All the headlines from our AM Best Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Jul 23 2015 // The property insurance market in Florida has significantly shifted in market share as Citizens Property Insurance Corp. (Citizens)—the state-run property insurance company—continues to depopulate and move policyholders...
Jul 21 2015 // As Brazil’s sovereign ratings hover just above non-investment grade status, A. M. Best said it is considering the effect a future sovereign downgrade would have on rated re/insurers’ balance sheets and...
Jul 20 2015 // Merger and takeover activity is likely to continue in the coming months as re/insurers increasingly seek ways to deploy capital and create scale against a backdrop of ongoing soft market conditions and weak investment...
Jul 14 2015 // The recent volatility of China’s stock market is not expected to affect the ratings of domestic insurers, according to a new briefing issued by A.M. Best*.Putting the volatility into context, A.M. Best noted that the...
Jul 10 2015 // The impact of Greece exiting the eurozone is likely to hit market confidence in the region, although (re)insurers operating in the economic bloc are well positioned to withstand a continued period of volatility, according...
Jun 23 2015 // The low interest rate environment represents a significant challenge for insurers, according to a report published by A.M. Best.“European insurers are struggling to generate investment income as the majority of their...
Jun 16 2015 // Low interest rates together with highly liquid and stable financial markets have prompted European insurers to tap the capital markets in their efforts to lower the cost of capital and optimize levels of risk-adjusted...
Jun 2 2015 // Trading conditions are difficult in the London market as insurers contend with changing buying habits, an influx of alternative capital and global economic uncertainty, according to a special report published by A.M....
May 26 2015 // Although fluctuating oil prices threaten Nigeria’s economic expansion, the country’s insurance sector offers significant potential for foreign investors attempting to build a profile in the market, according to...
May 22 2015 // A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a” to Coverys Specialty Insurance Company. The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable.Coverys Specialty...
May 21 2015 // A.M. Best has upgraded the issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) of Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina (Medical...
May 18 2015 // Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity and stakebuilding is gaining momentum in the Middle East as financially strong and profitable insurers seek to deploy surplus capital to broaden their profiles and satisfy...
May 12 2015 // A string of recent major natural catastrophe events in Australia is expected to materially affect non-life insurers’ upcoming earnings for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2015, according to an A.M....
May 8 2015 // A.M. Best’s analysis of the damages caused by the earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, describes the “significant property damages and fatalities in the Himalayan country.” However, no accurate...
May 1 2015 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and the issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. and Georgia...
Apr 17 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb-” from “bbb+” of Specialty Risk of America (SPRISKA) in...
Apr 14 2015 // The significant premium growth in the global takaful sector is expected to continue and reach USD$20 billion by 2017, with the majority of that increase originating from Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, according to a new A.M....
Apr 13 2015 // The nonstandard auto market is not for every carrier or agency. Since 2007, carriers writing nonstandard auto policies have reported deteriorating operating performance and many have struggled to maintain market share.But...
Apr 10 2015 // The purchase of reinsurance by Indonesian non-life insurers is high, which could have a significant effect on capital requirements and magnify the capital impact of changes to reinsurance asset quality, according to anA.M....
Apr 9 2015 // While the planned year-end timeline for 10 Southeast Asia nations forging ahead under a single, open economic market appears to be slipping, the region’s insurance industry has reached common ground on the benefits...