All Archive articles – Page 6
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GR Focus
How the mighty have fallen
Ronald Gift Mullins reviews what went wrong at the insurance giant.
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Features
Fly me to the moon
Sir Richard Branson has a dream, and a bold message for insurers and reinsurers. Not only does he intend to corner the space tourism market, he plans to insure his space launches under aviation – not space – insurance. David Banks spoke to Virgin Galactic to find out more.
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GR Focus
Legal mountain
One of the major impacts of the credit crunch on the insurance sector is the large number of Directors & Officers and Errors & Omissions claims that are expected to be filed. David Sandham assesses the damage.
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GR Focus
Underwriting profits to the rescue
With (re)insurers hit by big investment losses, the pressure is on underwriting profits to save the day, writes Ronald Gift Mullins
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GR Focus
Subprime rot spreads
The credit crisis is an example of systemic risk, whereby the effects of a crisis in one area of the economy quickly spread to a wide range of others, writes David Sandham
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Online only
Flagstone Re sees income rise
Second quarter net income of $41.9m attributed to new business
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Online only
GR Weekly Update. Hurricane Dolly crashes into Texas.
David Banks reports on the hurricane in Texas, Benfield's report on softening market rates and the Duke of York's statements at the official opening of the new Willis headquarters in London.
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Features
Lubricating the wheels
It’s time for change in the global reinsurance industry, argues Dr Kai-Uwe Schanz. Globalisation, deregulation, consolidation and new risk transfer options are challenging the industry’s traditional way of doing business.
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Online only
GR Weekly Update. Market softening continues.
David Sandham reports on the reinsurance market.
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Editor's Note
Exorcising the ghost
Our bold headline this month “Raising the Titanic” (page 10 onwards) is about the renewed efforts to establish a New York Insurance Exchange, 20 years after the previous attempt failed dramatically. Efforts to establish a “Lloyd’s” in New York in the 1980s came a cropper. The market was seen as ...
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Features
Bucking the trend
Retro pricing fell marginally at the 1 January renewals, but it’s not a buyers’ market yet. Mairi Mallon looks at the dynamics facing a market with its own unique set of rules.
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GR Focus
The cashmere market
Rates are plummeting again across the reinsurance industry as the soft market tightens its grip. Brian Boornazian looks at each line and makes his predictions for 2008.
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Cover Story
How low will they go?
Reinsurance prices dropped across the board at the 1 January renewals. Helen Yates asks what could prevent prices going into freefall. Have underwriters learned the lessons of the past?
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GR Focus
To return or not to return?
Roger Sellek examines the pros and cons of returning capital to shareholders in today’s rapidly softening market.
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GR Focus
Settling or sinking?
Do softening reinsurance rates spell a return to the pricing nadir of 1999/2000, or are reinsurers simply giving something back after two good years? asks Jason Howard.
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Features
Devil’s breath
Wildfires that raged across California in October could cost the insurance industry more than $1.5bn. These blazes can no longer be considered rare, warns Tomas Girnius.
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Features
A year of living dangerously
In 2007, cedants on both sides of the Atlantic were reminded that follow-the-settlements/fortunes clauses do not guarantee recovery from reinsurers. Ian McKenna and Sarra Zemmel review some of the major legal battles.
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GR Focus
GR Focus - Fragile world
Climate change is rising up the insurance agenda but so far the industry has lacked a holistic approach to the risks it poses. Inaction will be extremely expensive, warn Keith Leung and Ed Messer.
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Analysis
Grinnell Mutual - Little reinsurer on the prairie
This tiny little-known US reinsurer is the Berkshire Hathaway of its sector. Ronald Gift Mullins introduces Grinnell Mutual – the wholesome reinsurance giant for US farm mutuals.
