A new venue, a new Speaker of the House and some new, pressing concerns will greet agents and brokers at this year’s Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Legislative Conference and Convention in Washington, D.C.

Aviation losses were again above average in 2010, but that result will not necessarily translate into a hard market for aviation insurance, says insurance broker Aon.

Aviation losses were again above average in 2010, but that result will not necessarily translate into a hard market for aviation insurance, says insurance broker Aon.

Despite its devastation, Japan’s earthquake will not have a global impact on insurance rates, but the cumulative effect of a series of catastrophes and changes in modeling will likely produce rate increases in some sectors, according to a report from Towers Watson.

Commercial property and casualty insurers could take the biggest hit both in losses and credit worthiness from the earthquake in Japan, according to a Moody’s report.

The reinsurance industry can financially withstand the losses from Japan’s Tohoku earthquake, but the compounding of losses from Australia and New Zealand is putting strain on reinsurers and having some price impact, according to a Guy Carpenter report.

The reinsurance industry can financially withstand the losses from Japan’s Tohoku earthquake, but the compounding of losses from Australia and New Zealand is putting strain on reinsurers and having some price impact, according to a Guy Carpenter report.

Oil Insurance Ltd. reported 2010 net income of $782 milion, down 29 percent from the previous year.