• Economy Cools M&A Enthusiasm

      Economy cools MA enthusiasm; Buyers and sellers exercise more caution in potential deals SALLY ROBERTS Uncertainty about the economy, insurance pricing and the political environment, coupled with tight credit markets, have slowed the number...
    • National Insurance Corporation Announces Strategic Alliance with Brokers International Ltd.

      NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- National Insurance Corporation, a subsidiary of National Holdings Corporation (OTCBB: NHLD) - a full service investment banking holding company, announced today they have entered into a strategic alliance with Bro...
    • Direct-only deals dominate the market

      Homeowners using mortgage brokers to find a new deal have been warned that two-thirds of deals are now only available directly from lenders. Research by Moneyfacts.co.uk, the financial website, has found that intermediaries can advise on on...
    • Nationwide Insurance, Allied Insurance Responding to Hail Storm in Denver Area

      COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nationwide Insurance and Allied Insurance claim representatives and agents are prepared to assist customers affected by the recent hail storm in the Denver area. Procedures are in place to provide quick resp...
    • State Farm, Customers At Odds Over Award

      State Farm Fire Casualty Co. argued in federal court Wednesday that the company should not have to pay policyholders $174,811.80 for Katrina damage attributed to wind because an umpire and two appraisers who set the amount strayed into deter...
    • Mortgage lenders are failing consumers in their hour of need

      Mortgage lenders are failing to help long-standing customers who have lost their jobs. Several readers have written to Sunday Times Money to say their lenders are refusing to offer them assistance, or even to give them a fair hearing, when...
    • Think before rushing into a fixed rate mortgage deal

      Lenders were last week branded unfair for raising the cost of mortgages even though the rates at which they lend to each other in the money markets have dropped to record lows. Brokers said fixed rates have gone up so much that borrowers co...
    • U.S. Withheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving

      In 2003, researchers at a federal agency proposed a long-term study of 10,000 drivers to assess the safety risk posed by cellphone use behind the wheel. They sought the study based on evidence that such multitasking was a serious and growin...
    • Insuring Against Hurricanes

      To hedge against the Big One, buy an exchange-traded hurricane contract. Despite a quiet hurricane season so far, the capital-starved insurance industry remains nervous. Hurricane Ike caused $11.5 billion in damage last year. State Farm, Flo...
    • Liberty Mutual Survey Shows Baby Boomers Reluctant to Speak to Aging Parents About Their Driving but

      Baby Boomers have a difficult time speaking to their parents about when to limit or stop driving, yet most seniors are open to talking about the increased safety risks they face on the road as they age, according to a national survey by Libe...
    • Fitch Releases Special Report on Analyzing Prior Period Loss Reserves and Tail Factors

      In a new report, Fitch Ratings discusses property/casualty insurer loss reserves for older underwriting periods, and challenges in assessing reserve strength for insurers with longer tail claims liabilities. Reserves from accident years befo...
    • Perspectives: State Farm, Florida Regulators Continue to Mull Best Way for Insurer to Leave

      In Florida there's been some worry about whether the state has enough cash to pay for damages following a hurricane. It's a story that has been covered many times in the past five years. That remains a story, but with lawmakers passing legi...
    • A.M. Best Releases Methodology on Natural Catastrophe Stress Test

      A.M. Best Co. has released an update to its methodology titled Natural Catastrophe Stress Test Methodology. The document is available on the Best's Credit Rating Methodology section of A.M. Best's homepage. Visit www.ambest.com/ratings/me...
    • North Carolina Regulators, Rate Bureau Agree to Roll Back Auto Rates

      Private automobile insurance rates in North Carolina will be rolled back to just under 2006 levels following a settlement signed by Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and the North Carolina Rate Bureau. According to a statement from Goodw...
    • Washington Shrugs At New AIG Bonus Plan

      Washington policymakers have changed their position on huge compensation programs at financial firms, a change for the better, Rep. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said. When bailed out insurance company American International Group Inc. attempted to p...
    • Reinvigorated Watchdog SEC Charges 11 With Illegal Insider Trading

      The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday charged 11 people with illegal insider trading connected with merger announcements at two companies. The actions are a break from the SEC's recent rash of pursuing enforcement actions regar...
    • Max America Now Licensed to Write Marine Insurance in All 50 States

      Max America Insurance Co. is now able to write the inland and ocean marine insurance in the 50 States eligible to become an insurer in California, Max Capital Group Ltd. said. Max America is a subsidiary of Richmond, Va.-Max Specialty Insur...
    • Squatters choose the best in Mayfair property

      Showing me around his 22.5m Mayfair home, my host is incredibly welcoming. You can come any time, he says. Feel free to do whatever and go wherever you like here. It is a delightful thought as I admire the huge circular first-floor drawing...
    • Squatters move into Billionaires’ Row as concern grows over homes left empty

      Squatters have moved into a London super-mansion in a road dubbed Billionaires Row, a few doors from a house owned by the steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. Mr Mittal, the head of ArcelorMittal, put his home, the nine-bedroom Summer Palace, on t...
    • Insuring Against Hurricanes

      To hedge against the Big One, buy an exchange-traded hurricane contract. Despite a quiet hurricane season so far, the capital-starved insurance industry remains nervous. Hurricane Ike caused $11.5 billion in damage last year. State Farm, Flo...