October 2007/5

Bancassurance is gaining in popularity particularly in emerging markets, according to research by Swiss Re.

Airline premium rates fell again this month - after a brief hiatus in August/September - according to the latest data from Aon Aviation.

One of the UK's leading fund managers, Standard Life Investments Ltd has acquired 29 million shares in Lloyd's insurer Chaucer Holdings plc, representing 9 percent of the voting rights in the company.

David Stevens, COO of UK niche-branded insurer Admiral Group plc, has purchased £1.9mn of shares in the company, taking the director's shareholding in Admiral to 3.84 percent.

The House of Lords upheld a Court of Appeal decision last week, ruling that employers are not liable to compensate employees who develop symptomless pleural plaques after exposure to asbestos.

Gen Re's victory last week in its dispute with Arch Capital Group over the poaching of a thirty strong facultative team will encourage employers concerned about their intellectual property walking out of the door.