June 2008/1

The insurance linked securities (ILS) sector is a rare jewel that stands out from the credit market turmoil, according to market leaders speaking at Trading Risk's inaugural Executive Briefing event last month.

Berkshire Hathaway was not immune to the twin assault of the softening market and credit fallout as first quarter net profits dropped by around 64 percent to $940mn.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has extended the deadline for the first round of bids for its insurance division, following apparent dwindling interest in the units.

The trend that has seen many (re)insurers hand back significant chunks of capital to shareholders continues in earnest which has even led to comparisons of early 2005.

Lloyd's publicly traded insurers echoed the themes emerging in Q1 results from their US, Bermudian and European (re)insurance rivals with a flurry of May trading statements that talked of softening rates, pressure on investment returns and higher than...

Despite being spurned by IAG, QBE has told investors it plans to carry on with its M&A growth strategy and this might mean the insurer looks again at RSA.

UK-listed intermediary Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) could pay up to £8mn for independent London market (re)insurance broker Harman Wicks & Swayne (HWS), The Insurance Insider understands.

Tensions are brewing between Lloyd’s underwriting supremo Rolf Tolle and at least two managing agents over demands for more performance management data as the market heads deeper into the soft cycle, The Insurance Insider has learnt.

Allianz Group's burdensome relationship with subsidiary Dresdner Bank continued with first quarter results hit by a EUR845mn write-down at the banking arm in "difficult market conditions".

Lloyd's insurer Novae Group has put its legacy run-off business out to tender in a move that could see the firm finally free itself from the shackles of its past, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

Lloyd's insurers may be free to operate without annual venture restriction following HM Treasury guidance

The Virgin group successfully gained a reduction in rates for two of its three airlines in the May renewals as the market continues its struggle to get airborne.