Catastrophe & Restoration

Zurich Financial Services Group says it expects approximately $500 million in claims from 2011 first quarter Asia-Pacific catastrophes.

Early indications point to a more active hurricane season for the United States in 2011 compared to last year, AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center meteorologists say.

The reinsurance industry is well-positioned to absorb first quarter catastrophe losses that could rise as high as $42 billion, according to reports released today, and while pricing is expected to improve, another event may be needed to spur global hardening.

Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings puts its losses related to the Tohoku earthquake in Japan in the range of $80 million to $130 million net of reinstatement premiums and retrocession.

Disaster Kleenup International (DKI) announced its first charity golf tournament, 18 Holes for Hope, to be held Tuesday, May 10 in Glenview, Ill.

Risk Management Solutions released a new hurricane model at the end of February. Chief Research Officer Robert Muir-Wood writes in to offer a closer look at the model and the science behind it: