USA Focus

News

Credit Suisse bond holdings a concern for US insurers

A number of insurers have small size holdings in troubled bank

Insurers' bond exposure to SVB is limited but equity fallout might hurt

One insurer entity invested 325% of equities in the banking sector, AM Best finds

International regulations fail when they favour one market, says ex-Fed chief

Insurance rules stymied when politics get involved, US regulators say

Insurance regulators call for moderation on anti-fossil fuel policies

Need to look at climate change incrementally, says NAIC head

NAIC's CLO regulation proposals highlight fissures in market

Regulators met this week with no conclusive outcome

US auto insurers face difficult road to return to profitability

Fitch says there has been a sharp deterioration in the sector's performance in last two years

Record-breaking year for US PRT market in 2022

Growth was driven by nine individual transactions near or over the $1bn mark

Climate is now one of the largest risks for US insurers

Californian storms show insurers are "dealing with a different playing field," AM Best says

Insurers stepping up their metaverse efforts

Over half of insurers expect to expand metaverse investment long-term, says KPMG

Chubb beefs up climate team with three hires

New venture branded Chubb Climate+

Ex-Senator Patrick Toomey appointed to Apollo board

Toomey has backed deregulation of the financial sector and voiced support for private equity

Most US insurers benefiting from LDTI transition

New accounting standard will smooth earnings volatility and increase transparency

Macroeconomic threat to future performance of "stellar" US surety sector

US surety underwriters facing tough macroeconomic conditions, says AM Best

Private equity firms could find themselves on IAIG list

Regulators admit growth of PE-backed insurers has sizeable influence on sector

Analysis

Insuring the Big One

The US population is underinsured against earthquakes despite the frequent reminders of how serious this peril can be. Then again, covering quakes is just not easy, as Sarfraz Thind reports

Crypto insurance after the FTX fallout

FTX's collapse capped a bad year for cryptocurrency markets and has prompted serious questions for the burgeoning crypto insurance business, as Sarfraz Thind reports

Covid and Great Resignation 'popped the lid' on people risk

US insurance experts at the Insurance Risk & Capital Americas conference explained how Covid-19 has led insurers to up their game as people risk challenges begin to bite. Paul Walsh reports

War fuels clamour for political risk insurance

It seemed inconceivable that Europe would be in the midst of a major war in 2022. But the events in Ukraine have pushed political risk to the fore, leaving many to ponder how to insure the unthinkable. Sarfraz Thind reports