Fitch News

AAA Bond Ratings Still Being Issued to Coastal Cities Threatened by Climate Change

Last fall, after a trio of deadly hurricanes, ratings companies warned vulnerable coastal cities to get ready for climate change – or face higher borrowing costs on the $3.9 trillion municipal bond market. Climate advocates cheered, hoping the prospect of …

Fitch: Adjusted Asbestos Survival Ratio Remains Below 8 Years

Following a review of recent years’ asbestos related claims and litigation activity and insurers’ paid and incurred loss experience, Fitch has raised projection for ultimate all-time U.S. industry incurred losses to $100 billion compared with a previous estimate of $90 …

Fitch: Workers’ Comp Insurance Profitable as Competition Heats Up

After several years of underwriting losses, underwriting performance for the U.S. property/casualty (P/C) industry’s workers’ compensation line generated a significant profit in 2015, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings. Competition is heating up however and Fitch expects a …

U.S. P/C Insurers Report Improved 2013 Performance: Fitch

U.S. property/casualty insurers’ operating performance improved in 2013, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. The improvement is largely a result of lower catastrophe-related losses and reductions in the core loss ratio from premium rate increases across many product segments. …

Quiet Hurricane Season Will Lower Reinsurance Prices

The quietest U.S. Atlantic hurricane season in decades will lead to a low double-digit fall in related catastrophe reinsurance pricing in the key 2014 renewals, according to experts at Fitch Ratings. The ratings agency said industry earnings in 2013 will …

Floods Could Cost Germany 12B Euros in Economic Damage: Fitch

Floods that have devastated parts of southern and eastern Germany could briefly impede growth in Europe’s biggest economy, an industry body said, while ratings agency Fitch said the economic cost could be as high as 12 billion euros. That would …

Black Book & Fitch Ratings Launch Quarterly Vehicle Depreciation Report

Vehicles are likely to depreciate to a greater degree this year, though not enough to present any major obstacles to U.S. auto loan and lease ABS, a new report developed by Black Book and Fitch. According to Black Book, vehicle …

Analysts See More P/C Insurer Loss Reserve Releases in 2013

Analysts at two rating agencies, Fitch and Moody’s, believe property/casualty insurers’ prior-year loss reserve takedowns will continue to outpace reserve additions in 2013. The analysts spoke about P/C industry reserving trends as they reviewed their year-end outlooks and 2013 forecasts …

P/C Insurers’ Capital Position Remains Strong: Fitch

Fitch Ratings has maintained its stable outlook for both the commercial and personal lines sectors of the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry. Insurers have withstood less favorable underwriting and economic conditions in the past several years, which has promoted weaker profitability. …

U.S. Insurers Can Cover 2012 Hurricanes: Fitch

Sufficient capacity remains available in the insurance and reinsurance markets to meet the demand for coverage prior to the approaching U.S. hurricane season, according to Fitch Ratings. Early forecasts for the 2012 U.S. hurricane season are that the North Atlantic …