Latest S&P Headlines

All the headlines from our S&P Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Reinsurers’ Profits in Danger of Falling Below Their Cost of Capital: S&P

Sep 6 2016 // Reinsurers’ profits will soon drop below their cost of capital* and could remain there until the underwriting and/or investment cycles turn, according to Standard & Poor’s in a new report.S&P attributed...

Banks Hike Caps on Directors’ Pay Hoping to Fend Off Lawsuits

Sep 2 2016 // Over the past two years, a growing number of U.S. banks has capped their directors’ earnings, but the ceilings are so high that they primarily serve to fend off potential shareholder litigation rather than control...

Cat Bonds Match Traditional Reinsurers on Reliability Scale: S&P

Sep 1 2016 // Some traditional reinsurers have asserted that catastrophe bonds are unreliable in terms of paying claims after major events. A new Standard & Poor’s article rebukes that idea.“We have explored the claims...

Reinsurers’ Strong Enterprise Risk Management Key to Success – and Survival: S&P

Aug 22 2016 // The reinsurance sector’s focus on strong enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks is helping them weather the many headwinds hitting both the asset and liability sides of their balance sheets, according to a...

Reinsurers May Reassess Cat Exposures When Normal Claims Levels Return: S&P

Aug 17 2016 // Most global reinsurers have been able to maintain underwriting discipline despite the ongoing soft market, but there is a danger that their profits could be hit if the current benign period of natural catastrophes returns...

Rough Ride for P/C Insurers in 2016, Warns S&P

Aug 8 2016 // This year could be a tough one for U.S. property/casualty insurers, as catastrophe losses, private passenger insurance woes and declining bond yields erode underwriting results and profitability, according to a report by...

Sports-Related Brain Injuries Are Emerging Risk for US & UK Insurers: S&P Report

Aug 1 2016 // Sports-related brain injuries are one of the top emerging insurance claims in the U.S. and the U.K., according to a report published by S&P Global Ratings.While the potential risk of such liability claims is rising...

Fosun Plans to Sell as Much as $6 Billion in Assets to Raise Credit Rating

Aug 1 2016 // Fosun Group, one of China’s most acquisitive conglomerates, is preparing to sell as much as 40 billion yuan ($6 billion) in assets as it focuses on raising its credit rating to above junk.After announcing more than...

P/C Insurers Face Tough Sledding in 2016, Warns S&P

Jul 26 2016 // This year could be a tough one for U.S. property/casualty insurers as catastrophe losses, private passenger insurance woes and declining bond yields erode underwriting results and profitability, according to a report by...

S&P: Private Flood Insurance Products to Trickle In Slowly

Jul 11 2016 // Opening U.S. flood insurance to private insurers won’t lead to a surge of new market entrants, Standard & Poor’s asserts in a new report.Even if Congress passes legislation to make the change as it is...

Hedge Fund Insurers Struggle in Crowded Market with Poor Investment Results: S&P

Jul 7 2016 // Hedge fund firms that set up reinsurance companies will struggle because too many rivals had the same idea and investment results have been disappointing, according to a report from S&P Global Ratings.Money managers...

S&P and Fitch Chop Britain’s ‘AAA’ Rating After Brexit Vote

Jun 28 2016 // Britain suffered further blows to its economic standing on Monday as two top ratings agencies downgraded its sovereign credit score, judging last week’s vote to leave the European Union would hurt its...

Re/Insurance Business Leaders Begin to Comment on Post-Brexit World

Jun 24 2016 // The UK joined the European Union in January 1973, and yesterday, the UK public voted to leave. After 43 years of marriage, the divorce proceedings will soon begin.No one knows how long it will take for the UK to untangle...

Don’t Expect Surge of Private Flood Insurance Products: S&P

Jun 21 2016 // Opening U.S. flood insurance to private insurers won’t lead to a surge of new market entrants, Standard & Poor’s asserts in a new report.Even if Congress passes legislation to make the change as it is...

Smart Choices, Luck Help U.S. P/C Insurers Stay Stable: S&P

Jun 20 2016 // Good news alert: the U.S. property/casualty insurance sector “has been dealt a good hand” and remains stable due to smart choices and a little bit of luck, Standard & Poor’s said in a new...

Bigger Is Better for Lloyd’s Syndicates with Active Cycle Mgmt: S&P

Jun 10 2016 // Benign catastrophe losses, combined with lower and less frequent casualty lines claims, helped Lloyd’s syndicates deliver another strong set of results in 2015, reporting an average combined ratio of 90 percent,...

Small Group of Bermudian Re/Insurers Drive Overall Q1 Premium Growth: S&P

May 24 2016 // At first glance, Bermudian re/insurance companies appeared to start the year with a bang, reporting a 21 percent increase in consolidated gross premiums written (GPW), according to a new report published by Standard &...

Alberta Wildfires Could Cost $7B with Minimal Insurer Credit Hit: Ratings Agencies

May 17 2016 // The Fort McMurray wildfires, which have been raging through northern Alberta, Canada since May 1, are likely to be the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, according to recent reports issued by catastrophe...

Global, Diversified Multiline Insurers Best Placed to Withstand Challenges: S&P

May 13 2016 // Global, diversified insurers are best positioned to withstand the industry’s top economic and competitive challenges, according to a report published by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings.Geographic and...

Buffett Has No Love for High-Priced Money Managers; Says Even a President Trump Couldn’t Derail U.S. Economy

May 4 2016 // Warren Buffett’s biggest investment tip: Be wary of fees.At the annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the billionaire warned about the enduring risk of derivatives, defended stocks in his portfolio and...