their toes in the water.
Scottish independence: Age auld question
The countdown for a vote on Scottish independence has begun. With divergence between Holyrood and Westminster growing already in the claims arena, it's never too early for insurers to ask: will we be ready?
Review of the Year: Legal - bracing for impact
The imminent implementation of major civil justice reforms has seen the legal industry spend much of 2012 preparing itself for things to come.
General insurance review of the year: It never rains, but it pours
Flooding, and the ongoing struggle to replace the Statement of Principles, has been at the forefront of a range of difficulties faced by the general insurance market in 2012. Will 2013 bring a silver lining?
Europe: a home for aggregators?
This year has seen aggregators bought and sold across Europe. Francesca Nyman investigates whether Europe can provide a home for them or whether their time has passed.
French motor market counts cost of annuity changes
French motor insurers are set to take on costs previously covered by the state. Edmund Tirbutt asks how they plan to cope with the burden.
Fracking: The insurance implications
The government has given the green light for fracking to continue to extract gas in Lancashire, but what are the implications for the insurance industry? Fleur Rochester explains.