The state of the economy and developments in states implementation of the federal excess and surplus lines reform law will be two topics on the minds of National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) members as they gather for the organizations 2012 Mid-Year Leadership Forum.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded PartnerRes insurance financial strength rating to A1 from Aa3 due in part to the catastrophe losses the company suffered relative to most of its peers.

Total insurance-industry employment grew by over 5,000 jobs in December 2011 compared to November, but Insurance Information Institute President Robert Hartwig notes that the big news is not the month-to-month changes, but rather the recalibrating of current and recent industry employment.

Mergers and acquisitions activity should be robust over the next 12 months as a recent survey shows many property and casualty chief financial officers will be looking to acquire a company or block of business, but targets might be hard to come by.

Beyond just the dollar figure of Thailand-flood losses, the event exposed risk-management challenges for reinsurers management teams, according to a Moodys Special Comment.

Beyond just the dollar figure of Thailand-flood losses, the event exposed risk-management challenges for reinsurers management teams, according to a Moodys Special Comment.

Catastrophe losses in 2011 led to the U.S. property and casualty industrys largest underwriting loss since 2002, and while 2012 should see a modest improvement in pricing, a true hard market is likely at least a year or two away, according to A.M. Best.

Bank of America cannot be held liable to Allstate Insurance Company over residential mortgage-backed securities purchased by Allstate from Countrywide Financial Corporation.