Commercial-insurance prices increased by almost 1.5 percent in the 2011 second quarter after the first quarter remained flat, indicating that the market may be hardening, according to Towers Watson's most recent Commercial Lines Insurance Pricing Survey.

Specialty insurers increased premium at an average 4 percent annual-growth rate over the past five years, beating the industry average, which remained close to flat over that time, a Conning Research & Consulting report says.

Specialty insurers increased premium at an average 4 percent annual-growth rate over the past five years, beating the industry average, which remained close to flat over that time, a Conning Research & Consulting report says.

As the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) prepares for its annual convention in San Diego Oct. 10-13, issues surrounding the implementation of the federal surplus-lines reform law will be very much on the minds of the excess and surplus-lines executives in attendance.

Pricing in commercial lines and reinsurance appears to be firming, according to reports, and Moodys Investors Service has upgraded its outlook on both sectors to stable from negative.

Tropical Storm Nate, one of three current Atlantic tropical cyclones, appears to be tracking south of yesterdays forecast and now looks as if it will make landfall in the middle portion of Mexico.

Aon Benfields catastrophe model development center, Impact Forecasting, estimates U.S. insured losses from Hurricane Irene of between $1.6 billion and $6.6 billion.

As Hurricane Katia appears set to spin off to sea after bringing tropical-storm conditions to Bermuda, Tropical Storm Maria has formed and is moving west across the Atlantic.