Insurance

Intact Financial estimated third-quarter 2026 catastrophe losses of about C$660 million ($2.76 per diluted share) and Definity about C$190 million ($1.15 per share), together roughly C$850 million, driven by Ontario and Alberta flooding and British Columbia wildfires, lifting Intact's trailing 12-month losses to C$1.29 billion against C$1.20 billion of annual guidance.

TAL, the Australian life insurer owned by Japan's Dai-ichi Life, proposed on October 19, 2026 to buy the roughly 79.5% of Challenger it does not already own at A$11.80 a share, a 19.8% premium valuing Challenger at a little under A$8 billion; the proposal is non-binding and conditional on due diligence, approvals and a shareholder vote.

Attacks on internet-connected refrigeration controllers disrupted about 700 French supermarkets across Intermarché, Coopérative U and Carrefour in October 2026, with freezers reportedly reaching 40°C, and Lockton warns that cyber policies may exclude physical damage while property and stock-deterioration cover depends on policy wording.

An AM Best special report on social inflation, reported on October 19, 2026, says first-year commercial auto liability loss payments grew 6.4% a year from 2014 to 2024, more than double economic inflation, leaving the line with a $4.9 billion underwriting loss in 2024 and an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion reserve shortfall despite 14 consecutive years of rate increases.

Marsh's Global Insurance Market Index, published October 21, 2026, shows global commercial insurance rates down 5% in the third quarter after a 6% fall in the second, led by a 10% drop in property and offset by a 1% rise in casualty, with regional falls from 1% in the US to 14% in India, the Middle East and Africa.

Estimates of insured losses from Hurricane Isaias, which struck the Florida Panhandle on October 9, 2026 as a Category 2 storm, run from Verisk's $1 billion to $2 billion to Moody's RMS's best estimate of $3.5 billion, while Florida regulators had logged 46,509 claims worth nearly $582 million by October 15 and AM Best calls it an earnings event, not a capital event.

On October 23, 2026 Munich Re published preliminary third-quarter net profit of about €1.7 billion, ahead of the €1.479 billion analyst consensus, lifted its full-year 2026 target from €6.3 billion to €6.6 billion, and said it will keep strengthening its balance sheet in the fourth quarter subject to major losses.

Selective Insurance Group reported third-quarter 2026 non-GAAP operating income of $2.37 per share against $1.75, a GAAP combined ratio of 96.8% against 98.6%, and net premiums written down 7% to $1,122.8 million, while raising its dividend 12% and narrowing 2026 guidance.

Moody's Ratings reports that US life insurers held $85.2 billion of AI-linked investments at the end of June 2026, up 24% from $69 billion at end-2025 and about 1.4% of cash and invested assets, with data-centre and digital-infrastructure financing growing fastest and the below-investment-grade share rising to 6.1%.

Morningstar DBRS estimates that French insurers' losses from the unrest that followed nationwide protests on October 17, 2026 will stay below €1.2 billion if rioting does not resume, while the new state-backed riot pool legislated this year has not started and will not pay for these claims.

On October 9, 2026 Fitch changed the outlook on Hannover Re and its subsidiary E+S Rück to Positive from Stable and affirmed both at 'AA-', citing very strong capitalisation and earnings even as it expects softer conditions in 2026 and 2027; E+S Rück separately said on October 19 that demand for quality protection should stay strong at January 1.

On October 22, 2026 Moody's announced the Moody's Casualty Risk Intelligence Group, a forum with six founding organisations that aims to improve casualty exposure, claims and litigation data and bring property-catastrophe-style analytics to liability insurance.

Lloyd's reported a first-half 2026 profit before tax of £3,536 million and a combined ratio of 90.8% on gross written premium of £34,710 million, while chief executive Patrick Tiernan said rates fell 6.7% and warned that growth in core markets should not be expected in 2027.

After the Financial Times reported in August 2026 that Tokio Marine had picked Suncorp as its preferred acquisition target, Suncorp told the ASX on October 1 that it was not in takeover discussions and had received no offer, leaving a story built on unnamed sources, no stated price and a long list of approvals.

Marsh's Q3 2026 index shows global commercial insurance rates down about 5% (after 6% in Q2), with property down 10%, cyber down 4% and US casualty up 6%, while CRC Group reports US property renewals still down about 11% but with the pace of decline moderating.

Gallagher Re puts global insured natural-catastrophe losses for January to September 2026 at $92 billion, 29% below the 10-year average of $128 billion; severe convective storms caused almost 60% of the total, and no single event exceeded $10 billion for six straight quarters.

