What’s New: In Brief (March 04, 2009)

A.M. Best’s outlook on the U.S. commercial market is stable despite the ongoing soft period in the cycle, a contracting economy and the financial market crisis.
In commercial lines, most key indicators suggest rates will continue to be soft and competitive well into 2009, A.M. Best reports. However, continued turmoil in the financial markets, combined with credit tightening and low investment yields, have many people believing the end of the soft market could be near.
The ratings agency says it expects an overall slowing of rate decreases and a flattening of rates for most lines of business in 2009.

A.M. Best is asking for comments from the insurance industry and other interested parties on a proposed update to its country risk methodology.
The purpose of the methodology is to illustrate how the agency evaluates country risk and applies that evaluation to ratings.
This methodology represents a significant revision and will be applicable beginning April 2009.
Written comments can be submitted until Apr. 1, 2009 to methodology.commentary@ambest.com. 
A copy of the draft document can b found at: http://www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology/CountryRisk.pdf