Catastrophe & Restoration

The New Zealand Earthquake Commission and the Insurance Council have agreed to ask the country's High Court for a ruling regarding insurance coverage for a recent earthquake.

State Auto Financial Corp. says it expects between $45 million and $50 million in pretax catastrophe losses from U.S. storms in May.

XL Group says April and May tornado-spawning storms in the U.S. are expected to cause losses of between $50 million and $75 million, pretax and net of reinsurance and reinstatement premiums.

Catastrophe risk modeler EQECAT says the latest earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand is expected to cause an additional $3 billion to $5 billion in insured losses.

Cincinnati Financial Corporation says second-quarter losses from April and May U.S. storms will be between $240 million and $290 million.

Strong aftershocks rattled New Zealand's quake-devastated city of Christchurch again Monday, toppling one of the few buildings still standing downtown and sinking thousands of homes into darkness.