China News

Best Special Report Sees China as a Market in Transition

“The Chinese insurance market is in a state of transition: after a period of rapid expansion, the market must now adjust for sustainable and healthy growth,” concludes a special report from A.M. Best. “Since enhancing risk management and market discipline …

Aon Benfield’s Monthly Cat Recap Focuses on $7.5 Billion Asian Flood Losses

Asian flood losses during the third quarter of 2012 aggregated more than $7.5 billion in economic losses, of which China was the worst hit by two separate flood events that affected several provinces. “The most costly occurred during a six-day …

Best Upgrades Hyundai Marine & Fire, China Sub’s Ratings

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a” from “a-” of South Korea’s Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd (HMFI), as well as upgrading …

WTO Director Lamy Says Doha Round Rescue in US, China’s Hands

World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy on Monday acknowledged the Geneva-based grouping has been a “disappointing” forum for trade liberalization but placed the blame for moribund world trade talks on both China and the United States. Lamy, in a …

‘We’re an Attractive Place to do Business:’ Lloyds CEO Richard Ward

Following Lloyd’s release of its composite results for the first six months of 2012 – a £1.53 billion [$2.4 billion] profit – Lloyd’s chief executive Richard Ward was understandably pleased. In a telephone interview he explained that the figures are …

China Eases Access to Insurance, Travel industries

China has eased restrictions on foreign companies in parts of its insurance, travel and delivery industries in a possible effort to reverse a slide in investment from abroad, an American business group said Friday. Some of the measures were promised …

Commentary: Iran Confident It Is Winning Sanctions War

Despite ludicrous claims to the contrary, Western sanctions have hurt Iran’s crude oil exports, but it’s also not all gloom and doom. In unsurprising, but obviously factually incorrect, remarks, the director of international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Co. …

How Iran’s Main Oil Buyers Deal with Insurance Sanctions

Insurance companies based in the EU are not allowed to provide cover for ships that carry Iranian cargo. The EU sanctions are aimed at the protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs based in the EU, which dominate the marine insurance industry. …

Willis to Open 22nd China Office in Harbin

Willis China, part of Willis Group Holdings, announced that the Chinese Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has granted approval for it to open a new office in Harbin, a first for a foreign broker and Willis’ 22nd office in the country. …

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 …