Caribbean
Underwriting pressure drives negative outlook for London market
Underwriting pressure from the high cost of doing business have caused Fitch Ratings to report a negative sector outlook for London market reinsurance and insurance in 2018.
Loss adjusting and insurtech gains fail to stem Charles Taylor profit decline at full year
Well-publicised gains in Charles Taylor’s loss adjusting and insurtech arms saw revenues jump 25% in 2017 but failed to push the insurance services provider to profit.
‘Tidal wave’ of alternative capital to disrupt reinsurance market: Aon CEO
Reinsurance renewal rates were beaten down on 1 January by alternative capital markets, Aon Benfield’s CEO said, warning they are poised to be a major disrupter against traditional reinsurance in future.
Analysis: Soft reinsurance renewals dash hard market hopes
After five consecutive years of falling rates, global property-catastrophe reinsurance experienced upward pricing pressure at 1 January renewals.
Executives admit they were unprepared for 2017 nat cats
Senior executives of major financial businesses admit they were unprepared for the spate of costly natural catastrophes that hit the American coastline at the tale end of last year.
Axis faces $130m nat cat loss in fourth quarter
Axis Capital estimates it will take a $130m hit as a result of fourth quarter catastrophe and weather-related losses.
Beazley predicts to beat analysts on 2017 earnings
Lloyd’s carrier Beazley said it expects to post a pre-tax profit for 2017, ahead of market expectations and in despite of hefty nat cat bills in the fourth quarter.
Fresh capital to make reinsurance rate rise short-lived
New capital entering the reinsurance sector will wash away any relief gained from rate rises at January renewals, Aon Benfield has said.
Lloyd’s pays $1.7bn for Harvey, Irma and Maria
The Lloyd’s market has paid claims worth $1.7bn in response to windstorms Harvey, Irma and Maria.
Analysis: Review of the year 2017
The past year has been a stormy one for the insurance market – and not just in terms of weather: the discount rate saga and the insurance premium tax hike helped propel motor premiums to stratospheric highs. Industry figures see clearer skies, however,…
H2 nat cats set to push up P&C pricing, says Swiss Re
Prices in non-life insurance and reinsurance are expected to increase as a result of the recent nat cat activity across the Atlantic, Swiss Re has said.
Nat cats could cost MS&AD $972m
MS Amlin owner MS&AD Insurance Group could see losses of over $972m (£734m) as a result of second quarter nat cat losses including hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as earthquakes in Mexico.
Munich Re posts €1.4bn Q3 loss as nat cats weigh on results
Munich Re has posted a €1.4bn (£1.2bn) loss for the third quarter as the impact of natural catastrophes in the US and Caribbean take their toll on results.
JLT outlook remains confident as headwinds fail to hamper results
Insurance and reinsurance provider JLT does not expect the recent wave of natural disasters to affect its full year out-turn and believes it will deliver organic revenue growth for 2017.
Blog: Reacting to turmoil
Michael Lynch, head of partnerships for Minster Law, believes insurers can bring certainty to those they help.
Lloyd’s writes $738m cheque to cover Harvey, Irma and Maria
Lloyd’s of London has paid $738m for Harvey, Irma and Maria claims.
Blog: Counteracting travel risks with enhanced connectivity
As travellers venture further afield and mobile devices touch on all areas of life, Chris Knight, head of corporate services for Cega, asks if travel insurers are missing a trick by not contacting with their customers to offer real-time risk updates.
Scor braces for €430m nat cat bill in Q3
Scor estimates the cost of the Harvey, Irma and Maria hurricanes and the mexico earthquakes at €430m.
Blog: Loss adjusters describe Hurricanes Irma and Maria's devastation in Sint Maarten
Crawford adjusters are continuing to assess the devastation brought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Sint Maarten. Director Tim Cramer-Todd and vice-president Rob Kleinveld, who just came back from the Caribbean, recount what they saw on the ground.
Analysis: Hurricane harm
Hurricane season has caused devastation across the Atlantic but, despite the human death toll, the impact on reinsurers is likely to be limited
Hiscox forecasts rates rise and $225m in Harvey and Irma claims
London market insurer Hiscox anticipates the combined net cost of claims from hurricanes Harvey and Irma to be around $225m (£170m).
Beazley anticipates $150m hit from Atlantic hurricanes and Mexico earthquakes
Beazley expects to take a $150m (£112m) hit on earnings as a result of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as the recent earthquakes in Mexico.
Lloyd's suspends H1 profit release to take stock of Harvey and Irma impact
Lloyd's has suspended the release of first-half profits until it can accurately assess the financial impact of Harvey and Irma, the market's chief financial officer has said.
Maria industry losses could total $85bn
Industry insured losses for Hurricane Maria in the Caribbean will be between $40bn and $85bn, according to AIR Worldwide.