"This is a marathon business, not a sprint."

Executives trying to predicting how the soft market will play out for the excess and surplus lines industry have absolutely no point of reference based on past experience to guide them, an E&S executive said recently.

With U.S. property and casualty insurance rates falling 4 percent in October 2010, the industry may be experiencing a "new normal" in terms of market conditions, according to an executive.

Even though enterprises large and small are losing the battle against cyber attacks, specialty insurers are expanding coverages triggered by computer privacy breaches as rapidly as new enemies emerge to pursue new targets, experts said here.

Lawsuits filed in reaction to low deal prices for mergers and acquisitions helped fuel an increase in the overall level of third-quarter securities lawsuits, even as suits related from the credit crisis petered out, experts said recently.

Lawsuits filed in reaction to low deal prices for mergers and acquisitions helped fuel an increase in the overall level of

The current focus of regulatory scrutiny may be a leading indicator of which industry sectors will be targeted for future securities lawsuits, a former plaintiffs' lawyer said recently.

With its third-quarter net income result doubling over last year, and its capital position improving, Swiss Re said it has reached agreement to repay Berkshire Hathaway, which injected $2.6 billion into the Zurich-based reinsurer last year.