Motor
Admiral to slow UK growth despite 9% rise in profit
Admiral's pre-tax profit rose to £171.8m in the first half of 2012 (H1 2011: £160.6m) having increased the number of vehicles insured by 11%, or 350 000, to 3.5 million.
Carole Nash CEO pleased to defy "tough" 2011 with slight turnover growth
Carole Nash chalked up a modest increase in pre-tax profits to £5.93m last year (FY 2010: £5.86m), as turnover grew by just over £1m to £25.02m.
Equality Act: Age concern
The Home Office has exempted the insurance industry from the Equality Act, allowing underwriters to continue using age as a risk factor. But will Europe intervene as it did with gender?
Axa Assistance recruits former L&G boss for sales director role
Axa Assistance UK has appointed Adam Smith, pictured, as sales director to accelerate the growth of the company's large corporate partnerships business.
Autonet to launch on aggregator Uswitch
Motor broker Autonet is to place several van insurance products on price comparison site Uswitch imminently.
Italian motor and property markets offer opportunities, according to new report
Italy stands at the crossroads of economic and social change, and therefore offers interesting opportunities for the insurance industry.
IAG maintains silence on UK business sale
Insurance Australia Group has stressed that writing off its remaining goodwill and intangible assets in the UK business is not necessarily a sign that it will sell that division.
MMA poaches motor specialist from QBE
MMA Insurance has appointed Gary Clayton as senior motor trade underwriter with a remit for the South of the UK.
London council wins crash-for-cash fraud case after four-year stand-off
Barnet Council has avoided up to £120 000 in fraudulent claims costs after a council worker became suspicious of four motor insurance claims occurring in suspiciously similar circumstances.
Autonet invests in leadership programme
Autonet Insurance is launching a leadership training programme within its managerial ranks aimed at improving their ability to motivate and inspire their teams.
Co-op goes for growth in household sector
Co-operative Insurance director of general insurance David Neave said the firm has written a higher volume of home insurance policies compared to motor policies this year so far in a bid to “redress the balance” within its personal lines portfolio.
Transactor to go live with new broker telematics offering
Insurance software specialist Transactor has teamed up with broker Carrot Car Insurance to produce a new personal lines telematics offering.
Motor claims account for 50% of compensation paid by Taiwan insurers
Taiwanese general insurers paid out compensation of over NT$29.5bn ($983.3m) in the first half of 2012, up 10% year on year according to the Taiwan Insurance Institute.
Confused launches 'Motor Mate' app in bid to boost telematics sales
Bosses at Confused hope to drive up interest in telematics technology among young motorists, following the launch of a smartphone app which rewards good driving with cash back prizes.
Top five Asian news stories
The top five Asian stories from www.insuranceinsight.com over the past seven days.
Chinese car insurance market faces further losses
Insurers operating in China's compulsory motor insurance market face further significant underwriting losses in the next two years due to rising claims, tightly regulated pricing and the potential for further competition.
UK seizes one-millionth uninsured vehicles
UK police have seized one million vehicles since 2005 when they were given powers to stop vehicles identified as being driven without insurance.
Millionth uninsured vehicle seized by police
The UK's millionth uninsured vehicle is set to be seized this morning by police in the West Midlands.
Niche broker Campton to tap into Auto Trader site via Wanna Insure deal
Campton Insurance Brokers expects to have access to around 10 000 motorhome quotes per month following a deal with software firm Wanna Insure, which enables integration with Auto Trader’s price comparison website.
Zurich boss hails 'strong' H1 results despite £19m flood loss
Zurich UK has admitted to losses of £19m as a result of the floods in the UK and Ireland during the first half of the year.
Law report: Motor insurer not liable in taxi driver sexual assault case
Law reports contributed by national law firm Berrymans Lace Mawer.
Stamping out fraud
As insurance fraud losses top £2.1bn - a 23% year-on-year rise - and offer rich pickings for fraudsters, what are the factors behind the figures and how can firms can fight back?
Credit hire: Paying a hire price
Credit hire is a significant factor in private motor insurance premiums being inflated by £225m a year, but would Competition Commission intervention help or hinder policyholders and the industries involved?
View from the top: Lessons to be learnt from Laspo
The earlier than expected introduction of a damages increase could undermine the positive effects of the Act, says Chris Voller.