China
China's economy grew 7.9% in Q4 2012
Year-on-year Q4 Chinese economic growth of 7.9% beats expectations of 7.8%, but growth slowed to 7.8% overall in 2012 compared with 9.3% in 2011.
Chinese broker association formed
China's first international insurance brokerage association was established in Beijing on Thursday, China Daily reported.
Emerging Asia to lead life insurance growth, says Swiss Re
Reinsurer believes life insurance premiums will grow by about 10% in real terms this year in emerging Asia.
Regulator warns Chinese insurers
The China Insurance Regulatory Commission has sent 19 insurers a warning to stop breaching regulations.
China to increase foreign investment tenfold
China wants to encourage more overseas institutional investors into its capital markets.
China Taiping Insurance Holdings considers life insurance purchase
China Taiping Insurance Holdings is considering buying another 25% stake in Taiping Life Insurance from its parent company China Taiping Insurance Group.
Thai buyer "has the necessary resources" to buy Ping An stake
Charoen Pokphand Group has refuted suggestions in the media that a lack of funds is threatening to scupper its acquisition of HSBC’s stake in Chinese insurer Ping An.
Flightsurance bought by 2e Systems
Travel insurance start-up Flightsurance has been acquired by 2e Systems, a technology provider for the travel industry with offices in London and Frankfurt, for an undisclosed fee.
Online sales in Asia: ready to take off
Internet access in Asia is growing at 30% a year. Neera Bhardwaj discovers whether this is translating into online sales for the region’s insurance market.
The lure of China
Insurance penetration in the Chinese market is in single figures, and foreign insurers are keen to expand their market share. But, as Nicky Burridge discovers, there are challenges as well as opportunities in the market.
CIRC seeks more information on Ping An sale
HSBC's sale of its 15.5% stake in Chinese insurer Ping An is at risk of falling at the first hurdle.
Asia reinsurer launches with $550m of capital
Hong Kong-based reinsurer Peak Re is trying to remedy what it describes as an "appalling" amount of underinsurance across the Asia Pacific region.
Ageas creates new COO role to oversee Asian and European growth
Ageas UK CEO Barry Smith has been promoted to a new Ageas group role of chief operating officer.
Allianz report highlights year-over-year rise in ship losses
Twelve months on from the Costa Concordia incident, a new Allianz report shows that 106 ship losses were reported worldwide in the year to 25 November 2012.
HSBC's Ping An stake sale in trouble
A Thai bid to buy HSBC's 15.6% stake in Chinese life insurer Ping An could be in trouble.
Premium income for Chinese insurers up 7.4%
Chinese insurers posted premium income of ¥1.42tn ($228bn) in the first 11 months of 2012, a jump of 7.4% year on year.
Cooper Gay recruits ex-Aon director as part of Asia push
Cooper Gay has appointed David Yip as head of treaty for Cooper Gay Hong Kong as part of an expansion drive in Asia.
Cooper Gay makes new hire to expand Chinese footprint
Cooper Gay has appointed David Yip, pictured, as head of treaty for Cooper Gay Hong Kong as part of an expansion drive in Asia.
Top five Asian news stories
The top five Asian news stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Lloyd's insurer Kiln recruits Zking manager Jin to lead Shanghai JV
Kiln has appointed Gu Jin to lead its new venture with Lloyd's Insurance Company (China) in Shanghai.
Kiln expands Asia footprint with new hire
Kiln has appointed Gu Jin to lead a new venture with Lloyd's Insurance Company (China) in Shanghai.
AIA suspends shares as AIG commences potential sale
The board of directors of AIA Group has requested that trading in the shares of the company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange be suspended after AIG started a potential sale by placing a "significant proportion" of the shares held by AIG.
Munich Re reinsurers guarantees for Chinese PV manufacturer
Munich Re has taken the step of reinsuring the performance guarantees that Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer Yingli Green Energy gives to its customers for multicrystalline modules.
Asia-Pac insurance technology growth expected to dwarf "pedestrian" Europe
Asia Pacific insurers will increase technology spending by 8% to $18.2bn in 2013, according to a new report.