Earthquakes News

Japan Quake Reveals Cracks in Insurance System – Part II

The first part of this article appeared on the IJ’s web site on April 5. PRICE PRESSURE Earthquakes may not be linked to each other, but they are linked to the financial markets, as anyone who has invested in insurers …

Japan Quake Reveals Cracks in Insurance System – Part I

Michael Korn is a popular person these days, which is perhaps not too surprising considering what he does for a living and where he lives. Korn is an insurance broker in earthquake-prone San Francisco. “We’re pretty busy,” he said of …

Amlin Estimates Claims from Q1 Catastrophes

Specialist insurer Amlin plc has released initial estimates of the impact of the 2011 New Zealand earthquake, the Japanese earthquake and the 2011 Queensland floods. The bulletin described the 2011 New Zealand earthquake as a “major catastrophe with market loss …

Aon Benfield Report: Despite Catastrophes, Reinsurance Rates Remain Stable

Aon Benfield’s most recent evaluation of the state of the reinsurance market, as of April 1, concludes that it performed “as intended through recent events,” and that it continues “to provide stability and accretive capital to insurers.” While the conclusion …

Lloyd’s Director Luke Savage on 2010 Results, Japan, What’s Ahead

His voice was a little husky, but Luke Savage – Lloyd’s Director of Finance, Risk Management and Operations – was still pleased to talk to the IJ about Lloyd’s financial results for 2010, which were released on Wednesday, March 30. …

Willis Re: Japan Quake Not Enough to Turn Soft Market

A report from Willis Re, the reinsurance brokerage arm of Willis Group Holdings, notes that “relatively orderly price movements at the April 1 Japanese reinsurance renewals reveal that the Tohoku Earthquake is not the catalyst that will bring about a …

2010 Nat Cats, Disasters Cost $218 Bn – $43 Bn Insured; Says Swiss Re

According to Swiss Re’s latest sigma study, worldwide economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters were $218 billion in 2010, more than triple the 2009 figure of $68 billion. The losses cost the global insurance industry more than $43 …

Arkansas Earthquakes Decline After Injection Well Closures

The number and strength of earthquakes in central Arkansas have noticeably dropped since the shutdown of two injection wells in the area, although a state researcher says it’s too early to draw any conclusions. “We have definitely noticed a reduction …

AIR’s Japan Quake/Tsunami Insured Loss Estimates: $15 Billion to $35 Billion

Boston-based catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide’s most recent statement, based on “currently available information, estimates that insured property losses from the Mw9.1 earthquake that struck Japan on Friday will range between 1.2 trillion JPY to 2.8 trillion JPY. Using today’s …

Omega Raises NZ Quake Estimates to $16.8 Million; Australia Floods

Bermuda-based Omega Insurance Holdings Limited, which is also a leading LLoyd’s insurer, has issued a revised estimate of the losses it expects to incur from claims related to the earthquake, which struck New Zealand on Sept. 4. Omega explained that …