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• Insurance Regulator Amends Ambac Note-Purchase Approval

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 24, 2012

  Wisconsin’s commissioner of insurance amended his decision from last week and will now allow Ambac to purchase just two of three bank notes.

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  Hard Market? Top Industry Leaders Comment on Pricing-- Slideshow

  By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 24, 2012

  With 2012’s first quarter in the books, executives and industry observers have noted that property and casualty pricing remains on the upswing. Following are observations from industry leaders made during conference calls and in recent analyses in response to 2012 first-quarter results.

• NOAA Sees 'Near Normal' Atlantic Hurricane Season

  By Reuters  |  May 24, 2012

  The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season will be "near normal" with nine to 15 tropical storms and four to eight of those will strengthen into hurricanes, the U.S. government weather agency predicted on Thursday.

• Senate Passes 60-Day NFIP Extension; Paves Way for Vote on 5-Year bill

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 24, 2012

  The Senate passed a 60-day National Flood Insurance Program extension as part of an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. David Vitter, R-La. to move a five-year program extension bill to the Senate floor.

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  P&C Cos. Continue to Release Reserves; Outdid Q1 Estimates

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 23, 2012

  Keefe, Bruyette & Woods says its warning of rising deficiencies among the 55 insurance stocks it follows was incorrect, as non-life insurers released “surprisingly strong” reserves during the first quarter.

• Judge Denies MBIA Demand for Information from Banks

  By Reuters  |  May 23, 2012

  Banks challenging bond insurer MBIA Inc's 2009 restructuring don't have to answer questions about whether they pushed state senators to start an investigation, a New York judge ruled on Tuesday.

• Clock Ticking on NFIP as Senate Introduces 5-Year Extension

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 22, 2012

  Sen. David Vitter, R.-La., today introduced a five-year National Flood Insurance Program extension in the form of an amendment to bipartisan drug legislation.

• EQECAT: Italy Quake to Cause $127M in Insured Losses

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 22, 2012

  Catastrophe modeler EQECAT says the earthquake in Northern Italy on May 20 will cause about $127 million in insured losses.

• Swiss Re Joins Private Sector Commitment to Africa Farmers

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 21, 2012

  Swiss Re is joining a $3 billion commitment between government and the private sector to increase investment in Africa with the aim of creating new business opportunities in agriculture.

• Senate Looks to Attach Long-Term NFIP Extension to FDA Bill

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 21, 2012

  An effort is underway to attach a long-term National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization and reform legislation to bipartisan drug legislation in the Senate.