At KPMG's insurance conference held in late September, attendees were surveyed on various issues facing the industry, including their views on underwriting profitability. The lack of confidence in their ability to underwrite profitably was striking (see accompanying chart).
“I think it reflects the fact the soft cycle that people are experiencing is being driven by factors that aren't in most people's experience,” says Scott Marcello, the leader of KPMG's insurance practice in the U.S.
Among the factors insurers dealt with this year are depleted capital because of high catastrophe losses in 2008; higher 2009 reinsurance renewal rates; investment portfolios losses; and declining prices in recent years. 
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