November 2016/3

Lloyd's managing agents are a fiercely independent bunch.

Share price data on The Insurance Insider's universe of P&C (re)insurers

The P&C insurance sector made strong gains last week as initial expectations of a rout following Donald Trump's shock win in the US presidential election proved unfounded, with financial stocks galloping forwards, led by banks and life insurers.

Aggregate returns for the US specialty composite dropped year-on-year in the third quarter as underwriting margins narrowed while investment yields remained relatively flat.

The Insurance Insider's new composite of six major players in the US specialty market recorded lower underwriting margins as the third quarter was hit by weaker reserve releases and higher core loss ratios.

The upward trajectory in premium growth for US specialty carriers started to show signs of plateauing in the third quarter as insurers pulled back from some lines amid competitive pricing.

There is evidence that the stabilisation of rates seen in parts of the reinsurance market may be starting to arrive in the primary insurance space, albeit with a significant lag.

Hellman joins Thomas Miller; Marsh acquires Bluefin; Brit diamond consortium; New Zealand earthquake; Standard Syndicate loss deteriorates; Watsa backs US equities; TMK 2015 forecasts down; Aspen appoints insurance head; UK China ILS appeal; Zurich names UK CEO; Allianz P&C profits up; Hannover Re Matthew loss; XL appoints global excess casualty president.

Chinese conglomerate Fosun has revealed it is targeting European and possibly Asian run-off assets.

The UK chancellor's Autumn Statement will provide further detail on the provision of the taxation and structural positions to make London an insurance-linked securities (ILS) hub, The Insurance Insider understands.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) plans to close its US defined-benefit (DB) pension plan at the end of this year and replace it with a defined-contribution (DC) scheme, in a move that parallels the shutdown of its much larger UK DB plan two years ago.

Broker facilities have limited durability and will not be a permanent feature of the market, according to Tokio Marine Kiln's head of innovation Tom Hoad.

Swiss Re chief economist Kurt Karl has said Silicon Valley firms are likely form partnerships with insurance companies rather than entering the industry themselves due to the prohibitive regulation in the sector.

Fannie Mae is hoping to see the number of active (re)insurers engaging in mortgage risk transfer from the US government-sponsored entity (GSE) double at least as it looks to establish a long-term market for the business.

Embedded value in Arch Capital's mortgage insurance business could drive "meaningful upside" in the Bermudian's shares after a successful close of its United Guaranty (UGC) acquisition, according to JP Morgan equity analysts.

Argo will be able to leverage significant fee income from its Lloyd's business after the closure of its acquisition of Ariel, with a combined $413mn of third party capital supporting syndicates 1200 and 1910.

The Lloyd's chairman recruitment needs to be viewed in light of a perception that the Corporation has unaddressed issues and lacks the requisite leadership, according to a broad array of senior London market figures that The Insurance Insider has spoken to.

More than half of Lloyd's managing agents would like to see Stephen Catlin named Lloyd's chairman, with an overwhelming majority dead set on a chairman with executive insurance experience, The Insurance Insider can reveal.

US president-elect Donald Trump remains an unknown in so many ways that divining what his presidency may mean in specific policy areas can be a frustrating exercise at best.

Tax reform may take centre stage in the first months of a Donald Trump presidency, as Republican leaders in Congress exploit their party's new executive power by meshing existing legislative proposals with the New York billionaire's oft-stated desire to cut corporate taxes and eliminate loopholes.

(Re)insurance stocks enjoyed relatively modest gains amid wider US equity market rallies following the election of Donald Trump as president last week.

Stephen Catlin and former Marsh Europe CEO Bruce Carnegie-Brown have both been approached to sound out their appetite to succeed John Nelson as Lloyd's chairman, with a host of predicted runners and riders not involved in the recruitment process, The Insurance Insider can reveal.