Natural catastrophes (Nat Cats)
Hiscox posts H1 profit of $168m, despite higher volume of claims
Hiscox has reported a profit before tax of $168m for the first quarter of 2019, up from a profit of $162.7m on the same period last year, despite a higher volume of claims.
Investment returns drive Beazley half-year profit as it strengthens cat reserves
Beazley saw double-digital premium growth in the first six months of the year, posting a pre-tax profit of $166.4m (£133.9m) largely driven by “exceptional” investment returns.
Insurers paid out NZ$40bn following Christchurch earthquake
Christchurch City Council estimates that insurers have paid out around NZ$35-40bn (£18.6-21.2bn) following the earthquake in 2011.
Flood defences save UK £1.1bn a year
Inland flood defences reduce river flood losses by 63%, saving the UK £1.1bn annually on average, according to a recent study.
Analysis: Managing ‘unthinkable risks’
The insurance industry has become progressively familiar with the idea of ‘unthinkable risks’ in recent years as unpredicted and unprecedented losses, caused by both natural catastrophes and man-made events, have continued to happen
Global floods cause $8bn damage in March alone
An estimated $8bn (£6.1bn) of damage was caused by floods around the world in March 2019, according to an Aon catastrophe report.
Lloyd’s hit with £1bn loss in 2018
Lloyd’s of London was slammed with another vast loss in 2018, following on from its £2bn loss in 2017.
Beazley profits halve as it feels nat cat impact
Beazley saw profits fall 55% last year owing to the continuing affect of natural catastrophe claims on underwriting margins.
Analysis: Making mining work
The mining industry is facing a shrinking pool of project managers but improved project management software, what impact is this having on the industry and its insurers?
Analysis: Review of 2018
The spectre of Brexit loomed large over the insurance sector this year, and although the picture is still no clearer in terms of how the UK market will continue to trade with Europe after 29 March 2019, significant merger & acquisition activity was among…
Interview: Ian Muress, Sedgwick International
Having left Crawford in April 2017 after 15 years at the firm, Ian Muress resurfaced in January as CEO of Sedgwick International, a claims business he describes as the largest of its kind "on the planet". He spoke to Jonathan Swift about why people…
Global underinsurance has barely decreased in six years: Lloyd's
The total sum of global underinsurance is $163bn, according to research from Lloyd's.
Top 30 Asian insurers: Diverse markets
AM Best’s ranking of Asia-Pacific non-life insurers remains dominated by the same companies as last year, writes director of analytics Chi-Yeung Lok, noting the market characteristics of mature and emerging markets stay as disparate as ever
Cost of Hurricane Michael could hit $21bn including up to $10bn of insured losses
A week on from Hurricane Michael making landfall in Florida, estimates of the cost of the are beginning to emerge, running to as much as $21bn (£16.25bn).
Travel insurance: Transforming and challenging through digital technology
The insurance market and the tourism industry have not always had reputations for embracing the latest technology. But things are changing and digital advances such as geo-location and data analytics will only help accelerate the pace of change
Analysis: The real risks of business travel
Business travel insurance might cover the same risks as leisure policies but, because it underwrites and compensates differently, it places a much stronger emphasis on risk management
Lloyd’s sees diminished results even as it shrugs off 2017 losses
Lloyd’s H1 pre-tax profit was down 51% on the same period last year, even as the Corporation saw improvements in its combined ratio.
Claims II: Flood Re sets out 2039 plans for affordable pricing
Flood Re has set out its long-term vision for when it exits the market in 2039.
Markel snaps up Nephila in insurance-linked securities deal
Markel is to buy the world’s largest manager of insurance-linked securities, Nephila Holdings.
This week in Post: Do you know who's on the other end of the phone?
We have all experienced that heart-stopping moment when our phone rings and our eyes are greeted with the dreaded: "No caller ID."
AM Best: Flooding not wind biggest Hurricane Lane concern for insurers
In addition to insurers exposed to property risk, AM Best expects that motor insurers will see claims resulting from heavy rainfall.
This week in Post: One every minute
For those of us back in the office while the holiday season continues it might seem like time is moving slowly but the Association of British Insurers revealed this week that for every minute we count down until silly season is over and the out of office…
Losses expected as Hawaii bunkers down for cat 4 Hurricane
The insurance and reinsurance industry is braced for losses as category 4 Hurricane Lane continues to track towards the islands of Hawaii.
Analysis: Pricing climate risks
As climate change becomes tangible, insurers are feeling the heat. Their understanding of the risks could inform not just their underwriting but also their investment strategies.