Fitch Ratings
Insurers less exposed than banks to potential Greek euro exit
Insurance companies are less exposed than banks to contagion risk triggered by a Greek exit from the Eurozone because of an ability to share losses with policyholders and a lower reliance on short-term funding, according to Fitch.
EU insurers to bounce back from possible Greek euro exit
The European insurance sector should be able to absorb shocks arising from a hypothetical Greek exit from the euro, provided the exit was orderly.
European insurers able to withstand orderly Greek exit from euro
Europe's insurance industry should be able to absorb shocks arising from a hypothetical Greek exit from the euro, provided such an exit were orderly, Fitch said in a new report.
Fitch affirms Rossiya ratings after restoration of motor licence
Fitch Ratings has affirmed OJSC Rossiya Insurance Company's insurer financial strength at 'B-' and national IFS rating at 'BB-' and removed them from rating watch negative.
Fitch downgrades Brit Insurance Limited over sale to Riverstone
Fitch Ratings has downgraded Brit Insurance Limited's insurer financial strength rating to 'BBB' from 'A', with stable outlook.
Nordic insurers will need bigger investment adjustments under Solvency II
Nordic insurers will need to make bigger adjustments to investment portfolios because of the likely requirements of Solvency II, according to Fitch.
Rossiya on negative watch following licence suspension
OJSC Rossiya Insurance Company has had its B- insurer financial strength rating placed on negative watch by Fitch.
Fitch expects 'severe adverse effects' for any country exiting the euro
A special report published by Fitch today addresses the possible impact on credit ratings of countries redenominating after a Eurozone breakup.
Strong growth prospects for Nordic life market
Growth prospects for the Nordic life insurance markets remain strong, but insurers will have to assess the viability of selling contracts with investment guarantees due to high capital charges under Solvency II, according to Fitch.
Fitch backs Lloyd's emerging markets expansion
The Lloyd's insurance market's planned expansion into emerging markets is a net positive, despite the additional risk carried by writing business outside established markets, Fitch said today.
July reinsurance rate increases likely to be muted
Price increases in the July reinsurance renewal period are likely to be restricted to loss-affected sectors unless there is a further significant insured loss for the industry, according to Fitch.
'Significant' loss will harden rates outside cat exposed regions in July renewals
Price increases in the July reinsurance renewal period could be restricted to loss-affected sectors unless there is a further significant insured loss for the industry, Fitch Ratings has said.
Fitch affirms Coface's 'AA-' IFS rating
Credit insurer Coface's major group insurance entities have had their 'AA-' IFS rating and 'A+' IDR ratings affirmed by Fitch.
Zurich's 'A+' IFS rating affirmed
Zurich Insurance Company's 'A+' insurer financial strength rating and 'A' long-term issuer default rating have been affirmed by Fitch, which cited the insurer's strong capital position and "resilience in the challenging operating environment".
Reinsurers weakened financially by 2011 catastrophes
Reinsurers are exposed to further major catastrophe losses during 2012, according to Fitch.
Internal model key to insurers' infrastructure investments, says Fitch
The future ability of insurance firms to invest in infrastructure projects is likely to depend on whether they use internal models to determine their Solvency II capital requirements, and can persuade regulators that infrastructure investment merits…
Fitch issues warning over Brit Insurance
Fitch Ratings has placed Brit Insurance Limited's insurer financial strength rating of 'A' on rating watch negative after the sale of its UK regional business to QBE.
Rating agencies: The rating game
Nations and businesses alike are growing critical of rating agencies, so is a downgrade as damaging as it used to be?
Insurance Insight – top 10 stories
The 10 most read stories from www.insuranceinsight.eu over the past seven days.
Eurozone crisis and Solvency II undermine Italian insurers' profitability
Italian insurers' growth and profitability is likely to remain subdued until the end of 2013, according to the latest report by Fitch.
Solvency II unlikely to spark wave of relocations, says Fitch
Solvency II is unlikely to lead to a wave of European insurers moving their headquarters out of Europe as a result of concerns about third-country equivalence, particularly for the US, ratings agency Fitch has claimed.
Solvency II will not spark relocation, says Fitch
Solvency II is unlikely to lead to a wave of European insurers moving their headquarters out of Europe because of third-country equivalency concerns, Fitch Ratings has said.
Scor IDS upgraded to A+
French reinsurer Scor has had its long-term issuer default rating and insurer financial strength ratings upgraded by Fitch, owing to its strong solvency and moderate debt in relation to its risk profile.
Fitch says insurers to cope with Greek debt
Credit rating agency Fitch has said insurers will not be hit by the Greek debt swap as they have already written down their holdings in anticipation of the deal and would be able to cope with further losses on Greek sovereign bonds.