April 2018/4

New cat bond issuances from Everest Re and Aspen Bermuda expanded by at least 50 percent over the course of marketing, as investor appetite remained strong.

Insurers are sceptical about the current investment outlook, with half of those polled by Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) believing investment opportunities will get worse in the next 12 months.

Peter Stubbings and Jon Wood have become the latest in a slew of Guy Carpenter staff to leave the reinsurance broker for Aon Benfield.

North American winter storms took their toll on several carriers during the first quarter of 2018.

Underlying profitability at global reinsurers has deteriorated by more than 5 points on the combined ratio since 2005.

The terrorism market has increased its use of London market electronic placement system Placing Platform Limited (PPL) year on year, according to data released by the organisation.

Innovation and the exhortation for organisations to change will never go out of style.

The legacy sector has seen surging deal volumes of late, but the major inflows of capital into the space look set to choke off returns, with the live market’s depressed returns a cautionary tale for run-off acquirers.

Cat bond launches are showing no sign of slowing down, with a further three deals with an initial combined size of $675mn being launched in the past week.

US timber giant Weyerhaeuser has filed a complaint at a Seattle court in a bid to force nine insurers to pay out up to $260mn in liability cover.

There was further evidence at the RIMS conference in San Antonio last week of a transitional market emerging in US casualty insurance, with upwards pressure on rates starting to spread beyond headline hard pockets.

Aviation rates held flat during first quarter renewals as underwriters prioritised profitability above volume or market share, according to JLT’s latest Plane Talking report.