Insurers see costliest storm season to date

Severe storms and hail across Australia have generated 44,600 insurance claims so far, set to be the costliest of the current financial year, Artemis reported. While claims are still rising after a catastrophe declaration was extended through Nov. 27, Suncorp Group Ltd. has already used up as much as 1.3 billion Australian dollars ($852 million) of its AUD1.8 billion natural hazards allowance.