Latest USA Headlines

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

Ratings Recap: AIA/AIAB, SOVAG, Coface, PhilNaRe, Generali Rueck

Mar 2 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has placed its ‘A+’ counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on American International Assurance Co. Ltd. (AIA) and American International Assurance Co....

House Panel: Toyota May Have Settled Tort Claims to Avoid Releasing Data

Mar 1 2010 // A U.S. congressional panel has found evidence Toyota routinely withheld company records it should have turned over in court and settled personal injury cases to avoid revealing key engineering data dubbed the “Books...

Earthquakes Should Prompt U.S. to Prepare Now, Says Safety Group

Mar 1 2010 // The tragedies of the recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti serve as a reminder that parts of the United States are highly vulnerable to the devastating effects of this unpredictable natural disaster.While most Americans...

U.S. Senator Presses Agencies for Information About Illinois Levees

Mar 1 2010 // U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin wants a meeting with two federal agencies to seek information about efforts to certify five levee systems in three southwestern Illinois counties.Durbin and other overseers of the levees in Madison,...

AIG to Sell ‘Crown Jewel’ Asian Life Unit to UK’s Prudential for $35.5 Billion

Feb 28 2010 // American International Group Inc. agreed to sell its Asian life insurance unit to Britain’s Prudential Plc for about $35.5 billion, in a deal that would help the U.S. government get back billions of its bailout...

Key Senator Reports Compromise Reached on U.S. Patent Reform

Feb 26 2010 // Leading U.S. lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement to reform the nation’s patent system, according to Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a leader in the effort.Leahy did not provide...

Nebraska Uninsured Rates Highest Among Minorities

Feb 26 2010 // High percentages of minorities, foreign-born residents and college-aged people in Nebraska lack health insurance, according to new report.The Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha...

Celent Releases Report on French Insurance Industry

Feb 26 2010 // Boston-based consulting firm Celent (a part of Oliver Wyman) has been assessing the “subtle but important differences in how insurers from various countries” respond to the issues facing the industry. It has...

World Warming Unhindered by Cold Spells Say Scientists

Feb 25 2010 // The pace of global warming continues unabated, scientists said on Thursday, despite images of Europe crippled by a deep freeze and parts of the United States blasted by blizzards.The bitter cold, with more intense winter...

Florida Recruits First Reinsurer Under Relaxed Collateral Rules

Feb 25 2010 // Florida insurance officials have reached an agreement with the first foreign reinsurer to operate under collateral requirements that were reduced in 2008 in an attempt to attract new reinsurers to the state.The Florida...

Has Flu Pandemic Peaked? ‘Not Quite,’ Say Health Experts

Feb 24 2010 // Has the swine flu pandemic peaked globally? Not quite, World Health Organization advisers decided on Tuesday.WHO is taking a big risk in making such an announcement at all, and the wording of WHO Director-General Dr....

Protective, MAPFRE Sign Agreement for Non-U.S. Vehicle Service

Feb 24 2010 // The Asset Protection Division of Protective Life Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation, has signed an agreement with MAPFRE ASISTENCIA, a subsidiary of MAPFRE, S.A. for vehicle...

U.S. House Passes Repeal of Health Insurers’ Antitrust Exemption

Feb 24 2010 // The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to take a 65-year-old antitrust exemption away from health insurance companies, leaning hard on an industry that has been the focus of criticism for fast-rising rates.The...

Copenhagen: Billions in Aid Seen as Key to Climate Talks Success

Feb 23 2010 // The allure of $30 billion in climate aid for poor nations holds the key to helping restore confidence in U.N. talks on fighting global warming and stopping them from unraveling. But there’s only months to figure out...

Judge Certifies Stockholders’ Class Action Against AIG

Feb 23 2010 // A U.S. judge on Monday certified a class action lawsuit for stockholders, but not bondholders, against American International Group Inc.U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts denied a request by three Ohio state public pension...

Aon Founder Ryan Launches Specialty Wholesale Insurance Group

Feb 23 2010 // The founder and retired chairman and CEO of the world’s largest insurance broker, Aon, has revealed the management team and a second subsidiary for his new global specialty insurance operation whose first company was...

A.M. Best Reports a Stable U.S. Commercial Lines Sector

Feb 23 2010 // Despite soft market conditions, the anticipation of less favorable loss reserve releases and a contracting economy, the U.S. commercial lines insurance market remains relatively stable.According to A.M. Best, while the...

Montpelier Re Posts $104.7 Million Q4 Net Income; $463.5 Million Full Year

Feb 22 2010 // Bermuda-based Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. reported greatly improved fourth quarter and full year financial results. The reinsurer’s fourth quarter net income was $104.7 million ($1.25 per share), compared to a loss...

U.S. Chamber Study: Greenhouse Gas Will Rise Despite Accords

Feb 22 2010 // A new analysis released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy concludes that, “even if emissions reduction pledges made under the Copenhagen Accord were adopted, the world would...

U.S. Chamber Names Rashish for Europe, Eurasia Post

Feb 22 2010 // The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced that Peter S. Rashish has been named the new vice president for Europe and Eurasia. He will lead the Chamber’s International Division in “crafting and implementing...