Fitch Ratings
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.
Asia View from the Top: Getting flood modelling right
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported in 2007 that especially heavily populated mega-delta regions in south, east and south-east Asia will be at greatest risk owing to increased flooding from the sea and, in some mega-deltas, flooding…
Fitch sharpens focus with India rebrand
Ratings agency Fitch today launched a new brand for its existing national ratings business in India.
Reinsurance CORs fall "dramatically" in H1
Global reinsurers' operating performances improved significantly in the first half of 2012, according to Fitch's latest report.
US property and catastrophe insurers to sustain largest Hurricane Isaac losses
Primary insurers including Liberty Mutual Group are likely to bear the brunt of any insured losses arising from Hurricane Isaac, Fitch Ratings has claimed.
Cat bonds and sidecars favoured over traditional reinsurance, Fitch finds
Fitch Ratings has revealed that capital market alternatives to reinsurance from sources such as catastrophe bonds, collateralised quota-share reinsurance vehicles, and other risk transfer structures represent an increasingly viable alternative to…
ITAS Mutua rating affirmed at 'BBB'
Italian insurer ITAS Mutua's has had its insurer financial atrength rating affirmed at 'BBB' with a negative outlook.
Reinsurers take stock of Asia-Pacific risks
Reinsurers are bracing themselves for the next catastrophe in the Asia-Pacific region following the spate of catastrophes over the last two years, according to Fitch Ratings.
Chinese car insurance market faces further losses
Insurers operating in China's compulsory motor insurance market face further significant underwriting losses in the next two years due to rising claims, tightly regulated pricing and the potential for further competition.
Fitch upgrades Hiscox to A+
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Hiscox Group's core entities insurer financial strength rating to A+ owing to the Lloyd's player's "track record of profitability".
Hiscox entities upgraded to 'A+'
Hiscox Group's core entities insurer financial strength ratings have been upgraded to 'A+' from 'A'.
Società Reale Mutua di Assicurazioni's outlook negative due to weaknesses
Italian insurer Società Reale Mutua di Assicurazioni and its Spanish subsidiary Reale Seguros Generales have been issued with insurer financial strength ratings at 'BBB+' with negative outlooks.
Japanese insurance groups vulnerable to catastrophe and stock losses
Japanese non-life insurers are likely to come under rating pressure if insured catastrophe losses rise unexpectedly, or the domestic stock market falls sharply before they are able to restore their capitalisation, according to Fitch Ratings.
Indonesia's Asuransi Sinar Mas affirmed at 'AA+' by Fitch
Non-life insurer PT Asuransi Sinar Mas has had its national insurer financial strength rating affirmed at 'AA+'.
QBE's 'A+' IFS rating affirmed
Australian insurer QBE has had its 'A' long-term issuer default rating and 'A+' insurer financial strength rating affirmed by Fitch.
Chinese insurers to benefit from broader investment scope
The relaxation of investment rules for Chinese insurers should allow them to match the duration of their assets and liabilities more accurately and benefit from improved earnings stability, Fitch believes.
Fitch affirms Generali's 'A-' IFS rating
Fitch has affirmed Assicurazioni Generali SpA's insurer financial strength rating at 'A-' and long-term issuer default rating at 'BBB+' on account of its solid operating performance. The outlook for both ratings is negative.
VTB Insurance's rating confirmed at BBB-
Russian insurer VTB Insurance's financial strength rating has been confirmed at BBB- and its national IFS rating at AA+(rus). The outlooks are stable.
Top five European news stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Fitch withdraws ratings of Fondiaria-SAI
Ratings agency Fitch has withdrawn the ratings of Italian insurer Fondiaria-SAI owing to insufficient information.
Fitch affirms Lloyd's A+ rating
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Lloyd's' insurer financial strength rating at 'A+', impressed with its ability to cope with the 2011 catastrophe losses.
Lloyd's of London's rating confirmed at 'A+'
Lloyd's of London has had its insurer financial strength rating affirmed at 'A+' by Fitch.
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.
Top five European news stories
The top five European stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.