Personal
Citizens Advice calls for clampdown on CMCs
The Citizens Advice Bureau has called for a ban on cold-calling by claims management firms after a survey revealed that nine out of 10 people were plagued by them in a 12-month period.
Aspinall appointed class underwriter at Liberty Syndicates
Liberty Syndicates has named experienced Lloyd's syndicates underwriter Mark Aspinall as class underwriter for specie and fine art.
Quindell pockets £20m thanks to 'major institutional investor'
Quindell Portfolio has secured £20m of funding through the issuing of 153 846 153 placing shares with a major new institutional investor.
AM Best offers positive outlook on Markel International
Rating services firm AM Best Europe has affirmed the financial strength rating of 'A' and issuer credit ratings of "A+" of Markel International and Lloyd's Syndicate 3000.
Generali to sell assets to grow insurance business
Italian insurer Generali is to sell non-strategic assets next year to generate cash to invest in emerging markets.
Government launches consultation to use MID as insurance evidence
Drivers could benefit from less motor insurance red tape after a government consultation to scrap the legal requirement to issue paper-based certificates was launched today.
Davies expects Markel full-year results to weather the storm
Markel International finance director Andy Davies is confident that the impact of superstorm Sandy on his firm's full-year results will not halt the momentum achieved in the opening nine months of the year.
Delhi drivers to face emissions-linked insurance
Motor insurance in India may soon be linked to a vehicle's emissions as part of new regulations aimed at cutting pollution in Delhi.
Competition to heat up in housing market
Ernst & Young has predicted that the household insurance sector will produce a combined operating ratio of 95% in 2012, despite this summer's flooding and other variable weather throughout the year.
"Allianz shareholders are happy," says Torrance despite COR deterioration
Allianz UK chief executive Andrew Torrance has called the insurer's retail non-motor combined operating ratio of 101.7% for the first nine months of 2012 a "decent result" given recent poor weather.
Covea unveils new look executive team
Covea Insurance has confirmed the line-up of the executive team charged with leading the business following its creation via the merger of MMA and Provident.
Allianz CEO Torrance blasts 99.1% COR as 'unacceptably poor'
Allianz UK's commercial lines combined operating ratio deteriorated to 99.1% for the first nine months of 2012 from 95.1% in Q3 2011 as the retail non-motor COR worsened to 101.7%.
Hastings trials telematics offering
Hastings Direct is trialling a telematics-based car insurance product aimed at younger or inexperienced drivers.
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.
'No more cold calling customers,' new Mass chairman urges ahead of motor claims code launch
The Motor Accident Solicitors Society is to launch a package of reforms in a new motor claims code in a bid to boost the rights of the consumer.
MoJ must take its foot off the brake on whiplash debate, demands ABI boss
The Association of British Insurers has cranked up pressure on the government to publish its consultation on whiplash, one month after the Ministry of Justice confirmed that progress had stalled.
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.
ABI boss Dalton slams 'questionable' Apil whiplash report
Statistics published in an annual whiplash report have been branded "questionable" and "self-serving" by the Association of British Insurers.
Apil president calls for insurers to back his anti-fraud plan
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers president Karl Tonks has challenged the insurance industry to work with Apil to tackle "genuine fraudsters", following the publication of the association's annual report on whiplash.
First Central unveils motor breakdown product
First Central has launched a new breakdown cover product to help motorists with day-to-day problems.
Towergate dismisses Paymentshield speculation
Towergate has denied speculation that the firm is planning to sell its mortgage payment and insurance business Paymentshield.
Chubb HNW offering receives facelift
Chubb is revamping its high net worth underwriting and account handling teams in a bid to make its offering more relevant to brokers.
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).