2018 catastrophes News

Argo Estimates Losses from Q4 Natural Catastrophes, Other Claims to Hit $44M

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., the Bermuda-based re/insurer, announced a preliminary pre-tax catastrophe loss estimate of $32 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, primarily related to Hurricane Michael and the California wildfires. Additionally, the company’s fourth quarter 2018 results …

Severe Weather in Canada Cost Insurers C$1.9 Billion in 2018: IBC

Insured damage from severe weather events across Canada reached C$1.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) in 2018, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), quoting statistics from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. Severe weather across Canada continues to highlight the financial …

Final Insured Losses for Europe’s Storm Friederike/David Estimated at €1.7B: PERILS

The final loss estimate for Extratropical Cyclone Friederike, also known as David, reached €1.672 Billion ($1.906 billion), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. This compares to the previous PERILS loss report of €1.675 …

Multiple Smaller Natural Disasters in 2018 Created ‘Unusual’ Insured Loss Picture: Willis

Insured loss estimates from major natural catastrophes in 2018 totaled roughly $71.5 billion, the highest since 2011’s annual market losses of $120 billion, according to Willis Re. However, the insured losses in 2018 are slightly less than half of those …

Swiss Re Estimates Its Q4 Natural Catastrophe Claims to Hit US$1.0B

Swiss Re estimates it will pay claims of approximately $1.0 billion for natural catastrophes booked in the fourth quarter of 2018, with the largest generated from California wildfires and Hurricane Michael. These natural disaster claims will mainly affect its Reinsurance …

Indonesia Rattled by More Than 11,500 Quakes in 2018

Indonesia was rattled by more than 11,500 earthquakes last year, almost double the annual average of the past decade, according to the nation’s meteorological agency. The archipelago was hit by 11,557 temblors in 2018, with 297 of them packing a …

Jan. 1 Renewals Saw ‘Muted Impact’ from 2018’s Catastrophes: Guy Carpenter

The overall impact of catastrophe losses on property rates was muted at the Jan. 1, 2019 reinsurance renewals, but the fourth highest annual catastrophe loss year on record did create questions over pricing adequacy, underwriting strategy and the amount of …

Arch Capital Estimates Q4 2018 Catastrophe Losses Could Total $130M

Arch Capital Group Ltd. reported an estimated range of fourth quarter pre-tax losses of $110 million to $130 million from global natural catastrophes, including Hurricane Michael and California wildfires. These estimates are net of reinsurance recoveries and reinstatement premiums, said …

Global Reinsurance Capital Is Resilient Despite Losses of $230B over 2 Years: Aon

Global reinsurance capital – comprising traditional and alternative capital – fell 2 percent in 2018 to US$595 billion from $605 billion in 2017, remaining resilient in the face of insured natural catastrophe losses of $230 billion over the two-year period, …

California Wildfires, Hurricane Michael Top List of 2018’s Costliest Natural Disasters: Munich Re

The costliest natural catastrophes occurred in the United States in 2018 with one of California’s devastating wildfires and Hurricane Michael topping the list, according to Munich Re. A report from Munich Re on last year’s natural disasters pointed to “clear …