Insurers News

Broker/Analyst Cheuvreux Urges Buffett to ‘Come to Europe’

Warren Buffett should come to Europe to tap regional champions at knock-down valuations, including in his favored sectors, Cheuvreux analysts said in an open ‘letter’ to the billionaire U.S. investor detailing their seven top picks. The firm, CA Cheuvreux, a …

ABI Assures UK Flood Victims Insurers Ready to Help

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued a bulletin advising “anyone who has suffered flood damage as a result of the heavy rain that has so far hit Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England to contact their insurer as …

Weak Markets to Hobble Canadian Insurer Results

Canadian insurers are looking at a bleak quarter of financial results due to a sharp drop in stock markets and bond yields, and analysts are staying cautious on the stocks even at rock-bottom valuations. Sun Life Financial , Canada’s No. …

Best’s Managing Director-Europe: Solvency II is Coming to an Insurer near You

Stefan Holzberger, A.M. Best’s managing director-analytics, recently moved to London from the U.S. He is well placed to analyze the impact of the European Union’s Solvency II regulations, not only on the Europeans, who are directly affected, but also on …

2,100 Jobs Lost in Insurance Industry in August

The latest U.S. jobs data show the insurance industry lost 2,100 jobs overall in August. The industry employs some 2,211,000 workers according to the latest numbers. The Insurance Information Institute reported that most of the sub-sectors had gained some jobs …

IAIS Study Indicates Big Insurers May Not Face Same Capital Rules as Banks

Insurance companies judged too big to fail are likely to face different rules than their banking counterparts, who were told this week that they will be subject capital surcharges, insurance industry standard setters said on Friday. The International Association of …

U.S. Municipal Bond Market Shrinks

The size of the U.S. municipal bond market shrank to $2.89 trillion in the second quarter of 2011 from $2.91 trillion in the first quarter, Federal Reserve data showed Friday. It was the second quarterly contraction in a row, although …

Insurers in Delaware Diocese Bankruptcy Balk at $15 Million Payout

A dispute over insurance payments is threatening to blow up the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington’s bankruptcy reorganization plan. Under the plan, the diocese, its parishes and affiliated entities, would be released from legal claims related to priest sex abuse in …

Best Report Concludes Canada’s Insurers Improve, But Risk Profile Rises

A report from A.M. Best concludes that the Canadian insurance industry “continued to improve in 2010, exhibiting strong capitalization and favorable overall profitability, aided by Canada’s relatively strong economic recovery. Although the life insurance industry is on firmer ground, its …

Insurers Contribute over $17 Billion to UK Economy

The Association of British Insurers notes that the industry made a “total contribution of £10.4 billion [$17.21 billion] to the Exchequer – which would cover the entire £10.2 billion [$16.9 billion] Home Office budget. Insurance companies in the Hundred Group …