Analysis

One common characteristic of the strongest leaders is that once they know something important, they are unable to ignore it.

Total return reinsurers reported better second quarter results than in the prior-year period, as they generated lower combined ratios and returns that were slightly ahead of analysts' forecasts.

Equity analysts last week crunched the numbers to estimate the impact of Harvey on individual (re)insurers even while the event continued to unfold

Underwriters in America's surplus lines market saw direct written premium (DWP) grow by a lacklustre 2.8 percent to $42.4bn last year, according to a new study from rating agency AM Best.

P&C (re)insurance carriers delivered healthy returns in the second quarter, with the majority posting results that beat Wall Street expectations, yet investors were quick to punish companies on the stock market as underlying performances weakened.

Investment returns across the companies in our coverage universe were slightly up year-on-year in the three months to 30 June 2017, but remained at anaemic single-digit levels.

P&C (re)insurers benefited from another quarter of below-average catastrophe losses, as global cat events were absent in the three months to 30 June 2017.

Underwriting results across The Insurance Insider's main groups of P&C (re)insurance companies were helped by a low level of catastrophe losses in the quarter, yet underlying deteriorations continued to pressure margins.

Softening rates and a competitive market environment led most of the companies in The Insurance Insider's coverage universe to post lower top line growth rates in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the same period of last year.

P&C (re)insurance companies enjoyed a light cat quarter in the three months to 30 June 2017, reporting relatively healthy returns while the competitive market environment continued to pressure underlying margins.

Underwriting margins widened in global reinsurers' P&C reinsurance divisions in the second quarter of 2017, as a benign level of catastrophe losses relaxed combined ratios.

The Insurance Insider's group of global reinsurers posted contrasting top line strategies for their P&C reinsurance divisions in the second quarter, as some chose to scale back their exposure while others found growth opportunities.