Catastrophe & Restoration

Standard and Poor's says it believes claims-loss estimates on residential losses to insurers from the recent earthquake in Japan will not be exceeded, but the ratings future of the domestic insurers hinges on whether those estimates are surpassed or not.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook a sparsely populated area of Myanmar on March 24.

We're covering the earthquake in Myanmar, a Towers Watson report on market conditions, S&P looks at Japan's insurers, a Triangle Shirtwaist slideshow, and a bear with a case of the munchies.

Nearly 150 people died 100 years ago during a fire at a garment factory in New York City. From their deaths was born workers' compensation insurance and safety reforms still used by property insurers today.

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited says it expects to incur between $275 million and $315 million in losses, pre-tax and net of reinstatement premiums, from the February New Zealand earthquake and from first-quarter loss events in Australia.

The long-term effects of Japan's disaster on the insurance market remain unclear, but there are indications that some firming is taking place for risks in catastrophe-prone areas, say executives from insurance broker Aon Corp.