Latest USA Headlines

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

Forecasters Warn Gustav Could be Major Hurricane When It Reaches Gulf States Monday

Aug 28 2008 // Tropical Storm Gustav shifted course slightly on Thursday morning and moved toward the Jamaica, and forecasters predicted it would be a powerful hurricane by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.“The re-formation...

California Drop Lowers U.S. Workers’ Compensation Payments

Aug 26 2008 // U.S. workers’ compensation payments for medical care and cash benefits for workers disabled by workplace injuries or diseases declined in 2006, according to a study released by the National Academy of Social...

Several Insurers Could See Big Fannie, Freddie Losses

Aug 25 2008 // A handful of insurers holding equity in U.S. home-funding giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could see big losses if a federal takeover wipes out the value of the agencies’ common and preferred stock, as some...

Aon to Acquire Broker Benfield for $1.75 Billion

Aug 22 2008 // Chicago-based Aon Corporation and UK-based broker Benfield Group Limited announced that their respective boards of directors have reached agreement for Aon to acquire Benfield for £3.50 ($6.55) per share in cash and...

QBE’s First Half Results Show Gains

Aug 22 2008 // Australia’s QBE Insurance Group’s financial report for the six months ended June 30, 2008 showed increases in most areas, compared to 2007. QBE cited the following figures: — Insurance profit was up 6...

Study Finds Economic Costs of Federal Cat Legislation Burdensome

Aug 22 2008 // Natural catastrophe legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and pending in the U.S. Senate would create a multi-billion dollar burden on taxpayers in at least 20 states, according to a new study released...

Berkshire’s Buffett Sees Economy in Recession, Weak Until 2009

Aug 22 2008 // Warren Buffett said the U.S. economy is still in a recession and unlikely to improve before 2009 but that stocks appear better valued than a year ago.The billionaire investor also said there is a “reasonable...

International Chamber of Commerce is Pessimistic on Global Economy

Aug 21 2008 // The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) reported from its Paris office that its “ICC/Ifo global climate index in July fell for the fourth consecutive quarter in a row since sentiment became downbeat last summer,...

By Lilla Zuill

Aug 21 2008 // The exchange would allow underwriters to form syndicates to reinsure and insure unusual or very large exposures.N.Y.’s Dinallo Sees Insurance Exchange Open by 2009 New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo said...

Business Moves

Aug 21 2008 // Allied World, DarwinBermuda-based Allied World Assurance Co., Ltd. has agreed to acquire Connecticut-based Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Darwin offers specialty and primary professional lines coverages, which...

People

Aug 21 2008 // Ruby Chan has joined the Needham, Mass.-based Provider Insurance Co. as director of Internet marketing.Chan has worked for Hewlett Packard and was one of the founding members of the Alta Vista search engine. She moved on...

State Ranking In Number of Events

Aug 21 2008 // F5 Tornado damage in Parkersburg, Iowa, May 25, 2008.Tornado damage, Windsor, Colo. Prior to 1990, the average number of tornadoes per year in the Continental US was 772. In the period from 1990 through 2007, the average...

People

Aug 21 2008 // The Chubb Corp. has made four executives appointments:John J. Degnan has been named vice chairman and chief operating officer. Degnan, a former attorney general of New Jersey who joined Chubb nearly 18 years ago, was...

Business Moves

Aug 21 2008 // Allied World, Darwin ProfessionalBermuda-based Allied World Assurance Co., Ltd. has agreed to acquire Connecticut-based Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Darwin offers specialty and primary professional lines...

New York to Revive Lloyd’s-like Exchange

Aug 21 2008 // New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo said a revival of the defunct New York Insurance Exchange could happen as early as next year.Dinallo said the next 18 months was a “realistic horizon” to revive...

Japan: Risk and Rewards

Aug 21 2008 // In Japan, agencies write 93 percent of P/C insurance.The Japanese property and casualty insurance market is ripe for opportunities, but there also are significant risks in the country, according to Keiji Fukasawa of Finrex...

Mid-Year 2008: Securities Lawsuit Filings Remain Up

Aug 21 2008 // The continued steady subprime and credit crisis-related lawsuit filing level suggests that the litigation wave will continue during the second half of 2008.Is litigation stemming from the subprime- and credit...

People

Aug 21 2008 // W.R. Berkley Corp. named William M. Rohde Jr. president of Acadia Insurance Co., succeeding Bill Thornton, who now is chairman of Berkley Regional Specialty Insurance Co. Walter E. Stradley remains president of Berkley...

Nevada Countersignature Law Officially Null and Void

Aug 21 2008 // protectionist requirement that served only the self interests of small protectionist agents.The battle to defeat countersignature laws is finally over, now that the July 9, 2008, deadline has passed for Nevada to file a...

By Charles E. Boyle

Aug 21 2008 // From Novelty to Necessity: Bermuda’s Insurance Market 2008Bermuda’s insurance industry has grown steadily since it began 50 years ago. It is now a mature market, and, in certain sectors – natural...