South Africa News

UN Climate Talks Open in Copenhagen; Deal ‘Within Reach’

The biggest climate talks in history opened on Monday with a stark U.N. warning of the risk of desertification and rising seas and an assurance by hosts Denmark that a deal to combat climate change was “within reach”. Politicians and …

China, Other Big Developing Countries Reject Copenhagen Climate Plan

China and other big developing nations rejected core targets for a climate deal such as halving world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 just five days before talks start in Copenhagen, diplomats said Wednesday. China, the world’s top emitter, together with …

Ratings Recap: Sunderland Marine, ZEP-RE

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A’- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a-” of the UK-based Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company Limited (SMMI), both with stable outlooks. Best said it expects SMMI’s risk-adjusted capitalization “to …

Ratings Recap: Tokio Millennium Re, Nissan Global, Asia Capital, ACRe

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of’ A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Bermuda-based Tokio Millennium Re Ltd. (TMR), both with stable outlooks. Best noted that TMR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokio …

Political Risk Premiums Rising in Response to Resource Nationalism

Political risk insurance premiums have risen across emerging markets in the last year, fuelled by rising resource nationalism and unrest linked to the financial crisis as well as a renewed concern over risk amongst investors. Foreign direct investors use the …

Climate Talks Now ‘in the Balance,’ But Some Hints of Progress

Prospects for a new U.N. climate pact in December remained in the balance after talks among big emitters on Monday but with signs of action by Brazil, India and Australia. “It’s more do-able today than yesterday,” British energy and climate …

Kiln Enters Space Market

R J Kiln & Co Limited, the international insurance and reinsurance underwriting group, has announced its entry into the space market with the appointment of specialist space underwriter, Laurent Esquirol, who will write business from its Paris office. He has …

Best Affirms Ratings of Lloyd’s Syndicate 510, Kiln Group

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the Best’s Syndicate Rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” of Lloyd’s Syndicate 510, which is managed by R.J. Kiln & Co .Ltd. (R.J. Kiln). Best also affirmed the ICR …

WTO Chief Sees Trade War Risks from ‘Protectionist’ Economic Barriers

The global economic downturn is far from over, and few countries have dismantled the dangerous protectionist barriers they imposed in response to it, World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy said on Monday. In remarks to the WTO’s 153 members, Lamy …

Microinsurance Industry Sees Profits from the Poor

Slum-dweller Krustin bin Juri lost everything when floodwaters swept through his home and shop on the banks of Jakarta’s filthy Ciliwung river two years ago. But when the next flood hits, and it will because Jakarta sees frequent floods in …