P&C potential: Here's what to expect in 2015

While there are always a number of wild cards in play, it could be said that performance in the Property & Casualty insurance market in 2015 will depend greatly on two things: the impact of new capacity on rate pricing, and whether or not Mother Nature’s relative streak of kindness will last.

With few natural catastrophes of any great significance again this year, property rates in particular will see declines. (Editor’s Note: At the time of this writing, claims figures for the historic Buffalo snowstorm have yet to be tallied.) Rates in property have been falling for several consecutive periods, in part as a result of low loss numbers; Swiss Re reports that worldwide property losses totaled $21 billion for the first six months of 2014, compared with $25 billion during the same period in 2013. This trend is expected to continue.