November 6th, 2009
2009 Reinsurance Readers’ Awards
Posted at 5:00 PM ET
Your vote counts. Click here to participate in the 2009 Reinsurance magazine Readers’ Awards survey.
Posts Tagged ‘Reinsurance magazine’
September 15th, 2009
A Stable Market Prepares for 2010
Posted at 1:00 AM ET
Peter Zaffino, President and CEO
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At this time last year, the reinsurance market was vastly different. A financial catastrophe and major hurricane occurred and changed the way (re)insurers viewed risk. As both events receded, our industry was left with profound uncertainty. More than being concerned about the direction of reinsurance rates at the January 1, 2009 renewal, carriers worried that a widespread capital shortage was imminent, impairing their abilities to assume and transfer risk. Despite the severity of the financial and natural catastrophes the reinsurance market proceeded in an orderly fashion, with property-catastrophe rates up 10 percent to 15 percent on average and other segments not significantly impacted.
August 11th, 2009
A Sense of Tranquility
Posted at 1:01 AM ET
David Priebe, Chairman of Global Client Development
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A tumultuous market is beginning to show signs of calm. After more than nine months of financial market volatility — and uncertainty as to reinsurance rates — we are looking back on three relatively stable renewals and a full quarter of financial results. Many forecasted the worst last September, and now, we’re seeing that insurers and reinsurers have been able to adapt to a capital-constrained environment. Slowly, earnings are recovering, and capital is becoming available — both of which are keeping reinsurance rate increases under control. This is the result, however, of a precarious balance between supply and demand, one which could be disrupted by a shock to the marketplace.
November 18th, 2008
2008 Reinsurance Readers’ Awards
Posted at 12:55 AM ET
Your vote counts. Click here to participate in the 2008 Reinsurance magazine Readers’ Awards survey. Innovation and client problem-solving are more important than ever before, particularly given the ongoing financial catastrophe. We encourage you to participate in this survey, which covers eleven categories.
October 3rd, 2008
Cat Risk Comes Out of Hiding
Posted at 6:33 PM ET
Nick Frankland, CEO of European Operations
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Few casualty risks are one-dimensional. They tend to be linked, reflecting the interconnected nature of today’s business relationships. Liability risk can follow the links among businesses as well, giving regional exposures worldwide reach. One event thus could impact a large number of insureds representing many lines of business in several countries. A rise in the number of claims as the casualty contagion spreads has the potential to deplete balance sheets and possibly threaten a carrier’s solvency. Advances in casualty catastrophe modeling technologies, however, may help you protect your portfolio from “hidden” exposures.
September 1st, 2008
Looking at a Downturn?
Posted at 10:16 AM ET
Peter Zaffino, President & CEO
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All eyes will be on January, 1 2009. As we approach the next renewal season, another round of rate decreases seems likely. The pace should be slower than it was through 2008, thanks to greater underwriter discipline than in previous downturns. Thus, even though the market has not been catastrophe-free, it has been able to absorb the losses, as the industry is well-capitalized. Fears of a mega-catastrophe and pressure from broader economic conditions should keep underwriters from assuming inadequately priced risk.
