Europe
C-Suite: Shipowners benefit from lower rates in economic choppy waters
How have marine insurers responded to the financial challenges facing the shipping industry? Positively, is the short answer; part of this positive response has been deliberate, part has been fortuitous.
QBE gains in first half from asset sales and improved COR; CEO targets growth
Sydney-headquartered QBE saw a 24% rise in first half after tax profits to $488m (£331m) compared with $392m in the first half of last year.
Integro boosts aviation presence with division acquisition
Broker Integro has acquired the aviation division of AFL Insurance Brokers creating an additional UK-based aviation team.
Telematics firm Scope Technologies expands in Thailand and Germany
German insurer HDI Gerling and Thai company Bangkok Insurance have agreed pay-as-you-drive deals with telematics provider Scope Technologies.
Disaster losses reach £23.7bn in H1 2015
Total economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters reached $37bn (£23.7bn) in the first half of 2015, according to Swiss Re.
C-Suite: Embracing the cloud
Insurance companies are increasingly embracing the cloud but concerns remain.
Bauer to leave Allianz
Manuel Bauer, head of insurance growth markets, Allianz is leaving at the end of August.
Allianz Group estimates 2015 operating profit at upper target range
Operating profit in Allianz Group's property and casualty division rose 29.7% to €1.35bn (£952m) in the second quarter of 2015 as the company confirmed its operating profit outlook for the full year would reach €10.8bn.
Munich Re upgrades profit estimate after drop in major losses
Munich Re has upgraded its profit forecast for 2015 to above €3bn after tax (£2.1bn) on the back of encouraging second quarter results.
Large losses and rising expenses hamper Zurich's first half global results
Zurich blamed a 15% fall in pre-tax global profits to $2.2bn (£1.4bn) in the first half of 2015 on a significantly lower contribution from its GI business.
Partner Re agrees to Exor's $6.9bn all cash offer
Bermuda-based Partner Re has agreed to sell to Italian investment firm Exor after it made a $6.9bn (£4.4bn) all cash offer.
Top 30 European Insurers: The cream of the crop
Post, in association with AM Best, has compiled a list of the top 30 European non-life insurers. How have the rankings changed since 2013 – and how have currency fluctuations changed the standings of those dealing primarily in US dollars?
Peak Re hires Burri as reinsurer targets Zurich office
Jacqus Burri has been hired by Hong Kong-headquartered reinsurer Peak Re to work in Zurich.
Less than 6% of SMEs have cyber insurance, says ABI Research
Global research firm ABI Research has found that less than 20% of large companies and less than 6% of SMEs have cyber insurance within the global insurance market.
C-Suite Europe: Healthcare - trends highlight need for structural reform
The healthcare sector in Europe is changing - and this is throwing up opportunities for savvy insurers, says Bart de Smet
Fagen appointed QBE group chief strategy officer
Colin Fagen, QBE's CEO for Australia and New Zealand, has been appointed to a newly created role as group chief strategy officer.
Zurich says any offer for RSA will likely be cash only
Swiss giant Zurich has said that any forthcoming offer for buying RSA will likely solely be in cash.
Willis's after tax profit falls 4.4% in first half
Global broker Willis had net income of $280m for the six months to 30 June 2015 compared to $293m in the same period last year.
JLT's profit margin hit by US build-out
JLT's first half profit margin declined from 19.7% last year to 17.3% as it made a net trading loss of £12.6m on its US specialty business. The broker said this was in line with expectations.
Zurich considers takeover offer for RSA
Zurich has confirmed it is evaluating an offer to buy UK-headquartered insurer RSA.
Mapfre takes 31% hit on H1 net profit
Spanish insurer Mapfre has reported a 31% drop in post-tax profit for the first six months of 2015 to €315.6m (£223m).
Europe: Time to tune up D&O policies in Spain
XL Catlin's Estefania Taboada looks at the impact of new company governance rules on Spanish D&O policies.
Allied World's profits hammered in Q2 by catastrophes and investment losses
Allied World's after tax profits fell 94% to $9.5m (£6m) in the second quarter compared with the same period last year when profits hit $151.9m.
Building Block to target networks for distribution in UK launch
Malta-domiciled business Building Block is to target a range of networks to distribute its products as part of a two-pronged business plan.