News from St. John's Univeristy School of Risk Management, Global Special Risks, Jewelers unBLOCKed, Ink Underwriting, InVEST and The Main Street America Group.

NICB points to a dramatic increase in hail-related losses, noting more than 2 million claims were processed from 2010 to 2012. States such as Texas and Missouri have been riddled with damage.

The NFIP's dire financial condition and the limited scope of scheduled rate increases haven't prevented politicians from crying foul and seeking to delay reforms they championed a year ago.

PartnerRe Ltd. says the pretax cost of Junes central European floods will fall between $50 million and $60 million.