Softness persists amid pockets of improvement: Morgan Stanley
06 February 2017
Insurers must stay on their toes to survive amid the “prolonged soft cycle” that has defined the industry in recent years, according to a Morgan Stanley report…
Local
Tread carefully Australia, says Marsh political risk report
06 February 2017
Australia must tread carefully as the Trump presidency signals a more assertive foreign policy, Marsh says…
Price campaign claims major discounts
06 February 2017
“Consumer champion” One Big Switch has teamed up with Woolworths Insurance to conclude its latest insurance camp…
Victoria probes leaky apartments ‘crisis’
06 February 2017
The Victorian Building Authority is investigating a growing number of complaints about leaky apartment buildings…
Smaller insurance operators high on confidence
06 February 2017
Confidence among SMEs in the insurance and finance industry has surged 31 points to +71 on December’s Sensis Business Index – one of the strongest levels recorded…
Kaikoura quake business claims pass $NZ900 million
06 February 2017
New Zealand private insurers have received business claims valued at more than $NZ900 million from November’s Kaikoura earthquake…
Rates soften further at January renewals: Willis Re
30 January 2017
Most lines of casualty reinsurance business in Australia continue to soften, and buyers and reinsurers are increasingly prepared to disengage if parties can’t reach mutually beneficial terms, according to a Willis Re report on the crucial January 1 renewal season…
Flood-hit Roma to bolster defences
30 January 2017
Suncorp has hailed a decision by the central Queensland town of Roma to proceed with stage two of its flood mitigation project…
Industry takes on Canberra over mitigation delay
30 January 2017
The insurance industry has criticised the Federal Government for failing to implement proposals for increased disaster mitigation spending…
Tighter Vic laws could slow car theft rise
30 January 2017
The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council hopes a planned tightening of Victoria’s bail laws will also help slow the rise of passenger and light commercial vehicle thefts…
States test new ways of cutting bushfire risk
30 January 2017
Trials have begun in NSW, Victoria and WA to develop new ways of preventing and fighting bushfires…
Board orders flammable cladding removed
30 January 2017
Flammable building cladding that contributed to a serious fire at a Melbourne apartment block must be replaced, the Building Appeals Board says…
EQC lets insurers take lead on quake claims
30 January 2017
New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission and private insurers have agreed on a simpler process for handling home and contents claims from last November’s Kaikoura quake…
Victoria moves towards driverless future
30 January 2017
The Victorian Government is preparing the way for automated vehicles on state roads…
NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
12 December 2016
This is the final scheduled insuranceNEWS.com.au bulletin for 2016. We will return on January 30, with any significant industry news being covered by our Breaking News service during the recess…
Quest to restore margins nears critical period: Aon
12 December 2016
Insurers face a “critical time” in coming months as conditions that have squeezed margins show no signs of easing, Aon says in its second-half Insurance Market Update…
BOM downgrades La Nina risk
12 December 2016
The prospects of La Nina materialising are increasingly remote, according to the Bureau of Meteorology…
Competition to keep squeeze on premium rises: Fitch
12 December 2016
Fitch Ratings expects Australia and New Zealand insurer earnings to remain steady next year, with strong competition constraining premium rate increases and underwriting margins…
Steadfast broker hails tribunal decision on sacking
12 December 2016
Capital Mutual Insurance Brokers says it feels vindicated after the Fair Work Commission denied a former employee’s application for unfair dismissal…
Court backs insurer over NZ quake claim
12 December 2016
The Supreme Court of New Zealand has dismissed an appeal relating to a claim for damage from the Canterbury earthquakes…