August 2009/5

XL Capital's global insurance operation, XL Insurance, has hired Peter Bitterlin as regional energy underwriting manager for Europe and Asia Pacific.

The former New York superintendent of insurance, Eric Dinallo, has confirmed that he is gearing up for a run at the position of state attorney general.

Class of 2005 (re)insurer Ariel Re continued the positive theme for international (re)insurers as it unveiled bumper H1 results this week.

A scheme of arrangement for insolvent UK insurer Highlands Insurance Company (HUK) has become effective, resolving a long-standing reinsurance claims dispute between the firm and its parent company...

While rising claims notifications are increasing pressure on rates across Europe and the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), competition between carriers and abundant capacity are still the main downward drivers for rates in most markets, according to Marsh.

As the reinsurance industry prepares for its annual pilgrimage to Monte Carlo next month, over 300 executives will gather in London to debate and examine market conditions on the eve of the Reinsurance Rendez-Vous.

Robust investment returns helped propel recovery-mode Lloyd's insurer Chaucer plc and fellow carrier Hiscox Group to bumper first-half results, while Omega Group followed the pack with broadly unchanged profit after a stable first half.

Further evidence of UK regulator the Financial Services Authority (FSA)'s new "get tough" resolve was shown this week, after chairman Lord Adair Turner suggested that the City should be taxed more in order to shrink its size and influence.