July 2009/2

Following the strong recovery in the investment portfolio of its parent, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group has regained some of the catastrophe appetite it trimmed in the first quarter of the year, but not at current prices.

Aon's UK arm is lobbying the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to clarify its stance over the transacting of overseas business, amid concerns that a two-tier regulatory system may be developing.

American International Group (AIG) returned to the black as it booked its first quarterly profit since Q3 2007, largely driven by a significant drop in net realised losses.

Former American International Group (AIG) CEO Maurice "Hank" Greenberg will pay $15mn to settle past accounting issues relating to the company, reports suggest.

Hannover Re unveiled an ostensibly strong set of half-year results, with net profits up 66.1 percent to EUR419mn.

Global insurer Zurich Financial Services Group (ZFS) has completed its search to replace its highly regarded chief executive James Schiro.

UK insurer RSA saw its first half net profit decline 24 percent to £223mn, but the figure was nevertheless in line with analysts' expectations under the current economic conditions.

Barnabas Hurst-Bannister, chairman of Travelers Syndicate Management and deputy chairman of the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA), has been named as the new chairman of the London Market Reform Group (MRG), succeeding Peter Harmer...

Marsh's single-minded focus on cost-cutting has again borne fruit in its quarterly earnings, with its operating margin leaping from 10.6 percent to 18.2 percent in the second quarter.

Despite a strong showing by its core property casualty business that included a better-than-expected combined ratio of 89.4 percent, Swiss Re fell back into the red for the second quarter, as worse-than-expected mark-to-market losses and writedowns return

Soft market conditions in the US property casualty insurance market show little sign of abating, according to the latest data from Texas-based insurance exchange MarketScout.

Hardy Underwriting posted an upbeat half-year statement that included significant top-line growth, as it offered a pragmatic but optimistic assessment of future pricing prospects.

Bermudian Max Capital Group saw its second quarter net income drop to $42.8mn compared to $74.2mn in Q2 2008, in part driven by a higher loss ratio and acquisition expenses in its property casualty business.

Bermudian reinsurer Flagstone posted robust second quarter results, booking a net income of $67.8mn, compared to $41.9mn in Q2 2008.

Bermudian reinsurer Everest Re saw second-quarter net income increase 78 percent to $272.6mn, compared to $153.0mn for Q2 2008, after being helped by higher premiums written and an increase in the fair value of its equity portfolio.

Axis Capital's president and CEO has berated the insurance market for lacking the courage to force through rate rises, as the Bermudian (re)insurer saw its second quarter profits drop from $231mn to $159mn.

Munich Re unveiled solid net profits of EUR703mn for the second quarter, up 11.9 percent on the prior-year period, as its primary division, ERGO, returned to the black.

White Mountains Insurance Group is restructuring its reinsurance business by converting its Bermudian reinsurance arm into a branch of White Mountains Re Sirius.

Canadian combine Fairfax Financial Holdings turned a net profit of $275.4mn for the second quarter, compared to just $27.6mn in the prior-year period, as it returned to underwriting profit in its (re)insurance operations and booked strong investment gains

Gallagher's Global Energy initiative took another decisive step this week with news that the firm has opened a Calgary office, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) impressed analysts with strong half-year figures, posting a 16 percent increase in turnover to £309.7mn, fuelled by organic growth that averaged 5 percent across divisions.

Aon and Willis reported flat and 1 percent organic revenue growth respectively in their core business for the second quarter, as a lingering soft market and difficult economic conditions combined to produce a challenging climate for the broking giants.

French reinsurer Scor’s net income for the first six months of the year dropped by 24 percent from H1 2008 to EUR184mn, as investment income dropped from EUR348mn to EUR 149mn.

The Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) has expressed "disappointment" and "concern" at the decision to allow broker AJ Gallagher to begin accepting contingent commissions again.