Property & casualty insurers could see a drop in the value of their fixed-income securities investments if interest rates climb as expected, according to Moodys Investors Service.

Rates are rising, multiple studies agreeeven global-property rates in non-catastrophe-exposed areas. But at least one firm, ALIRT Insurance Research, maintains the industry has not yet reached its tipping point for a hard-market turn.

Three earthquakes struck Mexico yesterday and early today, but caused little damage because of their remote location, says a catastrophe modeler.

Global-reinsurer capital declined 3 percent in 2011 over the previous year as first-quarter catastrophes and reduction in capacity from government programs took a big chunk out of the total, says reinsurance broker Aon Benfield.

Brokers Arthur J. Gallagher and Brown & Brown have announced recent acquisitions.

The break-up of Ariel Re finished with both Arch and Goldman Sachs saying they have completed their purchases of Ariel Re Credit and Surety and Ariel Reinsurances Bermuda operations.

Risk managers seeking to control the cost of workers compensation coverage can find an effective weapon by utilizing claims data and performing analyses that will help them deal with the most expensive claims.

Wildfires in New Jersey and New York are prompting warnings of an active fire season because of unusually dry conditions along the East coast coupled with record high temperatures in March.