E&S/Specialty

Many small-cap companies--those with the lowest levels of market capitalization--are currently facing a Catch-22 situation that impacts members of their boards of directors.

The 40-year-old Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association said it is changing its name to the International Association of Claim Professionals.

Reversing a downward trend, the frequency of medical malpractice claims against hospitals is rising, an insurance brokerage and risk management group has found.

Most program business insurers believe gross premium volume for their segment totals at least $20 billion, but a growing subset now has doubts that they are actually writing that much as a group, a survey reported.

Despite a 67 percent drop in net income in 2008, excess and surplus lines insurers are still financially strong, according to a rating agency report prepared for the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices Ltd.

Most program business insurers believe gross premium volume for their segment totals at least $20 billion, but a growing subset now has doubts that they are actually writing that much as a group, a survey reported.

Despite a 67 percent drop in net income in 2008, excess and surplus lines insurers are still financially strong.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declared that the recession is "very likely over," but the pace of recovery will be uneven across states and industries, according to a leading insurance industry economist.