Flooding
Hiscox bemoans 'costliest year ever'
Specialist insurer and reinsurer Hiscox was stung by a pre-tax loss of £85.6m (2010: £97.2m profit) in the first half of the year but claims to be "heading towards the sunny uplands of profit".
View from the Top: Threat from wave of natural catastrophes?
The spate of natural catastrophes around the world shows no signs of abating.
Scientific research improves extreme weather planning
Insurers and commodity markets can make better risk decisions thanks to increased scientific knowledge about the twin climate cycles, El Niño and La Niña.
London Mayor must tackle flood risks
The London Assembly’s environment committee has demanded Mayor Boris Johnson take action to reduce the serious risk of flood damage and potential loss of life London faces from severe rainfall.
Sport - Olympics: The Olympic challenge
With only 12 months to go until the opening ceremony, Rachel Gordon attempts to break through the veil of secrecy and assess the insurance industry's role in the London 2012 Olympics.
Postbox: Bursting for improvement
I have read with interest recently articles in insurance trade publications regarding the continuing cost of winter claims to the sector. According to their authors, the burst pipe claims 'event' at the end of 2010 and into 2011 will have a far greater…
Affinity: Cultural alignment essential for brand partnerships
Strong affinity partnerships require "cultural alignment" between the involved parties, according to Myles Edwards, sales & marketing director at Age UK Enterprises.
Guy Carpenter unveils hail model for Slovenia
Guy Carpenter has developed a hail model for Slovenia, providing the industry with a tool that allows insurers to quantify their exposure to the hail peril and to guide the structuring and pricing of reinsurance programmes.
Household - Flood risk: Removing the safety net
In two years, the insurance industry's pact with central government to provide flood cover for at-risk properties will cease to exist. Ralph Savage reports on how insurers are planning to meet the challenge post-2013.
Microinsurance - A solution to all ills?
Microinsurance is being touted as the answer to insuring the poorest regions of the world against extreme weather threats. However, as Stephanie Denton reports, this may not be the case.
ABI conference: Financial support promised for all 'worthwhile' flood defence schemes
Environment Minister Richard Benyon has promised that “every worthwhile” flood defence project will obtain some degree of financial support under the government’s new partnership funding scheme, and confirmed he will look into whether the government’s…
Cyber risks - Liability update: Privacy policed
Public and political awareness of cyber risks is on the rise as high-profile cases hit the headlines. Patrick Hill and Hans Allnutt review the effectiveness of existing cover options and detail unconventional developments.
Storm surge modelling in Germany
The German coastline suffers from storm risks on a regular basis but a lack of accurate storm modelling has meant property policies have not included cover. Edward Murray reports on how this may be set to change.
Property claims: UK businesses have failed to respond to roof collapse threat
The severity of the winter 2010 cold snap exposed a lack of preparedness by UK businesses, according to Huw Chandler, property risk engineering practice leader at XL Insurance.
Exercise Watermark set for insurer-specific rerun
The Association of British Insurers has confirmed Exercise Watermark, the government's emergency flood scenario run nationwide in March, will be re-enacted specifically for the insurance industry in August, in conjunction with the Cabinet Office.
View from the top: A hard market is coming
I started talking about positive signs of rate movement more than a month ago. While many agreed, not all of the market's 'big three' brokers shared this view. But a few weeks can effect considerable change and now even Aon's soothsayers will probably…
Exercise Watermark set for insurer-specific rerun - Insurance News Now – 2 June 2011
Post senior reporter Amy Ellis outlines this week's major general insurance stories including confirmation from the Association of British Insurers that the government’s emergency flood scenario will be re-enacted specifically for the insurance industry…
View from the top: Together we're stronger
It's always good to reflect back on the Biba conference, given how quickly it goes when you're there.
View from the top: A very bad year
Despite reinsurers' initial talk that the Australian floods and the New Zealand & Japanese earthquakes were earnings — not balance sheet — events, and there would be no impact on rates, the chatter has changed recently, with some now actively hinting at…
Damage management - Surge: Surging ahead
Recent surge events have shown insurers are getting better at coping with large numbers of claims but there is still room for improvement. Sam Barrett finds out what could make a crucial difference the next time an extreme event occurs.
Lloyd's reveals £2.34bn claims hit from quakes, tsunami and flooding
Lloyd’s has today announced its estimated net claims before tax from the earthquakes this year in Japan and New Zealand and the January 2011 floods in Australia.
Coalition government: State of the nation: one year on
Last week's overwhelming 'no' vote in the referendum on the UK's voting system has only served to deepen divisions and highlight political polar positions within government, but how does the insurance industry rate the coalition's first 12 months in…
Post Europe: Joining up the approach to weather in the Balkans
Weather related catastrophes are common in the Balkans but there is a perception there that the government will always be on hand to help. However, as Sam Barrett explains the only way forward is to create and develop a market to enable the transfer of…
Joining up the approach to weather in the Balkans
Weather related catastrophes are common in the Balkans but there is a perception there that the government will always be on hand to help. However, as Sam Barrett explains the only way forward is to create and develop a market to enable the transfer of…