May 2004/4

Despite continuing strong results in the US property casualty (p/c) sector, recent pronouncements from insurance stock analysts offer a rather mixed message on investment prospects for the next few years.

UK insurer Royal & Sun Alliance (R&SA) made a positive start to the year with a 30 percent rise in first quarter operating profits to £100mn.

Shares in Swiss Re fell today after the reinsurer failed to meet analysts’ forecasts in its 2003 life and health results.

Return to banking profit and reduced investment write-downs feed €675mn profit Giant German insurer Allianz was at last able to deliver positive news on its flagging banking arm last week, as it revealed that Dresdner Bank had made profit for the firs

Germany’s Hannover Re announced a “vigorous surge in profitability” today, despite a year-on-year fall in gross premiums of more than 20 percent. The reinsurer says it remains on track to beat its 2003 result.

There is growing evidence that the hard market is at an end, with downward pressures on both pricing and terms according to brokers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Lloyd’s insurer Amlin last week announced the acquisition of UK retail yacht insurance broker SM Marine Holdings Limited.

Lloyd's has announced the appointment of a full-time representative to work with the Spanish insurance market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set its sights on banks that provide so-called “structured finance” deals.

UK insurance brokers are in danger of missing the FSA deadline for increased regulatory compliance, Alexander Forbes and consultants IFA Mentor have warned.

Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) has said the Asia Pacific region is set for a fall in underwriting profitability at year-end 2004, the result of decreased resilience to pricing pressures.

Rehabilitation specialists HCML has said it aims to triple its workforce by the end of 2004 to support increased demand from UK businesses for comprehensive medial and vocational case management services.