Latest S&P Headlines

All the headlines from our S&P Topic Page, ordered by recency.

S&P Says Underwriting in Lloyd’s Market Continues to Improve

Sep 7 2020 // The Lloyd’s market looks unlikely to turn an underwriting profit in 2020 given the pandemic and hurricane season. However, there are signs of improvement, according to analysts at S&P Global Ratings. S&P...

S&P Says Underwriting in Lloyd’s Market Continues to Improve

Aug 21 2020 // The Lloyd’s market looks unlikely to turn an underwriting profit in 2020 given the pandemic and hurricane season. However, there a signs of improvement, according to analysts at S&P Global Ratings. S&P notes...

Second Wave of Coronavirus Lockdowns Could Weaken Insurers’ Capital Buffers: S&P

Jul 14 2020 // Global insurers have proven resilient during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as their capital strength has helped stave off widespread downgrades; however, insurers’ capital buffers will erode through the...

S&P’s Outlook for AGCS Revised to Negative on ‘Weak Underwriting Performance’

Jun 18 2020 // S&P Global Ratings has revised its outlook on Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) to negative from stable, while at the same time affirmed the insurer’s “AA” financial strength and...

S&P Pegs Coronavirus Losses at $15-$30B. Chief Risk Officers Think That’s Low.

Jun 9 2020 // Analysts for Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings shared a view that U.S. underwriting losses from COVID-19 would fall in the $15-$30 billion range. However, risk officers speaking at a rating agency conference last...

S&P Affirms Munich Re’s ‘AA-‘ Ratings, Reflecting Sufficient Capital for COVID-19 Crisis

May 29 2020 // S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its “AA-” long-term issuer credit and financial strength ratings for Munich Re and its subsidiaries, with a stable outlook. The stable outlook reflects S&P’s view...

States Will Not Win in Mandating Coronavirus Business Interruption Coverage: S&P

May 18 2020 // Standard & Poor’s said it does not expect state legislators to succeed in their efforts to retroactively expand business interruption insurance coverage for COVID-19-related losses. The reason: An expectations of...

S&P Expects States to Lose Bids to Mandate Coronavirus Business Interruption Coverage

May 4 2020 // Standard & Poor’s said it does not expect state legislators to succeed in their efforts to retroactively expand business interruption insurance coverage for COVID-19-related losses. The reason: An expectations of...

P/C Insurance Least Likely to Default Due to Coronavirus: S&P Credit

Apr 20 2020 // Compared to others, the property/casualty insurance industry is weathering the coronavirus crisis rather well. Property/casualty insurance is the least-impacted industry by the coronavirus pandemic, at least so far,...

Insurers’ Pause of Dividends Likely Shows Caution, Rather Than Credit Risks: S&P

Apr 17 2020 // Some global regulators are advising insurers to suspend dividend payments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If insurers do, they won’t have to worry about their credit quality, S&P Global Ratings said in a...

P/C Insurance Is Industry Least Likely to Default Due to Coronavirus: S&P Credit Analysis

Apr 13 2020 // Compared to others, the property/casualty insurance industry is weathering the coronavirus crisis rather well. The property/casualty insurance is the least-impacted industry by the coronavirus pandemic, at least so far,...

COVID-19 Pandemic Threatens Gulf Insurers’ Earnings: S&P Report

Apr 2 2020 // The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and tumbling oil prices threaten the earnings of insurers in the Gulf, S&P Global Ratings said on Wednesday, possibly leading to negative rating actions. “Most insurers...

Aon and Willis Towers Watson Say Merger Is All About ‘Getting Better, Not Bigger’

Mar 10 2020 // There are several talking points that are evident about the planned merger of broking giants Aon and Willis Towers Watson. First, it’s not about getting bigger; it’s about getting better. And, second,...

EXOR to Sell PartnerRe to French Insurer Covea for $9 Billion

Mar 4 2020 // EXOR has agreed to sell PartnerRe to French mutual insurer Covéa, a move that is turning out to be a very profitable thing for the Italian investment firm. EXOR bought the Bermuda-based reinsurer in March 2016 for $6.72...

Swiss Re Will Absorb Poor 2019 Earnings, Says S&P

Feb 21 2020 // S&P Global Ratings said that even though Swiss Re performed materially below expectation for its 2019 earnings, the ratings agency expects the group to maintain its risk-based capital above the “AA” level,...

Coronavirus Clouds U.S. Outlook But Economic Impact Should be Modest: S&P

Feb 12 2020 // The coronavirus outbreak in China is clouding the global outlook and leading to both business caution and potential overall weakness in U.S. growth, according to S&P Global. However, given its limited exposure, the...

S&P Assigns A- Rating to Fidelis Insurance Units; Holding Company at BBB

Dec 19 2019 // Noting the proven track record of its management team and strong top-line growth in a five-year time frame, S&P Global Ratings has assigned A- financial strength ratings to the operating units of Fidelis Insurance...

S&P Revises Qatar Insurance Outlook on Financial Risks from $308M Markerstudy Loan

Nov 25 2019 // S&P Global Ratings said it revised its outlook on Qatar Insurance Co. S.A.Q. (QIC) to negative from stable, although it has affirmed the group’s “A” rating. When QIC acquired four of...

S&P Upgrades CNA Financial Strength Rating to A+

Nov 19 2019 // CNA Financial Corp. has achieved an “A+” financial strength rating from Standard & Poor’s, an upgrade made in recognition of the Chicago-based insurer’s efforts to improve its operations and...

Corporations Grow Nervous as Compensation for Directors Rises

Nov 12 2019 // It’s nice work if you can get it. The average annual compensation for non-executive directors at S&P 500 companies rose 2 percent to $304,856 last year, topping $300,000 for the first time and 43 percent higher...