The role of capital markets in alternative risk transfer within the property and casualty insurance industry is not new. However, the development of sophisticated financial instruments continues to expand, with resilience bonds being the latest arrival in the catastrophic risk market.
Technology is today’s shiny new thing in the property and casualty insurance industry. Unlike many passing fancies, though, technology offers great promise for enhancing efficiencies, identifying risks and cutting costs. Still, insurers need to guard against becoming distracted and straying from what needs to be their ultimate focus: improving customer experience.
PERILS AG’s second loss estimate for insured property loss associated with Central Italy’s earthquake in August has almost doubled from 34 million euros to 66 million euros. The third loss estimate for the quake is scheduled to be published Feb.…
The 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…
The largest earthquake to hit New Zealand since 2009, registering magnitude 7.8, could contribute to insured losses amounting to US$762 million to US$3.5 billion, catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide reported Thursday. The modelled estimates include insured physical damage to property…
Current-year financial results for Canada’s property and casualty industry – which were once again strong in 2015 – are expected to take a hit in the wake of the Fort McMurray wildfire loss, notes a new report from A.M. Best.…
If recent history is an indicator of future outcomes, Canada looks set on a path of annual billion-dollar (or more) losses from natural catastrophes. Should reinsurers view this as the new normal? And, if so, will treatment by reinsurers both inside and outside the country change to suit this evolving reality?
The insurance industry needs to capitalize on its unique risk understanding to reduce the financial burden on governments in light of “the daunting scale of the protection gap,” Nick Frankland, CEO of EMEA operations for Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC,…
The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is clearly gaining more traction, with a record 800,000 British Columbians registering for today’s “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill, joining almost 41.5 million others around the world. “This year, we saw the largest number…
Most insurance carriers rated by A.M. Best have sufficient capital and appropriate reinsurance programs to effectively absorb Hurricane Matthew losses, notes a new briefing from the rating agency. That being the case, A.M. Best reports it does not anticipate a…
The Fort McMurray wildfire will likely raise questions about the basis for business interruption (BI) insurance payouts in a post-catastrophe economy, but historic results are the best indication of what otherwise would have occurred, Emily Stock argued during the 43rd…
Year-to-date Cat bond issuance was down more than 15% compared to the prior-year period as a result of a usually light third quarter and a less usual quiet second quarter, notes a new report from Property Claim Services (PCS). The…