October 2011/5

The impact of increased US frequency and severity losses in 2011 was starkly illustrated by State Auto last week as the super-regional carrier revealed it had postponed its results to address solutions to shore up its capital.

Chaucer agency replaces chairman; London milestone; RSA: Lee steps up with haste; Terrorist threat lowered; Markel welds; Groupama replaces CEO after downgrades; Economy tops euro giants' worry list; Guy Carpenter expands Asia Pacific team; A- for Fukoku; Collis to head Conyers Dill & Pearman in London; AIG sell-off likely to be delayed; Flagstone to shed Lloyd's business

Swiss Re shares failed to benefit from the reinsurer's return to a double-A level rating last Friday (28 October) as the stock closed marginally down by 0.14 percent.

And so Swiss Re's share of the global financial crisis comes neatly to an end, almost four years after it began.

(Re)insurers have spilled more red ink as the third quarter results started trickling out over the past two weeks, but there was also a tangible feeling among senior executives that positive rate momentum is beginning to build.