Financial News

Canada Revenue Agency Confirms Barbados Insurers Exempt Status

The Canada Revenue Authority (CRA) confirmed that Barbados insurance companies including Exempt Insurance Companies (EIC) and Qualifying Insurance Companies (QIC) are “liable to tax” under paragraph IV (1) of the 1980 Barbados-Canada Double Taxation Agreement and can generate exempt earnings …

Aon Benfield Launches New ‘ReMetrica’ Model for Solvency II

Aon Benfield’s London office announced the launch of its new Solvency II-focused version 5 of ReMetrica, its dynamic financial analysis tool for capital modeling. ReMetrica has evolved to help re/insurers meet the proposed regulatory requirements under Solvency II and to …

European Union Faces Both a Debt and a Communication Crisis

The European Union has deployed billions of euros and endless words to try to contain its sovereign debt crisis this year, but poor communication and bad timing have left financial markets unconvinced. The communications problems haven’t caused the crisis — …

U.S. Treasury Hires Adviser to Sell Government’s Shares in AIG

The U.S. Treasury hired Greenhill & Co. to help it dispose of its investment in bailed-out insurer American International Group, which the Treasury will own 92.1 percent of from early next year. The 18-month contract is dated Nov. 18, though …

Swiss Re: Investment Managers Face ‘New, Challenging Environment’

Swiss Re’s latest sigma study, #5/2010, – “Insurance investment in a challenging global environment” – warns that a “low yield environment coupled with tighter regulatory standards could hamper insurers’ investment returns, leading to lower profits for the industry and higher …

Markets, Partners Relieved as EU, Ireland Form Rescue Plan

Financial markets rallied slightly and European Union partners voiced relief on Monday after Ireland agreed in principle on a three-year bailout package with the EU and the IMF to salvage its shattered banks. European shares rose 0.7 percent in early …

Allianz Warns Climate Change Could Hit Harder than Financial Crisis

As the UN climate summit in Cancun approaches, the insurance industry is preparing to present its case to the poiticians, business leaders and scientists, who will be attending. “As an insurer, we are the frontline industry to feel the heat …

Moody’s: P/C Insurers’ Losses Under Municipal Bonds Manageable

U.S. property/casualty insurers are not likely to sustain substantial losses on municipal bonds, Moody’s Investors Service says in a new report. While muni bonds make up a high 27 percent of P/C insurers’ invested assets, credit losses would be manageable …

Property/Casualty Insurance Premiums Grew Modestly in Q3

The U.S. property and casualty industry continued to experience modest growth in premiums written while essentially breaking even on underwriting with a calendar year combined ratio of approximately 100 percent, according to an SNL Financial analysis of preliminary third-quarter statutory …

AXA Seminar Details Growth, Capital Management Strategy

France’s AXA Group held its Autumn Investor Seminar in Paris on Monday, at which members of the insurer’s management team presented an update on its growth and capital management strategy, as well as the priorities of its Life & Savings …