All News Analysis articles – Page 7
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News AnalysisBroker Forum: Challenging times
Developments in technology, sharper professional standards and the changing relationships between brokers, insurers and customers emerged as the key concerns at this year’s Insurance Times Broker Forum
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News Analysis
Deals round-up: Cautious optimism for M&A results in first half of 2010
Upward trend in deals under £40m continues with fourth consecutive rise in volumes and values
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News Analysis
Cracking up
The FSA is doomed, but its principal officers are jumping ship rather than waiting to board the new Prudential Regulation Authority. Will those that remain be distracted from crucial issues like Solvency II, or will the wounded watchdog put personal pain into its bite?
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News Analysis
At your service
Our sister magazine StrategicRISK surveyed risk managers on the service delivered by their insurers and brokers. FM Global outranked the rest of the field on the insurer side, while Heath Lambert retained the top broker spot. But the results show that its rivals are gaining ground fast
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News Analysis
Ready for recovery
Profitability went from bad to worse for most motor insurers in 2009. But EMB’s latest analysis of FSA returns, in tandem with recent industry data, shows that far from buckling under the strain of market pressures, many insurers are now starting to turn a corner
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News Analysis
Leeds roundtable: In a climate of uncertainty
With a new government in place and an emergency budget announced on Tuesday, how do brokers survive times that are both tough and uncertain? Insurance Times reports from the second AXA roundtable, where leaders from the broker-saturated Leeds market discuss how best to stand out and stay strong
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News Analysis
Alive and kicking
Now that a long flirtation with direct sales is losing its lustre, insurers are renewing their faith in brokers. In turn, brokers have reinvented themselves to win insurers back with their knowledge, experience and sound relationships with customers
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News Analysis
The last straw
Tough new tax measures from the IMF aim to catch even the most risk-averse insurers, in the same net as banks. As the industry lobbies next month’s G20 for exemption and urges the government to water down the proposals, will common sense prevail?
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News Analysis
No pain, no gain?
A grey cloud still looms over Solvency II, as feared market instability and confusion over how it will work leaves the industry feeling less than sunny. But will the long-term pros be worth the short-term cons? Insurance Times zipped over to Brussels to hear the latest talks
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News Analysis
A hard market on the horizon
As first-quarter results rolled in, so did fresh calls for a hike in prices. Yet a hard market continues to evade the industry, as even the recent UK floods and freezes failed to turn things around. Is the seven-year cycle of one-size-fits-all raising and lowering a thing of the past? ...
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News Analysis
The Quinn files
UK brokers have already shunned Quinn Insurance once this year, leaving the troubled insurer at the mercy of the Irish regulator. With Quinn now allowed to re-open for limited UK trading and its workers lobbying for full reinstatement, the market is asking whether it can rescue its reputation
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News Analysis
Crawford roundtable: After the floods
Claims experts at a recent roundtable in the City of London tackled the minefield of issues surrounding crisis management
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News Analysis
L&G roundtable: Public image limited
Lumped in with the banks, and accused of trying to wriggle out of paying claims, the insurance industry is suffering from a fairly bad reputation. Our latest roundtable looked at how to restore some much-needed consumer confidence
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News Analysis
When the dust has settled
While volcanic ash halted air travel across Europe, anger boiled over among travellers and businesses, as some insurers avoided paying out on policies. Others paid up rather than take the customer relations hit. Demand is now rising for volcano-friendly products, but will customers be willing to pay for them?
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News Analysis
Back on track?
Commercial combined and packages got off to a sluggish start, although motor was steady. But at least property owners managed an early sprint in this year’s first-quarter premiums
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News Analysis
A new era for Marsh
What happens now Marsh has finally sealed the deal on its £135m HSBC Insurance Brokers takeover
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News Analysis
Time on our hands?
The clock is ticking on the deadline for Solvency II. At the Insurance Times roundtable, there were calls for pragmatism and cool heads, mixed with worries about costs and fears over getting bogged down with detail
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News Analysis
The only broker in Baghdad
With the constant threat of violence and crippling security costs, most brokers view Iraq as a no-go area. But one – Culver – has gone there. Partner-in-situ Jonathan Biles talks about living and working in a war zone and the opportunities he sees in the rebuild
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News Analysis
Collision course
The cost to the insurance industry of accidents caused by uninsured drivers is around £400m a year, and the human cost is incalculable. With the proportion of uninsured vehicles reaching 13% in some regions in the UK, the pressure is on to get tough on uninsured drivers – and save ...
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News Analysis
What’s the alternative? Insurers diversify their investments
Allianz plans to double investment in non-traditional assets as more insurers see the benefits of looking beyond the stock market
