Research and Trends News

Melting Greenland Has Lost 1 Trillion Tons More Ice Than Previously Thought

The Greenland ice sheet, an expanse of frozen water about three times the size of Texas, is disappearing much faster than previously thought, according to new research, and the difference may already be affecting the distribution of heat around the …

Near Record Jump in CO2 Emissions This Year Risks Climate Goal

Carbon dioxide emissions are on track for one of the biggest increases on record this year, pushing the planet closer to catastrophic climate change. That jump is the result human-induced pollution, plus the El Niño weather pattern, which weakens the …

Another View: Yes, P/C Industry Underwriting Profit Will Be Back in ’24

Not all analysts think an underwriting profit is out of reach for 2024. While a recent forecast from Fitch Ratings puts the 2024 combined ratio above 100, an improvement from 2023, a report by Swiss Re Institute projects both 2024 …

Secondary Perils Drive Global Insured Losses to Estimated $123B in 2023: Gallagher Re

Non-peak (secondary) perils and record-setting weather and climate events drove global insured losses from natural catastrophes to an estimated $123 billion in 2023, the fourth consecutive year to exceed $100 billion, according to Gallagher Re’s annual Natural Catastrophe and Climate …

Storm Henk Causes Estimated £150 Million in UK Insured Losses: PwC

Storm Henk, which battered Britain last week, caused around 150 million pounds ($190 million) in insured losses and damaged around 2,000 properties, consultants PwC said on Wednesday. Heavy rain caused major rivers to burst their banks and the government issued …

Extreme Weather and Misinformation Top Global Risks: World Economic Forum

Risk specialists see extreme weather and misinformation as most likely to trigger a global crisis in the next couple of years, a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey released on Wednesday said. While extreme weather was identified as the bigger risk …

Insured Price Tag for Natural Disasters Was $95B in 2023 With Economic Cost of $250B

Natural catastrophes in 2023 caused global economic losses of US$250 billion, with insurers and reinsurers paying US$95 billion of that amount, according to Munich Re. Last year’s insured losses of US$95 billion are close to the five-year average of US$105 …

AM Best: Japan Quake’s Effect on Insurers ‘Manageable; KCC Says Losses to Hit $6.4B

The earnings impact on the major domestic non-life insurers of claims from the Jan. 1, 2024 earthquake in Japan is expected to be manageable relative to the sector’s net profit, according to AM Best in a market commentary. Japan’s four …

January’s Property Cat Renewals See Biggest Price Hikes in Turkey, Italy and US

While the reinsurance market indeed stabilized during the January 2024 reinsurance renewals (from the chaotic January renewals of last year), buyers with loss-affected programs experienced further upward pressure on retentions and prices, according to reinsurance brokers in comments about the …

A Return to Balance: Brokers Say Reinsurance Renewals Were ‘Stable’

This year’s January reinsurance renewals were described by brokers as “stable,” “predictable,” “orderly,” “calmer,” “disciplined,” with “increased appetites” and a return to supply/demand balance. What a difference in tone from last year’s grueling January renewals. “In a marked change on …