What’s New: In brief (October 10, 2006)

The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) and CARSTAR Collision Repair Centres are teaming up to make Halloween safer and at the same time help fund cutting-edge cystic fibrosis (CF) research and care. Cathleen Morrison, CEO of the CCFF, recommends that parents get their children a FrightLite glow stick. Not only will a FrightLite protect children as they trick-or-treat by making them more visible, but a portion of money from every glow stick sold will be donated to CCFF. FrightLites are available throughout October, at CARSTAR Collision Repair Centres across Canada. The six-inch, non-toxic glow sticks are also being sold for CD$3 from a variety of CCFF chapters and at CCFF fundraising events. For the seventh consecutive year, CARSTAR owners and staff nationwide are selling FrightLites and for the cystic fibrosis cause. The glow sticks also ipromote Halloween safety. Studies show that children under 14 are up to four times more likely to be hit by a car and injured while walking on Halloween night than any other night.

Bank holding companiesin the US have increased their total insurance revenue 1.1% to US$21.4 billion in the first half of 2006 from US$21.2 billion during the same period in 2005. CitiGroup, Wells Fargo & Company, Countrywide Financial Corporation and HSBC North America Holdings Inc. were at the top of the list of US bank holding companies reporting significant banking activities in total insurance fee income in the first six months of 2006, according to findings released today by Michael White Associates and the American Bankers Insurance Association (ABIA). “While the industry’s growth in total insurance revenue slowed in the first half of 2006, insurance brokerage fee income rose rapidly,” Valerie Barton, associate director of ABIA, says. “Larger banking organizations experienced exceptionally strong double-digit growth, much of which derived from organic growth in insurance brokerage fee income as agency integration and cross-selling accelerate.” Insurance brokerage fee income for all top-level US bank holding companies climbed 23.1% from US$4.98 billion in the first half of 2005 to US$6.13 billion in the first half of 2006.