Latest USA Headlines

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

Nevada To Expand Earthquake Lab

Oct 5 2010 // A new $12.2 million federal grant will allow the University of Nevada, Reno, to more than double the size of its earthquake research center, making it the largest quake simulation facility in the country, school officials...

RSA Acquires GCAN Insurance in Canada for $410 Million

Oct 4 2010 // UK-based RSA Insurance Group plc has announced the acquisition of GCAN Insurance Company, a Canadian mid-market, large risks & specialty commercial insurer, which “offers a range of products including Property,...

What’s In the NRRA?

Oct 4 2010 // Reporting, Payment, and Allocation of Premium Taxes: Only the home state of insured may require premium tax payment. States may enter into a compact or other procedures to allocate among the states taxes paid to home...

Specialty Products Manufacturing: Multiple Opportunities for Injury

Oct 4 2010 // In 2007 there were over 10 million consumer-product related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments, according to the National Safety Council. While the statistics reveal injuries from seemingly innocuous...

Syndicates – The Heart of the Market

Oct 4 2010 // As underwriters, syndicates are the heart of the Lloyd’s market. Until the end of the 20th century they were largely funded by wealthy individuals, who pledged their fortunes to back the risks accepted by the...

Homeowners’ Madoff Claims Not Covered Under AIG Policy: Judge

Oct 1 2010 // American International Group Inc. need not make payments to some former Bernard Madoff clients who said their homeowner insurance policies entitled them to coverage for alleged losses, a judge ruled.Two California...

Mexico Could Join Lawsuits Over Gulf Oil Disaster

Oct 1 2010 // Mexico’s federal government could join a list of its states suing the companies blamed for the disastrous Gulf oil spill, claiming damage to fishing and tourism, the plaintiffs’ attorney said this week.Earlier...

Ratings Roundup: United (Aon), Fairfax, Sirius

Oct 1 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of “a-” of Cayman Islands-based United Insurance Company and its subsidiary, United Re (Europe)...

AIG to Sell Japan Life Units to Prudential (U.S.) for $4.8 Billion

Sep 30 2010 // American International Group said Thursday it will sell its two Japanese life insurance units to Prudential Financial Inc for $4.8 billion, marking another step in its efforts to repay U.S. taxpayers.The sale of AIG Star...

Benmosche Shares How AIG Plans to Reimburse Taxpayers

Sep 30 2010 // American International Group Inc. and the U.S. government laid out a plan for the insurer to repay its $182.3 billion taxpayer bailout, just over two years after it was rescued from the brink of collapse.The deal, reached...

Nicole Kills 12 in Jamaica; Remnants Drench East Coast

Sep 30 2010 // The remains of Tropical Storm Nicole battered the U.S. Atlantic Coast like a hurricane as it moved from the Carolinas to New England on Friday.Nicole was a minimal tropical storm for just six hours Wednesday, but the...

How Will TARP Bailout Plan Be Remembered?

Sep 30 2010 // It may have staved off a financial system meltdown, but the U.S. Treasury’s $700 billion bailout program is so reviled by the public that its distaste may rub off on incumbent Democrats in November elections.What...

AIG Announces Plan to Pay Back Taxpayers

Sep 30 2010 // American International Group Inc. (AIG) said it has come to an agreement with the Obama Administration on a plan to repay American taxpayers who bailed out the insurer in 2008.AIG said it will use proceeds from the sale of...

U.S., AIG Exit Plan Faster, Riskier, Perhaps Profitable for Taxpayers

Sep 30 2010 // American International Group Inc. laid out a plan Thursday that sets the insurer on an accelerated path for payback of bailout money, but it also increases the risk for the U.S. government.The plan, which comes a little...

Best Affirms ‘A’ Ratings of QBE Insurance Group and Subsidiaries

Sep 30 2010 // A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength ratings of ‘A’ (Excellent) and the issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a+” of UK-based QBE Insurance (Europe)...

U.S. Expects Plan to End Government Ties to AIG By Next Week: Report

Sep 29 2010 // The Obama administration hopes to announce by next week a plan to end its support of insurance giant American International Group Inc., the New York Times reported Tuesday, quoting unnamed sources.That announcement would...

AIG Board to Meet Today to Weigh U.S. Exit Plan

Sep 29 2010 // American International Group Inc.’s board will meet later Wednesday to discuss a plan that would allow the U.S. Treasury to exit its investment in the bailed-out insurer, AIG Chairman Steve Miller said.Miller said...

Liberty Mutual Blames Market for IPO Delay; Analysts Cite High Valuation

Sep 29 2010 // Liberty Mutual Agency Corp. postponed indefinitely its planned initial public offering, quashing hopes that the planned $1.2 billion flotation could give a needed jolt to the U.S. IPO market.The property and casualty...

Help Wanted: U.S. Insurance Chief; Salary to $179K, Good Benefits; D.C. Office

Sep 29 2010 // The U.S. Treasury is looking for a Director of the Federal Insurance Office. The full-time job pays $119,554 to $179,700 per year depending on experience. Applications will be accepted from all qualified individuals until...

Lloyd’s CFO Comments on Lower Profits, Investments, Russia Office

Sep 29 2010 // As Lloyd’s published its first half results, Luke Savage, the chief financial officer, had a busy day on Tuesday. But he spoke briefly with Insurance Journal on some of the issues the report on the first half...