The surprise retirement announcement by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., raises questions about the ultimate fate of the regulatory reform law bearing his name, including the provisions impacting insurers.

The Senate last night unanimously passed legislation extending the National Flood Insurance Program until May 31, 2012.

A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Bank of America Corp's request to disqualify the law firm representing insurer American International Group Inc in its $10 billion mortgage fraud lawsuit against the bank over an alleged conflict of interest by one of the firm's partners.