Business has picked up in the bidding for Transatlantic Holdings since the New York-based reinsurer and Allied World Assurance called off their proposed merger, as Transatlantic says it has entered into two confidentiality agreements: one with Validus Holdings and one with an undisclosed third party.

Obama-administration plans to further reduce crop-insurance subsidies could accelerate a consolidation process in the agricultural insurance sector that is already long underway, according to Moodys.

Obama-administration plans to further reduce crop-insurance subsidies could accelerate a consolidation process in the agricultural insurance sector that is already long underway, according to Moodys.

State Farm says it has paid policyholders $5 billion so far due to weather-related catastrophes, and the Bloomington, Ill.-based insurer says 2011 is likely to be one of the companys busiest years on record for catastrophe losses.

Catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide says it expects between $150 million and $600 million in insured losses from Typhoon Roke, which crossed over Japans main island, Honshu, earlier this week.

A new study says rising workers compensation premiums are more closely associated with decreases in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and interest rates on U.S. Treasury bonds rather than higher claims paymentsan assertion challenged by an industry association.

Typhoon Roke completed its pass over Honshu, Japans main island, leaving behind some wind damage, but mostly damage from flooding.

Inland-marine insurers are faced with a thinning and aging talent pool in a line of insurance that requires highly specialized industry and insurance knowledge, according to a recent Conning Research & Consulting report.