financial crisis News

UK Insurance Association: Solvency II May Help or Hinder EU Growth

Amidst all the turmoil in the euro zone, the implementation of the Solvency II regulations, governing the 27 members of the European Union, including the UK, grinds inexorably forward. It is a fact of life for British insurers, and their …

Europe Moves Ahead with Fiscal Union; UK Isolated

Europe divided on Friday in a historic rift over building a fiscal union to preserve the euro, with a large majority of countries led by Germany and France agreeing to move ahead with a separate treaty, leaving Britain isolated. Twenty-three …

Best Places Generali, Main Subsidiaries’ Ratings under Review/Negative

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has taken action in the wake if the Italian financial crisis by placing the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. and its main …

Int’l Chamber of Commerce Survey: ‘World Economic Climate Has Worsened’

According to the World Economic Survey (WES), published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Munich-based Institute for Economic Research (Ifo), “the world economic climate has worsened in the fourth quarter, as indicated by increasingly negative expectations from …

IAIS Calls for Greater Scrutiny over Non-traditional Insurance

Regulators should focus on insurers’ role in markets outside their traditional sphere, as such activities could worsen the economic impact of companies in the sector going bust, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors said in a report on Tuesday. The …

Does the Legacy of the Great War Still Haunt Europe?

As Americans and much of the rest of the world pause to honor the men and women who have served their country, one is reminded of the significance of the date – November 11. 93 years ago the guns of …

Lloyd’s CFO Stresses Overall Strength after Record Loss

Lloyd’s of London reported the largest first half loss in its 323 year history yesterday, Sept. 21 – £697 million, or over $1 billion. However, Lloyd’s Chief Financial Officer, Luke Savage, was relatively calm when he spoke with the IJ …

European Central Bank Head Warns of Widening Global Imbalances

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on Sunday raised concerns about widening global imbalances after the financial crisis, calling them one of the main challenges for the global economy. Global imbalances were blamed for contributing to and aggravating the financial …

Finance Industry Warns of Transatlantic Discord over Derivative Rules

Transatlantic sniping by top policymakers could make it harder to agree new rules to crack down on derivatives, derivatives market officials said on Tuesday. “The high policy debate is going in the wrong direction right now,” said Futures and Options …

Need for Global Insurance Standards Driven by Financial Crisis, Solvency II

While the European Union is primarily focused on the approach of the Solvency II regulations in 2013, there are two additional regulatory bodies who are also considering some new rules that will affect not only the EU, but also the …