Insurers News

Geneva Association Reminds Federal Reserve Insurers Aren’t Banks

The Swiss-based insurance think tank Geneva Association has followed up on its recent report as to whether or not some insurers should be considered as G-SIFI’s (globally systemic important financial institutions). The Association has sent a letter to the Federal …

Microinsurance in Rapid Expansion Says ILO, Munich Re Report

According to the Microinsurance Innovation Facility of the International Labor Organization and the Munich Re Foundation, “the number of microinsurance schemes worldwide has increased substantially over the past five years and now reaches an estimated 500 million worldwide.” Microinsurance has …

Celent Survey Forecasts Insurers to Spend $140.6 Billion on Technology in 2012

Global information technology spending by insurance companies is expected to reach $140.6 billion in 2012, an increase of 6.3 percent over 2011, according to a new report from Celent, part of the Oliver Wyman (MMC) group. The figure is substantially …

Allianz Teams with Experts to Assess Climate Change Impact on Insurers

Europe’s largest insurer, Germany’s Allianz SE, posed the following question: “How does climate change affect the business model of a large insurance company?” In order to find the answers Allianz announced that it’s now part of a “unique consortium including …

ABI Warns of Increased Flood Risks in England and Wales

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has warned that the flood risk faced by communities in political constituencies across England and Wales presents a “worrying”‘ situation. It selected “Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire as the constituency with the most homes …

Cruise Liners Need Tighter Safety Rules Say Marine Insurers

Passenger ship operators should tighten up safety procedures and crew training standards to prevent a repeat of the Costa Concordia shipwreck, potentially the costliest marine insurance loss on record, shipping insurers said on Tuesday, “In the past, we have raised …

Best Performs Added Stress Testing Due to Europe’s Economic Uncertainty

A.M. Best Co. announced that it has performed additional stress tests of the balance sheets of insurers’ exposure to euro zone debt as economic conditions within the region continue to worsen. Best has published the results of the findings in …

Insurers Bracing for Thai Flood Claims over $10 Billion

Insurers are bracing themselves for claims in excess of $10 billion after floods in Thailand disabled major foreign-owned manufacturing operations there, adding to an already record-breaking natural catastrophe bill this year. Analysts and industry executives say it is too soon …

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 …

AIR Updates Analysis of Thai ‘Historic’ Flooding; BI Will Impact Insurers

According to catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide, “historic flooding in Thailand continues to damage residential properties and has interrupted operations for numerous businesses. At the start of this year’s monsoon season in late July, Tropical Storm Nock-Ten brought high precipitation …