Seven Signs the Market is Hardening

Wednesday, Jun 17,2009, 12:18:39 PM Click:

Copyright 2009 ProQuest Information and LearningAll Rights ReservedCopyright 2009 Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. Risk Management

June 2009

FORE FRONT; Pg. 11 Vol. 56 No. 5 ISSN: 0035-5593

23196

432 words

Seven Signs the Market is Hardening

Stasi, Rick.

Rick Stasi is the chief operating officer ofAvizent.

ABSTRACT

There is much debate over whether or not the insurance market is hardening. Some believe it has yet to see the rising prices and decreased capacity indicative of a hardening market. They note that some carriers are trying to gain market share by lowering price. Here are seven signs that the market is hardening: 1. lower underwriting profits, 2. increased combined ratio, 3. lack of investment income, 4. increased catastrophic losses, 5. return on equity falling, 6. reinsurance hardening, and 7. reductions/capacity. FULL TEXT

There is much debate over whether or not the insurance market is hardening. Some believe it has yet to see the rising prices and decreased capacity indicative of a hardening market. They note that some carriers are trying to gain market share by lowering price. So, is a hard market coming? Looking at the general indicators of a hard market helps answer the question - especially considering every factor trends negatively.

1. Lower Underwriting Profits

In 2007 and 2008, the market saw negative premium growth for the first time since 1943.

2. Increased Combined Ratio

In 2007, the combined ratio (losses in claims plus overhead divided by premiums) for the insurance industry was 94%, which increased to 106% in 2008. (A combined ratio over 100% is unprofitable for insurers. The 1 06% ratio means insurers were paying out $106 dollars for every $100 of premium collected).

3. Lack of Investment Income

The industry can no longer make up for unprofitable under- writing through investments. Investment gains were off sharply in 2008 due to lower yields and poor equity market conditions.

4. Increased Catastrophic Losses

In 2008, there was $25 billion in estimated catastrophic losses - worse than 2006 and 2007 combined.

5. Return on Equity Falling

ROE is close to record lows. And the 1.2% posted in 2008 is eerily similar to the start of the 2000/2001 hard market.

6. Reinsurance Hardening

Due to price increases in the property marketplace and increases in D&O coverage due to the financial crisis, 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 have shown definite signs of hardening in the reinsurance market.

7. Reductions/Capacity

Surplus is a measurement of underwriting capacity - and it is shrinking. Since the peak capacity of $522 billion was reached in September 2007, industry capacity has fallen by 20%. Further declines are expected for 2009. SIDEBAR

Surplus is a measurement of underwriting capacityand it is shrinking. Since the peak capacity of $522 billion was reached in September 2007, industry capacity has fallen by 20%. Further declines are expected for 2009.