Employment figures for agents and brokers are headed toward a prior peak set in July 2007.

News from Lockton, PCI, Markel, CPCU Society, Main Street America and National Interstate Insurance Co.

The financial stakes for insurers will be almost as enormous as the awe-inspiring feat of engineering when the wrecked Costa Concordia is uprighted next week.

Specialty insurer Assurant, Inc. says it will purchase U.K. mobile phone insurance insurer Lifestyle Services Group for $160 million, a move Moodys Investors Service says should help diversify Assurants sources of net operating income over time.