Topic
Earnings / Ratings
How Canada’s P&C industry will weather the economic storm from COVID-19
April 1, 2020 by Jason ContantCanada’s P&C insurance industry will likely not experience significant underwriting losses overall, but financial volatility due to COVID-19 will affect investment portfolios in the short-term, global credit ratings firm DBRS Morningstar said in a new report. “We consider the coronavirus…
Intact’s take on how COVID-19 could extend the hard market
April 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachPricing relief offered to Canadians who are currently absorbing a financial hit from the pandemic could ultimately have the boomerang effect of prolonging the hard market, Intact’s chief executive suggests. “It is clear to me that this corrective action [on…
Aviva CEO’s take on what to expect in Canada’s condo lines
March 6, 2020 by David GambrillLook for rate increases in Canada’s commercial residential realty segment to continue apace in 2020, but perhaps taper off in 2021 and beyond, Aviva Canada’s president and CEO predicted Thursday. And as rates harden in condo lines, expect Aviva Canada…
Why Aviva Canada’s financial rebound gained momentum in 2019
March 5, 2020 by David GambrillAviva Canada’s ongoing profit remediation plan — which took effect after disappointing results posted in 2017 — loomed large in the company’s improved financial results in 2019, the company reported Thursday. Aviva Canada’s operating profit increased to £191 million (approx.…
What may happen when Intact’s ROE reaches the mid-teens
February 5, 2020 by David GambrillDon’t expect in 2020 to see the Canadian P&C industry’s return on equity (ROE) rise to the level of the 10%, which is one possible indicator that the hard market may be ending, according to Intact president and CEO Charles…
How much have personal auto and property premiums increased in one year?
January 22, 2020 by Jason ContantBoth personal auto and personal property premiums in Canada increased double digits compared to the same quarter last year, pointing to a continued hardening in the market, according to Applied System’s latest premium rating index. Personal auto premiums in 2019…
How much did auto insurance rates go up in Alberta last quarter?
January 13, 2020 by Jason ContantAlberta’s Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) has approved rate increases for more than 20 insurers in Q4 2019, ranging from less than 1% to nearly 30% for basic coverage for private passenger vehicles. The rate hike was about 10% on…
How profitable have Canadian P&C insurers been so far this year?
December 18, 2019 by Jason ContantCanada’s property and casualty insurers posted moderate profitability in the first nine months of 2019, but poor underwriting results and high loss ratios linger, notes an executive from the Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC). For Q3 2019 year-to-date…
Board finds insurance reserves regulation “invalid”
December 9, 2019 by Jason ContantManitoba’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) has found a recently enacted insurance reserves regulation to be “invalid.” The Reserves Regulation sets out the manner of determining the amount to be maintained by the Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) Corporation in its reserves…
Market outlook
December 6, 2019 David Gambrill, Editor in ChiefCanadian Underwriter fearlessly predicts the end of the hard market
Trade conflicts and uncertainty remain a key risk: Bank of Canada
December 4, 2019 Craig Wong - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The Bank of Canada kept its key interest rate on hold Wednesday, noting that while global recession concerns are waning, trade conflicts and related uncertainty continue to remain a key risk. The central bank’s overnight rate target has…
You think the auto market is bad? Check out personal property…
October 10, 2019 by Jason ContantThe hard market is showing no signs of abating, with all provinces posting premium rate increases in personal lines in the latest quarter, according to Applied Systems’ most recent rating index. Personal property premiums increased on average by 13.6% compared…