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- March 7 2024
Japan, Thailand, China set to defy Asia’s P&C premium growth slowdown: S&P
Property & casualty gross premium growth in the region is cooling but will likely stay above 4% through 2025, according to S&P, while CORs are seen stablising from Covid-19 impact seen in previous years.
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- March 6 2024
ASIC urges insurers to improve claims handling as severe weather events increase
In a letter directed to general insurers, the Australian corporate regulator said events such as cyclone Jasper, and Christmas and New Year storms have highlighted their licence obligations to process claims fairly and in a timely fashion.
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- March 6 2024
China Re, PICC team up to form rule-setting body for typhoon, flood risks: report
The state-backed working group seeks to build a risk assessment platform to offer tailored insurance coverage for the two perils.
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- March 5 2024
Taiping Re counting on parametrics to rise to Hong Kong’s secondary peril challenges
CEO Sheldon Yu tells IAN that he believes index-based products will help address growing losses from non-peak perils in the city and the reinsurer is targeting to launch a pilot programme by 2025.
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- March 4 2024
Hong Kong Federation of Insurers commits to carbon neutrality by 2050 with climate charter
With 33 inaugural signatories, the climate charter introduces actionable goals across claims management, underwriting, societal engagement, investments, governance and disclosure.
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- March 4 2024
Taiwanese regulator set to finalise rules to ease insurers offshore bond issuance: report
The amendments seek to allow Taiwanese carriers to issue regulatory bonds via SPVs, which will reduce related tax costs and help them cope with IFRS 17 implications.
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- March 1 2024
Korean Re Switzerland promotes Michael Hinz to CEO
Currently as chief underwriting officer, Hinz will succeed incumbent Markus Eugster who is stepping down after more than five years with the reinsurer.
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- February 28 2024
Hong Kong reiterates pledge to develop as ILS hub in 2024-25 budget
The city's financial secretary repeated its goal of developing insurance-linked securities such as cat bonds, and attracting captives as key to developing its specialty insurance market.
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- February 26 2024
Taiping Re may post FY 2023 underwriting loss on Turkey, Hong Kong cat exposures: Fitch
Higher retentions, reduced excess-of-loss coverage and increased retro cost are weighing on the reinsurer's performance, with its COR for the first half up at 106%.
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- February 26 2024
Suncorp’s H1 net profit up 5.4% on strong consumer business growth, investment gains
Its first-half GWP rose 16%, while COR edged up 95.7%. CEO Steve Johnston expects inflation to remain a challenge this year.
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- February 23 2024
Zurich Asia property & casualty FY2023 GWP up 11% on travel business recovery
Asia Pacific's operating profit rose 18% primarily due to growth in life business, while higher commission rate linked to its travel business sales weighed on P&C combined ratio.
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- February 22 2024
Insurers lobby for removal of green infrastructure investing roadblock
The twin challenges of inflation and net-zero transition facing (re)insurers are highlighting the role that infrastructure assets can play in their portfolios, with infrastructure loan yielding as much as 600 bps in risk premium and equities returning 12%.
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- February 21 2024
PSC Insurance upgrades full-year guidance after 39% rise in H1 bottom line
The Melbourne-based global broking group saw strong performance in its distribution business in Australia, offsetting the small decline recorded by its existing UK business.
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- February 20 2024
Taiwan’s regulator expects EV insurance reference rates to be finalised by Q2: report
Insurance policies for electric vehicles are expected to be ready for launch as early as the second-half this year after the industry association, regulator finalise the reference rates and terms for the non-life sector.
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- February 20 2024
Australia’s competition tribunal greenlights Suncorp’s US$3.2bn bank sale to ANZ
After the deal, which is now expected to be completed by mid-2024, Suncorp will remain a dedicated insurance group headquartered in Brisbane.
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- February 16 2024
QBE FY 2023 GWP rises 8% on higher premium rates
Net profit more than doubles for the full year of 2023, although still missing analysts' expectations. Its COR improved marginally to 95.2%.
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- February 15 2024
Fubon Insurance shakes off Covid provision, logs record monthly premium in January
The non-life carrier recorded strong growth in commercial fire and engineering insurance in January, which bolstered direct written premium to US$221.9m.
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- February 15 2024
Overseas growth drives Japan’s big three as domestic premiums flatten
The third quarter results reported by MS&AD, Tokio Marine and Sompo Group show strong top-line growth and substantial improvements in profits from international arms due to lower nat cat losses, reduced Covid-19 losses and forex gains.
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- February 9 2024
Fitch slashes Indonesian insurer Eka Lloyd’s outlook on lower capitalisation
The Indonesian insurer's “BBB+” rating is affirmed. Still, credit insurance, which accounts for the bulk of its premium, could add volatility to its reserve.
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- February 9 2024
Pacific Prime makes Australia foray with senior hire
The broker has appointed Melbourne-based Honan Financial veteran Michael Atta as head of employee benefits.