Latest Japan Headlines

All the headlines from our Japan Topic Page, ordered by recency.

AIG Expects ‘Minimal’ Effects from Japan Claims

Mar 24 2011 // American International Group Inc. said Wednesday it expects “minimal net effects” from the recent earthquake and tsunami on the financial condition of its local Japanese operations, including those of Fuji Fire...

Nuclear Agency to Conduct Safety Check of U.S. Plants

Mar 24 2011 // The top U.S. nuclear regulator Wednesday approved the launch of a safety review of U.S. nuclear reactors sought by President Barack Obama in response to the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima plant.The Nuclear...

Insurer Shares Relatively Unaffected by Japan Damage Estimates

Mar 23 2011 // Insurer shares largely shrugged off the industry’s first round of damage estimates from this month’s earthquake in Japan, which may prove to be the world’s costliest disaster.Munich Re and Hannover Re,...

Munich Re Estimates Japan Quake, Tsunami Claims over $2 Billion

Mar 23 2011 // Munich Re announced that it has estimated its claims burden from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan at around €1.5 billion [$2.128 billion], after retrocession and before tax.As a result Munich Re said its “profit...

Hannover Re Estimates Japan Quake, Tsunami Losses at $355 Million

Mar 23 2011 // Hannover Re announced that, “based on its analysis of individual treaties,” its loss expenditure from the Japan earthquake is expected to be around €250 million [$355 million] after retrocessions and before...

Japan Govt. Estimates Quake, Tsunami Damages at $185 to $308 Billion

Mar 23 2011 // The Japanese government on Wednesday estimated the direct damage from a deadly earthquake and tsunami that struck the country’s northeast this month at 16-25 trillion yen ($185-$308 billion), making it the...

Platinum Estimates NZ Quake, Aus. Flood Losses at $160 Million; Assessing Japan

Mar 23 2011 // Bermuda-based Platinum Underwriters Holdings has announced that it currently expects the 2011 Australian floods and Cyclone Yasi and the 2011 New Zealand earthquake will “have a net negative impact of approximately...

Japan Disaster Shows up Flaws in ‘Just-in-time’ Production

Mar 22 2011 // Just over a week after the massive earthquake hit the sprawling Texas Instruments chip plant here, a gardener is reworking the Japanese garden in an inner courtyard of the office tower attached to the plant.The garden is a...

U.S. Nuclear Plants to Undergo Safety Reviews

Mar 21 2011 // The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a “comprehensive review” of the safety of all U.S. nuclear plants following what U.S. officials are calling the dangerous and complicated situation at...

S&P Says Rating Actions on Japan Insurers Unlikely

Mar 21 2011 // Standard & Poor’s Tokyo office has issued a comment noting that by some estimates the total damages from the March 11 Japanese earthquake and the fires and tsunami that followed “could hit at least $100...

Swiss Re Estimates Japan Earthquake, Tsunami Claims at $1.2 Billion

Mar 21 2011 // Swiss Re has released a preliminary estimate of its claims costs, net of retrocession and before tax, from the earthquake and the tsunami in Japan of $1.2 billion. The reinsurer cautioned that these “estimates are...

Western U.S. Tsunami Damage Exceeds $50 Million

Mar 21 2011 // Tsunami waves following Japan’s massive earthquake are estimated to have caused more than $50 million in damage in the Western United States, according to local officials.In Hawaii, Gov. Neil Abercrombie issued an...

Be Prepared

Mar 21 2011 // Insurers and reinsurers may have sufficient funds to absorb losses from Japan’s 9.1 magnitude earthquake, yet the impact of the quake and resulting tsunami and fires are a stark reminder that it’s important to...

AIG Estimates $1 Billion in Q1 Catastrophe Losses, Most from Japan

Mar 20 2011 // American International Group Inc. said it would post an estimated $1 billion in pre-tax catastrophe losses in the first quarter, mostly from exposure to the March 11 earthquake in Japan.AIG said its exposure would be about...

RAA Affirms Industry Can Handle Japan Catastrophe

Mar 18 2011 // The Reinsurance Association of America has issued a reassuring bulletin that the industry can not only cope with the recent losses from the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, but will also remain prepared to handle...

Marsh Warns Japan Disaster Could Disrupt Global Supply Chain

Mar 18 2011 // A bulletin from Marsh warns that “organizations need to prepare for the possibility of an extended disruption to global supply chains resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Thousands of multinational...

Lloyd’s Chaucer Lowers NZ Quake, Aus. Flood Loss Estimates; Assessing Japan

Mar 18 2011 // Chaucer Holdings PLC, the specialist Lloyd’s insurance group, has announced that it has reduced its best estimate for claims arising from the 2010 New Zealand earthquake and Australian floods.Chaucer previously...

Everest Re Puts NZ Quake Losses at $140 to $210 Million; CEO Comments on Japan

Mar 18 2011 // The Bermuda-based Everest Re Group announced that its preliminary loss estimate for exposures relating to the earthquake that occurred near Christchurch, New Zealand in February is “in the range of $140 million to...

Supply Chain Concerns Grow as Japan Lacks Parts, Power, People

Mar 18 2011 // From Apple’s new iPad to Chevrolet pick-ups and many of the world’s airplane kitchens, concern is spreading down the global manufacturing supply chain about the impact from Japan’s earthquake last...

EU Regulator: ‘No Major Threat’ to Europe’s Insurers from Japan Crisis

Mar 17 2011 // European insurers face no major threat from the turmoil ensuing from last week’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the European Union’s insurance watchdog said on Thursday.“From a European viewpoint, the...