AM Best
New players in solicitors' professional indemnity market dampen down rates
New entrants to the solicitors' professional indemnity insurance market have kept rates competitively low for this year's 1 October renewal deadline, according to brokers.
Hyundai Marine & Fire scores ratings upgrade
South Korean insurer Hyundai Marine & Fire has had its financial strength rating upgraded to 'A' from 'A-' by AM Best.
Perception of insurance changing with next generation of Kazakhstanis
After being negatively affected by the global financial crisis Kazachstan's insurance market has enjoyed a strong recovery over the past two years which is continuing into 2012, according to a report by AM Best.
Post Top 100 UK Insurers Supplement: AM Best commentary - Flooding the market
A deluge of weather-related claims, coupled with low investment returns, continue to dampen non-life insurer performance albeit one buoyed by premium increases.
Post Top 100 UK Insurers Supplement: Top 100 Tables
AM Best's top 100 insurer rankings in full, based on Financial Services Authority returns for 2011.
Investment losses hit MENA insurers' capital
Regulations are tightening for insurers in the Middle East and North Africa as the benign conditions of previous years quickly disappear, according to a report by ratings agency AM Best.
FSC in bid to wind up Lemma in Gibraltar
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission has been granted leave to apply for the winding up for Gibraltar-based Lemma Europe, according to a report in The Gibraltar Chronicle.
The impact of European downgrades
This year has seen an increasing number of downgrades by ratings agencies for European insurers. Anne-Louise Fogtmann investigates how seriously these are taken and their impact on insurers.
Reinsurers showing resilience under weight of catastrophes
The top 50 global reinsurers' financial positions coming out of 2011 shows the sector's resilience through one of the costliest catastrophe years in history, according to a report by AM Best.
Middle East Blog: David vs Goliath
On 24 August AM Best changed Oman Insurance Co's 'A' (Excellent) rating from negative to stable and evoked a personal, positive sentiment.
TMNF has superior rating as key earning source for Tokio Marine
Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire (Japan) has had its financial strength rating affirmed at A++ (Superior) and issuer credit rating at aa+.
Strong risk-adjusted capital sees Abu Dhabi rating at A (Excellent)
Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company has had its financial strength rating confirmed at A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a”. The outlook for both ratings remains stable.
Oman Insurance outlook revised to stable after 'robust underwriting'
The Oman Insurance Company PSC (United Arab Emirates) has had its outlook revised from negative to stable after a robust underwriting performance.
Middle East Insurance Company achieves rating of 'B++'
Middle East Insurance Company has had its financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating of “bbb”, with stable outlooks.
ECIC rating affirmed by AM Best Europe
The Electrical Contractors' Insurance Company has had its A- rating affirmed with a stable outlook.
Lemma downgraded over 'deteriorating Ukrainian economy'
Ukranina insurer Lemma's financial strength rating has dropped to 'B' (fair) from 'B+' (good), reflecting economic deterioration and political uncertainty in its core Ukrainian market.
Lloyd's Insurance Co China's 'A' rating affirmed
AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of 'A+' of Lloyd's (UK) and Lloyd's Insurance Company (China) Limited.
JLT and Am Trust Europe join forces to offer PI service
Broker JLT has launched a professional indemnity insurance service for sole practitioners through an exclusive relationship with insurer Am Trust Europe.
Jubilee General Insurance Pakistan assigned B++ rating
AM Best has assigned a financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and issuer credit rating of BBB to Pakistan's Jubilee General Insurance Company.
Labuan Re ratings affirmed after capital raising
AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of 'A-' for Labuan Reinsurance.
Asia’s next big growth market
Asia-Pacific is still very much the place to be in insurance terms but as Jenni Marsh reports the less traditional markets, outside of China and Japan, are expected to be the real growth stories in the coming years.
Brokers will use downgraded insurers, but only if clients make the request
Brokers have admitted they will continue to work with downgraded insurers at clients’ requests, despite rating agency Fitch conceding there is no end in sight to potential downgrades linked to the Eurozone crisis.
Ageas Hong Kong's IFS rating affirmed
AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “A-” of Ageas Insurance Company (AICA) Hong Kong.
Indonesia's economic stability fuels non-life growth
Indonesia's solid economy is fuelling growth for a developing non-life insurance market, well supported by domestic consumption and investment which is offsetting a weaker international environment, according to ratings agency AM Best.