Latest Market Headlines

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

PIA Says Hunter’s Remarks During Senate Testimony “Outrageous and Not Constructive”

Nov 19 2004 // The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents has issued a strongly worded statement admonishing, J. Robert Hunter, the insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), for statements made during...

Rated Self-Insurance Pools Outperform Commercial Insurers and Captives, A.M. Best Study Shows

Nov 18 2004 // Self-insurance pools interactively rated by A.M. Best Co. bear out the effectiveness of the stringent entrance requirements of members, focused loss-mitigation activities, and ownership interest in both the loss exposure...

Sen. Fitzgerald Says Broker Fee Scandal May End Antitrust Exemptions

Nov 17 2004 // A bulletin from the office of lame-duck Illinois Republican Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald indicates that: “It might be time to use federal antitrust enforcement to ensure that the insurance brokerage industry remains...

P&C Insurers Call for Compensation Disclosure

Nov 16 2004 // In testimony today before a Senate subcommittee, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America President and CEO Ernie Csiszar urged public policy makers to give careful consideration to efforts that make insurance...

Spitzer Sues Universal Life Resources over Broker Pay

Nov 15 2004 // A California-based company that brokers life, accident and disability policies for leading U.S. companies pocketed millions of dollars a year in hidden payments from insurers and from charges on clients’ unsuspecting...

Canadian P&C Insurance Industry Promises to Unveil Disclosure Plan Today

Nov 12 2004 // On November 12, 2004, insurance industry representatives will unveil what they say is a plan to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to ensuring that Ontario consumers enjoy the highest level of transparency and...

Canadian Insurance Industry Announces Disclosure Plan

Nov 12 2004 // The Insurance Bureau of Canada today revealed details of a plan to provide enhanced clarity and access to information in insurance sales and service. Components of the plan include a Code of Consumer Rights and...

Dallas to Host National Town Hall Meeting – ‘Connecting the Global Economy Through Insurance’

Nov 9 2004 // The Dallas All Industry Day event for 2004, sponsored by state and local insurance organizations, will focus on national and global economic issues and its infrastructure, the insurance industry.Entitled “Connecting...

Big ‘I’ Panelists Concerned About Terrorism, Asbestos, Tort Reform

Nov 8 2004 // Terrorism, asbestos and tort reform will be key industry concerns according to five insurance company CEOs participating in a panel discussion during last month’s Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of...

The October Surprise

Nov 8 2004 // In a not-so-far-away land not too long ago, insurance professionals were decrying the actions of high ranking officers of companies like Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, etc., for their challenged ethics, their “I’m on...

Looking at the Med-Mal Crisis from Both Sides

Nov 8 2004 // Insurance Journal National Editor Andrea Ortega-Wells recently moderated a “Take Two” debate discussing the hot topic of medical malpractice, and what, if any, reforms are needed. The debate features Paula...

Legislative watchdogs put a fresh spin on traditional lobbying techniques

Nov 8 2004 // Lobbying has been around for as long as any single profession has been around, but it has changed. It isn’t what it used to be,” said John Norwood, managing partner of Norwood & Mattoch, one of...

IICF Bridge Week Celebration: A Look at the Public and the Industry

Nov 8 2004 // The nearest way to come at glory is to do for conscience what you would do for glory,” said Gordon Stewart, president of the Insurance Information Institute (III), at the Insurance Industry Charitable...

R.I. Official Plans Bill Banning ‘Incentive Fees’

Nov 5 2004 // In the wake of the ongoing insurance brokerage probe involving bid rigging and incentive payments, Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown is proposing legislation to prohibit insurance industry “incentive...

MarketScout: Bid Rigging, Incentive Commissions, Hurricanes and a Presidential Election Impact P/C Market

Nov 4 2004 // According to Richard Kerr, chairman and CEO of MarketScout, an online insurance exchange with more than 50,000 users, the October 2004 composite rate for U.S. property and casualty insurance is 2%, down from 12% in October...

Republican Candidates Win ‘Big Time’ in Insurance Industry Political Giving in Federal Races

Nov 2 2004 // The late U.S. House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill (D-Mass.) is famous for insisting, “All politics is local.” Apparently, O’Neill wasn’t counting the money. When it comes to...

Ethics Called Bottom Line Issue for Entire Insurance Industry

Oct 29 2004 // The current investigations of the insurance industry emphasize the need for stricter adherence to ethical market conduct standards, Brian Atchinson, executive director of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association...

London’s Muted Reaction to Spitzer Investigations

Oct 28 2004 // The London market in general and Lloyd’s in particular has not been overly verbose in commenting on New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s ongoing investigation of the insurance industry. Apart from a...

Delehoy Joins Insurance Industry Charitable Fund

Oct 28 2004 // Moraga, Calif.-based Insurance Industry Charitable Fund announced the addition of Bonnie Delehoy as vice president of development and partner relations. In this new full-time position, Delehoy will be responsible for...

CPCU Society Board of Governors Issues Ethics Policy Statement During Meeting

Oct 26 2004 // The Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters Society (CPCU Society) Board of Governors voted unanimously to publicly denounce all practices or systems that violate its code of ethics.In a policy statement issued...