Australia News

Guy Carpenter Facilitates Launch of Multi-Peril Crop Insurance in Australia

Guy Carpenter & Co., LLC, a global risk and reinsurance specialist and member of Marsh & McLennan Cos. has facilitated the launch of a Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) product for Australian grain growers for the 2013 crop season. The product …

Services Trade Talks Begin as WTO Seeks Way out of Stalemate

Countries representing 70 percent of the global economy are set to negotiate lower barriers to trade in services after agreeing the structure of a deal, Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson said in an interview. The push for a deal on …

Finaccord Analyzes Prof. Indemnity Insurance in Australia, Canada, So. Africa

New research, conducted by market research consultants Finaccord, reveals that “competition among underwriters of professional indemnity insurance in Australia and Canada is at least as strong as in Europe’s more developed markets while South Africa is likely to provide growth …

Best Affirms QBE Insurance Group ‘A’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited and Australia-based QBE Insurance (International) Limited, the key operating …

Swiss Re Report Analyzes Rise in Flood Losses – $15 Billion and Counting

A new report from Swiss Re underscores the fact the “insured flood losses have increased from $1–2 billion in 1970 to $15 billion in 2011, which it describes as an “alarming rate” while posing “unique challenges for the industry” as …

Fitch Notes Reinsurers More Risk-Focused For More Asian Catastrophes

Fitch Ratings has issued a statement which points out that the “spate of Asia-Pacific catastrophes in the past two years have prompted reinsurers to take stock of their existing portfolio and re-evaluate their underwriting approach and risk appetite.” As a …

El Nino Seen Having ‘Modest Impact’ on Australia

An emerging El Nino weather pattern is likely to have only a modest impact on crops and mining in Australia and could benefit sugar cane growers in Queensland, a senior forecaster said. Drier conditions have already settled in over much …

O’Halloran Steps Down as QBE Group CEO; Neal to Replace Him

On the same day that it released its first half year earnings report for 2012, Australia’s QBE Group announced the departure of long-time Group CEO Frank O’Halloran, who has stepped down from the position as of today August 17, 2012. …

AIR Expands Suite of Catastrophe Models for Australia

Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide announced the expansion of its suite of catastrophe models for Australia “with the release of the industry’s first probabilistic bushfire model and updated tropical cyclone and earthquake models.” Dr. Jayanta Guin, senior vice president …

Australian Woman Wins Multi-million Thalidomide Payout from Diageo

An Australian woman has won a multi-million dollar payout from UK Company Diageo Plc, the local distributor of the drug Thalidomide that caused birth defects in thousand of babies around the world in the 1960s, her lawyers said on Wednesday. …