Australia
Zurich's Asia-Pacific GI COR climbed to 100.6% in 2014
2014 saw a higher amount of large individual losses for Zurich's general insurance business in the Asia-Pacific region than the previous year.
Zurich's UK profits climbed 19.5% in 2014
Zurich's UK pre-tax general insurance profits climbed 19.5% to £171m last year from £143m in 2013.
Ace enhances premises pollution cover for Australia and New Zealand
Insurer Ace has enhanced its premises pollution liability policy for Australia and New Zealand.
Suncorp's reinsurance "issue" could cost £60m
Australian financial services group Suncorp has been advised there is a potential issue with its recovery of catastrophe losses from its 2011 reinsurance programme.
Snowball gives no reason for Suncorp exit
Industry giant Patrick Snowball is set to leave Australian financial services group Suncorp where he is group CEO.
Former DLA Piper lawyer joins Minter Ellison for Asia role
Australian law firm Minter Ellison has hired Will Harrison to lead its Asia and Western Australia insurance practice.
Australia: Redefining advice
Insurers and brokers down under are at odds over how best to redefine regulatory advice definitions in the wake of a major report that says the industry needs to do more to help consumers get the right level of home cover.
Australia's National Construction Code available for free
The Insurance Council of Australia has welcomed the availability for free of the National Construction Code.
Australia: Disaster averted?
Australian insurers facing possible requests from the government to help fund mitigation projects say it is not a cost they should bear and that any funding will eventually be paid for by policyholders.
Safe driving app well received in Australia
Several thousand customers have already downloaded a safe driving app in Australia recording 20,000km of data.
JLT's Cooper joins Lockton for Australia property role
Lockton has appointed Stephen Cooper as head of its real estate and construction team.
Australian medical premiums could rise 7% in April
As costs rise, Australian insurers are preparing an increase of up to 7% for private medical premiums.
China's largest law firm to merge with Dentons
Dentons is to merge with China's largest firm Dacheng, to create the biggest law firm in the world by lawyer headcount.
Emerging Asia's premiums grew 12.7% in 2014, says Swiss Re
General insurance premiums in Asia grew 6.6% when stripping out inflation in 2014 according to reinsurance giant Swiss Re with emerging Asia leading the way.
Ace's Kerr promoted in Australasia reshuffle
Ace's state manager Queensland Stuart Kerr has been promoted to casualty manager for Australia.
Lloyd's recruits experienced broker for Australia role
Chris Mackinnon, former CEO at Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers, will join Lloyd's in Australia as general representative.
Mobius Underwriting hires underwriter from Allianz
Adam Thackeray has joined Lloyd's coverholder Mobius Underwriting Australasia.
Interview: Stuart Spencer: Bullish about Japan
Andrew Tjaardstra, Post’s Asia editor, speaks to Stuart Spencer, head of Asia-Pacific, Zurich, about the post he has held for just over a year and Zurich's nation building in the region.
QBE's outlook revised to stable
Australian (re)insurer QBE's ratings outlook has been upgraded after taking a number of capital measures.
Sydney hostage siege declared as terrorist act
The hostage crisis that left two dead in central Sydney on 15-16 December has been declared a terrorist act meaning insurers will pay compensation to businesses.
Brisbane hailstorm claims top A$1bn
100,223 property and motor claims have been lodged as a result of last November's freak Brisbane hailstorm.
Australian farmer claims A$944,000 for crop failure
The first payout for multi-peril crop insurance in Australia is A$944,000 (£504,000) to a Queensland farmer.
'Australia's softest market in living memory' says Zurich's Spencer
Stuart Spencer, Zurich's Asia-Pacific CEO, says it is the softest insurance market in Australia in living memory.
Bushfires in Adelaide Hills to cost over A$13m
As a result of bushfires in Adelaide so far 350 claims have been lodged with insurers, with insured losses of more than A$13m (£7m).