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International

Economic losses from 2011 disasters hit $US370 billion

02 April 2012

Swiss Re’s latest Sigma report has revealed total economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2011 hit an unprecedented $US370 billion ($357 billion), up from $US226 billion ($218 billion)…

New CEO for QBE First

02 April 2012

QBE’s US mortgage business QBE First has named Christopher “CD” Davies as its new CEO…

What the US market needs: III

02 April 2012

This year is “the first year since 2005 where economic perceptions and reality in the US will be positive”, according to Insurance Information Institute President Robert Hartwig…

Insurance leads complaints to UK authority

02 April 2012

Dissatisfaction with general insurance and income protection policies underlies a 21% increase in complaints to Britain’s Financial Services Authority in the second half of 2011…

Asia Pacific leads airline premium markets

02 April 2012

The Asia-Pacific region now has the highest airline fleet value and number of passengers in the world, according to the latest Aon Risk Solutions review on the airline insurance market…

Busy year expected for cat bonds

26 March 2012

The catastrophe bond market looks set for another busy year, with covers on US hurricane risk, storms in Europe, earthquakes, and disasters in Japan, reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter says…

US reinsurers’ net income falls

26 March 2012

The 2011 net income of a group of 19 US property/casualty reinsurers surveyed by the Reinsurance Association of America fell 26.6% to $US6.89 billion ($6.58 billion) compared with 2010…

Early start for tornadoes in the US Midwest

26 March 2012

Another three tornadoes have ripped through the US state of Michigan, destroying 13 homes and causing damage to more than 100 others. Eqecat estimates insured losses at less than $US100 million…

Munich Re forecasts a good year

19 March 2012

Munich Re says it remains on target to increase profit to €2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) this year after a relatively benign start to the catastrophe season and improving global markets…