Latest Market Headlines

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

Fitch’s Reinsurance Outlook Remains Negative, Despite Entry into Hard Market Phase

Sep 11 2020 // Fitch Ratings said yesterday its ratings outlook for companies in the global reinsurance sector will continue to remain negative as a result of hefty coronavirus claims and low interest rates.The good news for companies,...

Hurricane Irma’s ‘Last Gasp’: 3-Year Claims Deadline Put to the Test

Sep 10 2020 // It’s been 3 years since Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, and the trail of damage left in its wake is still being felt across the state today, particularly by the insurance industry as it...

COVID-19 Takes Toll on Canada’s Auto, Life Insurers

Sep 10 2020 // Canada’s property/casualty insurance industry thus far has fared better than its life counterpart amid the economic and market dynamics created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an AM Best report.In its...

Social Inflation, Low Interest Rates, Rising Catastrophes: Recipe for a Hard Market

Sep 9 2020 // Even before the coronavirus crisis hit, the re/insurance industry was in a period of significant rate hardening, which will likely continue over the next two years, or even longer, according to Munich Re.Such price...

FAIA Chief Grady Says Goodbye, Shares Top Moments in 22-Year Career

Sep 7 2020 // For 22 years, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents has been led by Jeff Grady, president and chief executive officer, who admits that when he started all those years ago he did not expect to “fall in love with...

Cannabis Broker Spotlight: AlphaRoot’s Bock Approaches Space with Teacher Mindset

Sep 2 2020 // Editor’s note: This part of a series of profiles on cannabis brokers, in which Insurance Journal explores why and how these folks got into the business, the ups and downs of insuring cannabis, as well as a few tips...

Insurers Say They’re Having Trouble Recruiting New Employees

Sep 2 2020 // U.S. insurers want to fill existing positions or expand their staffs over the next year but say they are still having trouble recruiting, even during the COVID-19 pandemic where unemployment has skyrocketed, according to a...

How to Build an Insurance or Any Business with Community at the Center

Aug 28 2020 // It’s a common corporate practice to use philanthropic pursuits to improve both their communities and public images. Some organizations donate both funding and manpower through formal philanthropy programs. Others...

As FAIA Chief Grady Says Goodbye, He Shares His Top 10 Moments

Aug 27 2020 // For 22 years, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents has been led by Jeff Grady, president and chief executive officer, who admits that when he started all those years ago he did not expect to “fall in love with...

101 Sales, Marketing & Agency Management Ideas

Aug 24 2020 // 1. Offset Negativity. What can you show your clients that you are doing to help them during the pandemic? Everyone is tired of hearing how all their business income (BI) claims are denied. What are you doing to offset all...

Middle East Insurers Likely to Absorb Bulk of Losses from Beirut Port Blast: Sources

Aug 14 2020 // Insurers in the Middle East are expected to absorb a large part of the losses from Beirut’s explosion last week with Lloyd’s of London and other international players expected to be less exposed, insurance...

Cyber Lessons for the Insurance Industry Continue Three Years After NotPetya

Aug 12 2020 // This summer marks three years since the NotPetya malware attack, which has been called the most devastating cyber attack in history. While cyber experts say cybersecurity and prevention strategies have since evolved in...

California Bill Addressing Property Rates in Wildfire-Prone Areas Awaits Hearing

Aug 11 2020 // The stage has been set for a major battle over a California bill due to be heard in the next few weeks in a key committee that opponents say is a direct attack on insurance consumer protections and proponents say is the...

The Future of Insurance Industry Will Not Be Decided by Insurtechs Alone: Viewpoint

Aug 6 2020 // Insurtech was once the Wild West of the insurance industry. Many of insurtech’s early players came from outside insurance after observing the industry struggle to deliver what was, in their view, a competitive...

After Beirut Port Explosion, AM Best Comments on Potential Insurance Exposures

Aug 6 2020 // The devastating explosion at the Beirut’s port on Tuesday, Aug. 4 caused many casualties and considerable damage, but local insurance penetration rates in Lebanon generally are low, said AM Best in a market...

AXA XL Presents New Leadership Team for Americas

Jul 27 2020 // As part of the proposed changes to its insurance operating model announced in April, AXA XL has appointed its new Americas leadership team, reporting to Joe Tocco, chief executive officer for the Americas.The appointments...

Brit’s Digital Syndicate Ki Taps Hearsum from Marsh JLT Specialty as Managing Director

Jul 22 2020 // Ki, the first fully digital and algorithmically driven Lloyd’s of London syndicate, launched in collaboration with Brit Ltd. and Google Cloud, has announced the appointment of Dan Hearsum as managing director....

Personal Lines Insurance Poised to Turn Profit in 2020 As Auto Claims Fall: Fitch

Jul 20 2020 // After a profitable 2019, the U.S. personal lines insurance sector is positioned to see underwriting profits in 2020 even with considerable economic uncertainty from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from...

Pandemic Changes

Jul 20 2020 // The coronavirus experience has changed how most people view life and work. The biggest change is that many insurance industry pros have learned that they can do their job from home, and most, but not all, seem to enjoy...

The Class of 2020: Capital Raising for Existing Firms or Insurance Startups?

Jul 16 2020 // Even though accelerating hard market conditions may seem ideal for a growing crop of professionals with designs on starting up insurance and reinsurance companies, garnering AM Best ratings still won’t be easy for...