Politics
News analysis - ECJ Judgment: The gender judgment
The Test-Achats case will have huge consequences for the motor, life and health insurance industries. Andy Tromans and Nick Elwell-Sutton explore the ramifications.
Climate change – are insurers getting behind their own green policies?
With the general public becoming ‘bored’ by environmental issues, Veronica Cowan asks if insurers are really getting behind their own green policies.
Novae: UK corporation tax may force us to redomicile
Novae chief executive Matthew Fosh has said the UK’s economic landscape is set to force the insurer to redomicile, so it can remain competitive and yield bigger returns for shareholders.
EC plans to standardise tax
The European Council’s proposals to standardise taxes across member states could mean fewer insurance companies look to redomicile to countries such as Ireland.
New ABI DG to focus on consumer issues
The Association of British Insurers’ new director general has pledged to put consumer issues across general insurance and life & pensions at the centre of the organisation’s strategy.
Chaucer profits fall due to cat exposure
Chaucer has attributed its fall in profit and property underwriting loss to its exposure to global catastrophes.
Editor’s comment: two new faces to watch
With Google this week snapping up beat that Quote for a little under £40m, and web design firm Vast Visibility simultaneously buying two specialist bike and van price comparison sites, aggregators are very much the insurance ‘buy du jour’.
Lords accuse gender ruling of "preventing true equality"
Members of the House of Lords have criticised the European Court of Justice ruling on gender discrimination in insurance policies and annuities.
Interview - Jason Stockwood: A match made in heaven
Moving from the online dating world to insurance broking seems an unusual step. Jason Stockwood explains to Daniel Dunkley what he can bring to the sector.
Insurers must use “solid evidence” for age discrimination
Older people will receive new protection from discrimination under proposals published by the government today.
Interview – Simon Douglas: the attraction of AA Insurance
Simon Douglas, director of AA insurance, previously worked in the life & pensions and private medical markets. He talks to Mairi Macdonald about what attracted him to the debt-laden business and the challenges it faces.
Kidnap & ransom policy rise likely in Middle East
Insurers will see an uptake of kidnap & ransom policies that contain repatriation costs if the civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa continues, Chubb has claimed.
Hiscox targets political unrest for opportunities
Hiscox is looking for underwriting opportunities arising from the political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.
New rating factors needed after European gender ban
Insurers will have to look at additional rating factors now that gender is not an option, following the European Court of Justice ruling that a person's sex can no longer be used to calculate insurance premiums or annuity rates.
Post history – 15 years ago: Bomb blast buildings uninsured
Looking through Post’s back catalogue paints a unique picture of more than 150 years of insurance news, as this highlight from 15 years ago reveals.
Career development & CSR: Davies report pushes for increase in female directors
Lord Davies’ report Women on boards has recommended that FTSE-100 companies increase their proportion of female board directors to 25% by 2015.
IUA warns of regulatory threat to London’s competitiveness
The International Underwriting Association has revealed its fears that a revamp of the UK regulatory structure could cost London its place as a worldwide financial services hub.
LMA backs ban on referral fees
The Lloyd’s Market Association has backed government proposas to end recovery of conditional fee arrangements success fees and after-the-event premiums in its bid to reduce civil litigation costs.
Editor's comment: Spot the difference
As rebrandings go it will hardly go down among the most talked about in the history of financial services, but the end of the Consumer Protection and Markets Authority has at least proved that maybe the government is listening.
Minister admits insurers were right
Government plans to cut motor insurance fraud by allowing underwriters access to DVLA records are unlikely to be implemented until mid-2012, road safety minister Mike Penning MP has admitted.
News analysis - regulation: Questions over reform
The latest consultation paper over regulation reform has left many questions unanswered. Amy Ellis talks to industry figures to find out more.
Penny Black's insurance week
Penny was uncertain as to how her colleagues would fare when they turned their hands to cocktail-making at an Ace Europe masterclass in the City.
Insurers warn SMEs of new legal consequences
The insurance industry has urged small business owners to ensure they are covered in the event an investigation under the Corporate Manslaughter Act.
Fees hike will trigger job losses, Biba warns
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has called for its members to write to their MPs regarding the escalating costs of Financial Services Compensation Scheme fees.