Major loss
2018 H1 insured disaster losses below average at $20bn
Global insured losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters during the first half of 2018 were $20bn, 33% below the ten-year average of $35bn, according to Swiss Re Institute's preliminary sigma report.
Lloyd’s managing agents call for greater ILS use
Some 80% of Lloyd’s managing agents would like to see insurance-linked securities become a permanent fixture in the reinsurance and insurance market.
Brit profit dives 87.5% at H1
Brit’s pre-tax profit nose-dived 87.5% in the first six months of 2018 on the back of poor investment returns.
Weather losses send RSA profits down 15% at H1
RSA posted a 15% drop in group operating profit for the first six months of the year as British and Canadian weather losses dent the insurers’ results.
Hiscox Retail helps drive 27% boost in group profit at H1
Hiscox saw pre-tax profit climb 27% to $164m (£125m) in the first half of 2018, with the insurer’s retail arm contributing more than half of that figure.
Lancashire sees premiums and profit dip at Q2
Bermuda-based Lancashire saw profits slip 15% and gross written premiums dive 4.3% in the second quarter of 2018.
MPs outline ‘urgent’ reform needed in wake of Grenfell fire
A parliamentary committee has called on the government to take urgent action in the wake of the Grenfell fire, including extending a proposed ban on combustible cladding and tackling conflicts of interest within the construction industry.
Lloyd’s Brussels receives ‘A’ rating from AM Best
AM Best has assigned the Lloyd’s Brussels hub a Financial Strength Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘a+’.
British Insurance Awards 2018: Full list of winners, their stories and photos
Former Churchill and LV general insurance boss John O’Roarke took home the Achievement prize last night at the British Insurance Awards, where his new employer Aviva was among the big winners.
Risk management: Analysis: Cargo theft on the rise
International cargo theft has a huge impact on the frequency and severity of insurance claims and the problem is increasing.
Parametric cover 'could go mainstream'
Parametrics, a specialised form of reinsurance or insurance used mainly in catastrophe bonds, could become more mainstream as risk managers seek to overcome some of the limitations of traditional insurance, according to a survey.
Allianz worst hit European insurer by Q1 nat cats
First quarter natural catastrophe losses cost Allianz €311m, more than any other insurer.
Scor issues first UK cat bond in vote of confidence for London ILS regime
Scor has become the first reinsurer to use the new UK ILS regime to issue a catastrophe bond.
Nat Cats push specialty market into costliest year on record
The UK specialty insurance market suffered the costliest year on record in 2017 as natural catastrophe activity took its toll on underwriting performance.
Berkshire becomes third-largest reinsurer on back of AIG deal
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway became the world's third-largest reinsurer in 2017, ending European dominance over the top four.
Analysis: Tracking rail risks
Railways are travelling through a changing landscape of severe weather risks and terror perils, but perhaps none so arresting as the cyber threats raised by their new reliance on digital connectivity
This Month in Post: shame, sunshine and an opportunity for change
Insurers have published their gender pay gap statistics. It was never going to go well and the industry's shameful figures further highlight that change is needed. With a bank holiday weekend approaching, perhaps it would be prudent to use that extra day…
Rate increases remain inconsistent, says JLT
Rate increases remain inconsistent with rises largely limited to loss effective lines of business, according to Jardine Lloyd Thompson.
Insurers should re-examine attitude to chemical weapons following Salisbury incident
The insurance sector should re-examine its attitude towards business interruption and chemical weapon exclusions in the wake of the Salisbury incident, according to Pool Re.
Analysis: Liability war rages over Grenfell-style cladding replacement claims
A battle is raging over who is liable for costs to replace cladding on high-rise residential buildings across the country
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.
Analysis: Business interruption - Lost in translation
Specific terms and technical meanings can be misinterpreted and the difference in language used by insurers and insureds could lead to underinsurance when taking out business interruption cover
Cat bond issuance hits $3.1bn in Q1
Insurers and reinsurers sponsored $3.1bn (£2.2bn) in catastrophe bonds in the first quarter of 2018, up 34% from the first quarter of 2017, according to data analytics provider PCS.
Downstream energy sector suffers worst loss in nearly a decade
The downstream energy sector suffered its worst loss record for nearly a decade in 2017 with low rating levels exacerbated by one of the worst catastrophe loss years on record.