Daily

S&P warns on impacts from escalating floods, fires

17 January 2023

Property and casualty insurers’ ability to absorb additional natural catastrophes could be tested in the case of severe downside scenarios involving an escalation of events such as fires and floods, S&P Global Ratings says...

No breach: JLT wins councils mutual class action

16 January 2023

The NSW Supreme Court has dismissed a class action launched against JLT by local governments that became dissatisfied with a mutual scheme, finding the company was not acting as a broker for individual councils in conflict with its role as an adviser for the pool...

IAG places reinsurance, Berkshire equity deal ends

16 January 2023

IAG has placed its reinsurance for this year, at an increased expense and with a higher retention, while the insurer has also announced changes in its arrangements with Berkshire Hathaway...

WTW merges Asia, Australasia businesses

16 January 2023

WTW has appointed Simon Weaver as Head of Asia Pacific, a newly created role after the broker combined its Asia and Australasia operations into one regional division...

Claimant wins dispute over non-disclosure of criminal conviction

16 January 2023

A complainant who had his claim denied after he failed to inform his insurer of a previous criminal conviction has won his dispute after an Australian Financial Complaints Authority determination ruled that the wording of questions had been misleading...

Rough weather set to extend into summer

21 December 2022

Extreme weather conditions remain a high risk as summer gets underway, with the eastern states likely to experience flood, tropical cyclones and even grassfire outbreaks, IAG-owned NRMA Insurance says in a report today...

Innovation key to growth amid market challenges: UAC Chairman

21 December 2022

Underwriting Agencies Council Chairman Heath Amber says product and service innovation has been key to growth in the sector and will remain vital as challenging market conditions make it difficult for some communities and individuals to acquire the cover they require...

ACCC cyclone pool baseline report shows premium pain

20 December 2022

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released its initial cyclone reinsurance pool monitoring report, setting a baseline for prices and costs ahead of insurers joining the scheme and highlighting price pressures facing northern regions...

QBE expands impact investments portfolio

20 December 2022

QBE says its Premiums4Good initiative, aimed at making a positive environmental and social impact, has expanded its investments over the past year as the group sets its sights on a $US2 billion target by 2025...

Perrottet puts national reinsurance pool on the table

19 December 2022

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will ask National Cabinet to consider the feasibility of a reinsurance pool to assist flood-affected areas around the country with insurance affordability and accessibility, building on work to create the Northern Australia cyclone scheme...

Crystal ball gazing: inflation, renewals challenges not going away in 2023

19 December 2022

Cost pressures will continue to strain the industry next year, as insurers grapple with fallout from ongoing supply chain issues and record-breaking flood catastrophes in the eastern states since February, analysts say in a preview of what to expect over the next 12 months...