News Analysis
Aviva plan to go regional will “speed up decision-making”
Corporate business underwriting to be conducted regionally in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham
Brokers increase their PI footprint
Professional indemnity market shows no sign of slow down and attracts slew of new entrants
FSA warns brokers over mis-selling of add-ons
Regulator claims customers may have been sold add-ons and extras they neither want nor need
Sants departure gets mixed reaction
Hector Sants has announced his intention to leave the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for the second time, and this time it looks like it is actually going to happen.
The new breed of consolidator
With management changes at some of the country’s largest brokers, the consolidator model is evolving
Free to compete
The advent of real-time pricing could free brokers’ hands and create a more level playing field
Brokers on the brink?
Administrations, threatened product pull-outs and agency culls have sparked brokers’ fears over the future of the market
Commercial faces long road to hardening rates
Despite insurers announcing improved profitability last year, the commercial market still faces tough trading conditions
Are you ready for the next big thing in motor?
Telematics could transform motor insurance, and brokers who already have a foot in the market could cash in
Maturing market sees more brokers flit between networks
Increasing numbers of brokers switching providers blamed on “bloody competitive” network market
Lessons to learn from FSA
That broker favourite, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has taken a bit of a pasting from the Treasury Select Committee which described the soon to depart regulator as too expensive, aloof, bureaucratic and unable to protect customers.
Straw vows to continue pushing on motor insurance premiums
Transport Select Committee calls for multi-government department approach
How long till a hardening market?
Rumours of the impending hardening market may be premature
Groupama up for grabs
Speculation continues to surround the sale of French insurance giant’s UK operations
Government brings ABI young driver proposals to a full stop
Road safety minister rejects ABI proposals to place restrictions on new and young drivers
HNW players jockey for position
High net worth was the big growth area last year, and the new players will be looking to establish themselves
Ratings downgrades may spark client flight to quality
With the number of ratings warnings increasing across the industry, brokers need to keep an eye out
Blood on the boardroom floor
What role did regulation play in the sacking of the entire Swinton executive board?
Brokers still pessimistic over commercial market
London Market KPMG survey predicts consolidation and rate hardening
Brokers split over network independence
Loss of independence cited as major reason for shunning networks, brokers explain
Motor drives combined operating ratios down but it’s not all one way traffic
Rate rises in motor boost half year results but commercial market hardening remains elusive
Farewell to the pool
The Assigned Risk Pool will eventually close in 2013, but entrants to the solicitors’ PI market are already trying to exploit this
Is the FSA ready to trash TCF?
FSA assures brokers its focus on TCF remains despite cancellation of workshop road shows
After the riots
Rioting in August took the country by surprise, but the insurance industry responded well, experts say