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Covering the operational and strategic concerns of brokers, insurers and reinsurers, including legislative and regulatory developments, business challenges, market conditions and competitive intelligence.
TORONTO (Reuters)—Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., the property and casualty insurer run by investment guru Prem Watsa, said on Thursday its fourth-quarter loss widened by 56% due to catastrophe claims and losses on the company's equity hedges.
Technology can't replace insurance underwritingCHICAGO—Technological advances and capital allocation have had significant effects on insurance underwriting during the past several years, according to Bob Shine, New York-based chief underwriting officer for North American…

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Zurich board proposes name change to focus on insuranceZURICH—Zurich Financial Services Ltd. said Wednesday that its board of directors has proposed changing its name to reflect the company's strategic focus on insurance.
As the old saying goes, it's all fun and games until someone gets bitten by an unidentified dog.
The blogosphere has been abuzz over a report on extreme weather events in the United States released last week by Environment America. Among the key findings: – Since 2006, federally declared weather-related disasters in the United States have…
Can a single judge implement civil justice reform? Read how a Philadelphia judge did just that when dealing with the city’s mass tort program.
What’s ahead for the commercial property//casualty insurance industry? Here’s Insurance Information Institute President Robert Hartwig’s take.
Twice a year, the American Tort Reform Assn. issues its “Tort Reform Record” detailing tort reform for the latest legislative year as well as a state-by-state summary of reforms enacted since 1986.
BusInsMHofmann Who just acquired whom in the brokerage world? Find out the latest at Broker Buzz http://t.co/e0TaTFXh
BusInsMHofmann Analyst: Breaking up might not be easy when it comes to splitting Hartford's life and property/casualty operations http://t.co/rR7Q2FI0
BusInsMHofmann Find out how a Philadelphia judge implemented tort reform in the city's mass tort court http://t.co/h3j94ej9
BusInsMHofmann Marsh has named a new head of marketing and communications. Find out who at Broker Buzz http://t.co/rf71alXH
BusInsMHofmann Ohio Supreme Court upholds key tort reform provision in medical malpractice case http://t.co/iOuT1XUW
What is the next liability exposure that could rival the asbestos crisis? This white paper examines five liability exposures that have the potential to cause grave problems for the commercial insurance industry: nanoscale materials; genetically modified plants and animals; climate change; exposure to radio frequency waves; and the environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing in natural gas drilling.
Whether they are publicly traded, privately held or a nonprofit, midsize and smaller firms also face the risk of lawsuits filed by employees, competitors, vendors and regulators. International operations can also create exposures. Understanding the liability exposures facing mid-sized companies, and whether D&O protection is the solution, is the focus of this webinar from Business Insurance.
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