coronavirus insurance impact News

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

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 recent report. “Insurers’ decision to curb …

European Risk Mgmt Group FERMA Supports National Backstops for Future Pandemics

The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) support the development of government backstops to increase financial resilience against future pandemic risks – similar to what already exists in many countries for terrorism and natural catastrophes. While many European businesses …

New Business Interruption Insurance Poses Risks to Chinese Insurers, Says Fitch

At the direction of the Chinese government, domestic insurers started selling business interruption insurance to cover Chinese enterprises against disruptions from the coronavirus outbreak, which may have unintended consequences. Fitch Ratings cautions that the move could pose risks to the …

Coronavirus Will Cause ‘Massive’ Losses Across Insurance Industry, Says Allianz CEO

Allianz SE Chief Executive Officer Oliver Baete warned the coronavirus has upended insurers’ business models and will cause “massive” losses across the industry. The virus has forced closures across the entire economy and not just in a limited number of …

Chubb CEO Greenberg Warns Retroactive Measures Would ‘Bankrupt’ Insurance Industry

Chubb Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Evan Greenberg has a stark warning for policy makers pushing insurers to pay out some uncovered business-interruption losses. “The insurance industry is a fundamental part of the economic plumbing of this country,” Greenberg said in …

Progressive Gives $2M to Big ‘I’ Fund to Aid Agencies Affected by Coronavirus Crisis

Progressive Insurance has donated $2 million to establish the Trusted Choice COVID-19 Relief Fund in response to the economic and operational challenges the coronavirus crisis has presented to independent agencies. The grant will be dispersed directly to independent agencies via …

Analysts See Auto Insurers’ Coronavirus Rebates As a Solid Short-Term Move

Auto insurers have seen something new with the coronavirus pandemic: an historic reduction in driving due to millions of customers staying home and sheltering in place. That change led to carriers issuing between $8 billion and $10.5 billion in customer …

Arch Capital’s Estimated COVID-19 Losses During 1st Quarter Could Hit $145 Million

Arch Capital Group Ltd. said its estimated pre-tax losses for claims incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic could reach $145 million. Breaking down the total, Arch said COVID-19 claims across its property casualty insurance and reinsurance segments ranged from $85 …

UK Insurers, Banks Are Weathering Effects on Capital of COVID-19 Crisis: BoE’s Woods

Britain’s banks have enough funds to keep lending to the economy even under the deep recession scenario outlined by a government watchdog, Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods said on Wednesday. The BoE has allowed banks to tap 23 …

Pandemic Bonds Get Stay of Execution but Prospect of Wipeout Looms

A ruling last week not to wipe out holders of a World Bank financial instrument providing emergency funds to poor countries in a pandemic, was just a stay of execution if bond markets are to be believed. The riskier $95 …