Captives are starting to feel the squeeze of market conditions, low-investment yields, and issues in the global-financial markets, according to A.M. Best, which reports that a composite of 209 captives it follows reported a decline in net income for 2011.

The downward trend in property and casualty (P&C) insurer employment that began in 2008 may finally be reversing.

The cyclical change in the marketplace no longer tops the list of concerns for W.R. Berkley Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William R. Berkley, who says that while economic activity may have slowed the pace of the market turn, the cycle is indeed changing and prices are rising.

The cyclical change in the marketplace no longer tops the list of concerns for W.R. Berkley Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William R. Berkley, who says that while economic activity may have slowed the pace of the market turn, the cycle is indeed changing and prices are rising.

Second-quarter catastrophe-bond issuance increased in 2012 over 2011, and a recent analysis describes the current market outlook as very encouraging as strong investor demand and available capital point to increased issuance from sponsors going forward.

Second-quarter catastrophe-bond issuance increased in 2012 over 2011, and a recent analysis describes the current market outlook as very encouraging as strong investor demand and available capital point to increased issuance from sponsors going forward.

Property rates continued to climb in 2012s second quarter, rising an average 3.1 percent overall and 5.3 percent for catastrophe-exposed risks, according to Marshs latest Benchmarking Trends report.

While insurers have achieved steady rate increases in personal lines, more needs to be done to contend with weather-related losses in the homeowners line and high-severity losses in personal auto, according to a Travelers executive.