Research and Trends News

MGAs: An All-Weather Distribution Channel for Soft and Hard Markets

Many reinsurers across the globe increasingly have been doing business with certain select managing general agents (MGAs), seen as market innovators, by reinsuring the fronting insurers that provide the paper for MGAs to underwrite. In recent years, it is a …

Global Reinsurers’ Capital Levels Drop by 11% During H1, Hit by Declines in Markets

Global reinsurers’ capital levels dropped by 11% in the first half of 2022 to $647 billion, hurt by market declines, though higher interest rates helped their liability positions, broker Gallagher Re said on Tuesday. Reinsurers, who insure the insurers, have …

Fire a Growing Risk to Shipping Because of Lithium-ion Batteries, Allianz Says

Fire has always been a peril for shipping, but the advent of lithium-ion batteries has elevated the risk to the point that it now is the most expensive cause of loss for the industry, according to a new bulletin issued …

Reinsurers Adopt Divergent Strategies About Natural Catastrophe Exposures: S&P

The natural catastrophe business of global reinsurers has been reshaped by five years of higher-than-expected losses, which is leading reinsurers to adopt divergent strategies – either diving in to write more business at higher premiums or reducing their exposure, according …

Greenland’s Melting ‘Zombie Ice’ Will Raise Global Sea Level by 10 Inches: Report

Greenland’s rapidly melting ice sheet will eventually raise global sea level by at least 10.6 inches (27 centimeters) — more than twice as much as previously forecast, according to a study published Monday. That’s because of something that could be …

Droughts, Floods, Other Water-Related Disasters Could Cost Economy $5.6T by 2050

Worsening droughts, storms and torrential rain in some of the world’s largest economies could cause $5.6 trillion in losses to the global economy by 2050, according to a report released on Monday. This year heavy rains have triggered floods that …

Rising Premiums, Low Catastrophe Losses Boost U.S., Bermuda Reinsurers’ H1 Profits

U.S. and Bermuda reinsurers reported strong operating performance for the first six months of 2022, supported by continued pricing increases in most reinsurance and specialty lines of business as well as tighter terms and conditions and low catastrophe losses, according …

Rising Inflation to Hit Profits of European P/C Insurers: GlobalData

Rising inflation in Europe, which jumped to 8.9% in July 2022, the highest in 25 years, will hurt the profitability of property/casualty insurers in 2022-24, according to the London-based data and analytics company GlobalData. Premium growth is expected to be …

Europe’s Drought May Be Worst in 500 Years: Report

Europe is currently in the throes of a drought that appears to be the worst in at least 500 years, according to a preliminary analysis by experts from the European Union’s Joint Research Center. Some 64% of the EU is …

Reinsurance Capital To Drop $40 Billion at Year-End 2022: AM Best

AM Best estimates that traditional reinsurance capital will drop by roughly $40 billion to $435 billion at year-end 2022, after hefty jumps recorded in each of the prior three years. The projected 8.4% decline to $435 billion for 2022 from …