Topic
Earnings / Ratings
Bank of Canada keeps key rate at 0.5% amid stronger yet uncertain global economy
December 7, 2016 Andy Blatchford - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The Bank of Canada is holding its benchmark interest rate at 0.5 per cent as it sees the stronger world economy continuing to face “undiminished” uncertainty. In making the scheduled announcement Wednesday, the central bank said its decision…
Policy uncertainty, rising rates pose credit risks in North America: S&P report
December 7, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterCanada is expected to witness a slower pick-up in business investment until a clearer picture develops on recent developments around credit conditions south of the border, including the influence of the outcome of the recent U.S. election, suggests a briefing…
Insurers that carry out a significant acquisition outperform their peers, with the strongest outperformance in North America: study
December 1, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterInsurance firms that carry out a significant acquisition outperform their peers, with the strongest outperformance seen in North America, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific, according to a new study. Based on analysis from Willis Towers Watson (WTW) and the University…
Fitch changes U.S. P&C insurance industry outlook to negative from stable
November 30, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterFitch Ratings has changed the fundamental sector outlook for the United States property and casualty insurance industry to negative from stable, reflecting recent declines in profitability and anticipated further earnings deterioration in 2017 due to more competitive market conditions. Fitch…
Net income for U.S. P&C industry for first nine months of 2016 down 26.8% compared to 9M 2015: A.M. Best
November 28, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe property and casualty industry in the United States reported a US$2.3 billion net underwriting loss in the first nine months of 2016 and a 26.8% decline in net income compared with the same period in 2015, according to preliminary…
B.C. government will no longer insure luxury cars to help eliminate pressures on basic insurance rates
November 24, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe government of British Columbia announced on Wednesday that it will no longer insure the high-end luxury car rate class – cars worth $150,000 and over – “so that the broader ratepayer is not subsidizing these cars.” The owners of…
Real growth of direct premiums written in non-life insurance forecast at 1.7% for Canada in 2017 and 2.6% in 2018: Swiss Re
November 22, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterReal growth of direct premiums written in non-life insurance in Canada is expected to be 0.8% this year, but up to 1.7% in 2017 and 2.6% in 2018, according to Swiss Re’s Global insurance review and outlook for 2017/18. The…
Federal government should consider emergency back-stop mechanism for catastrophic earthquake: conference board
November 22, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Conference Board of Canada is echoing a recent recommendation by a former federal superintendent of financial institutions for Ottawa to consider adopting a last-resort, emergency back-stop mechanism for a catastrophic earthquake given the long-reaching, adverse effects that the event…
Zurich Insurance announces plans to position itself for future, new profitability targets
November 17, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterZurich Insurance Group plans to build on customer relationships, simplify the business and significantly reduce costs as part of its renewed focus on increasing business profitability and delivering high-quality earnings over the 2017-2019 period, the global insurer announced Thursday. “In…
Desjardins General Insurance Group reports net income of $12.1 million for Q3 2016 compared to net loss of $32 million in Q3 2015
November 14, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterLévis, Que.-based Desjardins General Insurance Group (DGIG) – a Desjardins Group subsidiary specializing in property and casualty insurance – has reported a net income of $12.1 million in the third quarter of 2016 ending Sept. 30, compared to a net…
Impact of June Ontario auto changes ‘will be something to see going forward:’ A.M. Best
November 13, 2016 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorIt is too early to gauge the exact financial impact, on insurers, of Ontario auto changes that took effect this past June, and in the meantime, the mandated 15% rate reduction announced three years ago is still affecting loss ratios,…
Net income for Allianz Group up 36.5% in Q3 2016 to 1.9 billion euros
November 11, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterAllianz Group has reported that net income attributable to shareholders climbed 36.5% in the third quarter of this year ending Sept. 30 to 1.9 billion euros, due partly to better performance across its business segments. However, for the nine-month period ending…