Articles by Lisa Howard

Hard Market Conditions Expected to Ease in 2025 as Claims Inflation Softens: Swiss Re

Hard market conditions in the global non-life insurance sector will continue this year, but will begin to ease in 2025, as general inflation and claims inflation conditions soften, according to Swiss Re in a report, which discusses the macroeconomic factors …

Gallagher: Global Insured Natural Disaster Claims Again Dominated by Severe U.S. Storms

Global insured losses from natural catastrophes in the first quarter were estimated at $20 billion, with U.S. claims accounting for more than $15 billion, or 75%, of the Q1 total, according to a Gallagher Re in a report. Despite a …

Global Election Super-Cycle Raises Risk of Political Violence, Large Insurance Losses

Almost half the world’s population will go to the polls before the end of 2024, which raises the threat of political violence and possible large insurance losses, according to Allianz Commercial in a new report. An unprecedented “super-cycle” of elections …

Inflation Contributes to Rising Loss Costs for US Commercial P/C Insurers: Fitch

Inflation is bringing rising loss costs for US commercial property/casualty insurers, according to Fitch Ratings, which reviewed reports from three US insurers — Cincinnati Financial Corp., HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., and Selective Insurance Group Inc. — to gauge trends for …

Aon Report Says Insured Losses from Severe Convective Storms Tops $50B for First Time

Insured losses from severe convective storms in the United States continued to increase during the third quarter, surpassing the $50 billion mark for the first time on record and accounting for roughly 60% of all global insured losses, according to …

Swiss Re: Natural Disasters Cost Insurers $115 Billion this Year

Hurricane Ian and other natural catastrophes, such as European winter storms, floods in Australia and hailstorms in France and the U.S., have cost insurers an estimated $115 billion so far this year, according to a report published by Swiss Re …

Fire on Cargo Ship that Destroyed Volkswagen Cars Extinguished

The fire on the cargo ship Felicity Ace, which had burned for more than a week, is likely extinguished and the vessel is now being towed, according to the operator MOL Ship Management. The ship had been transporting thousands of …

Parametric Catastrophe Insurer to Make Record $40M Payout for Haiti Quake

CCRIF SPC, the Cayman Islands-based parametric catastrophe facility, will pay approximately US$40 million to the government of Haiti, following the devastating magnitude 7.2 earthquake, which struck the Caribbean island on Aug. 14, significantly affecting the city of Les Cayes. This …

Insurance Flipsides: Countering the Industry’s Negative Perception Problem

The editors at Wells Media have long noticed that the insurance industry is viewed rather negatively by “civilians” – your customers. As a result, we are beginning a regular series of columns, called “Insurance Flipsides,” which will highlight the many …

How Difficulties May Follow After a D&O Claim Is Denied

When a directors and officers (D&O) claim is declined, it can be catastrophic for an insured, forcing the company to deal with “the financial costs of a claim or loss entirely on its own,” according to a report published by …