TAL Dai-ichi Life Australia, a subsidiary of Japan's Daiichi Life Group, has made a non-binding indicative proposal to buy the remaining 79.5% of Challenger at A$11.80 per share through a scheme of arrangement, subject to due diligence, final terms and regulatory approvals.

PERILS raised its insured loss estimate for the July 13-19, 2026 severe convective storms named SCS Cerry to €2,806 million from €2,186 million; the event hit Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain, and CatIQ lifted its estimate for September's southern Ontario storms to C$671 million.

Attackers accessed internet-connected refrigeration controllers and triggered defrost cycles at stores run by Intermarché, Carrefour and Coopérative U in France, with about 700 stores reportedly disrupted according to Insurance Journal; no group has claimed responsibility.

W. R. Berkley reported Q3 2026 gross written premiums of $3.95 billion (up from $3.83 billion), a combined ratio of 90.8%, operating income of $456 million, net income of $446 million and net investment income of $383.5 million.

Chubb reported third-quarter 2026 net income of $2.84 billion ($7.30 per share) and a P&C combined ratio of 84.1%, up from 81.8%, as catastrophe losses rose to $705 million from $285 million and favourable reserve development reached $511 million.

AM Best reports homeowners multiperil insurers earned a $16.5 billion underwriting profit in 2025 after a $1.3 billion loss in 2024, with the combined ratio improving to 84.5 from 90.7, helped by $4.1 billion of favourable reserve development, Florida tort reform and a calm hurricane season.

Fitch says Tokio Marine, Sompo and MS&AD improved their combined ratio to 94% in the year to March 2026 from 99%, but combined ordinary profit of ¥2.2 trillion was about 90% disposal gains from strategic shareholdings, which it expects to shrink.

Marsh's latest detailed index shows global commercial rates down about 6% in Q2 2026, the eighth straight quarterly fall, with property down 12% and cyber down 4%, while US casualty rates rose 7%. Marsh's Q3 headline reportedly shows the decline slowing to about 5%.

An analyst note signals property catastrophe rate cuts of 10-15% on January 1, 2027, while Munich Re's July renewals fell 5.5% and Hannover Re says it expects risk-adequate prices with terms broadly unchanged.

CatIQ's third estimate puts insured losses from the June 9-10 Prairie storms at $923 million, up from $728 million initially, driven latterly by commercial property; Manitoba Public Insurance received a record 29,195 hail claims.

Sumitomo Life has set aside up to ¥1 trillion (about $6.3 billion) for investments through March 2029 and will have Symetra lead the search for US deals, as Japanese life insurers such as Meiji Yasuda, Nippon Life and Daiichi continue to expand in America.

Travelers reported net income of $1.917 billion and a combined ratio of 86.8% for the quarter, with net written premiums of $11.48 billion; catastrophe losses rose from the prior year but nine-month catastrophe losses are about half of last year's.

Aviva announced on October 7 a New York-based US specialty platform backed by its A+ rated UK insurer, and on October 16 told investors its Wealth arm is on track for £280 million of operating profit by 2027 and expects to exceed £500 million by 2032.

Intact estimates about $660 million of pre-tax catastrophe losses for July to September and Definity about $190 million, driven by the June 30 to July 3 Ontario and Quebec floods, British Columbia wildfires and a September storm; both report full results in the coming weeks.

Progressive reported third-quarter 2026 net income of $2.54 billion, a combined ratio of 88.7 and net premiums written up 4% to $22.3 billion, with policies in force up 6% to about 40.5 million.

After its third-quarter earnings, Marsh McLennan's insurance broking chief John Doyle said sweeping AI exclusions in policies could leave buyers and insurers in disputes, and argued for a more nuanced treatment of AI risk.

A Swiss Re Institute report says legal changes, litigation funding and claimant behaviour explain roughly half of six years of UK liability claims growth, and warns that reversing the PACCAR ruling and opening collective actions could push it higher.

An attack on connected refrigeration units at around 350 French supermarkets has raised the question of whether cyber policies, which typically exclude physical loss, will cover spoiled stock, and may lift demand for perishable-goods cover.

The US property and casualty insurer reported core earnings of $9.18 a share, record new business in its commercial unit and a $295 million asbestos reserve addition that trimmed otherwise favorable reserve development.

A report based on about two dozen senior insurance professionals says the withdrawal of cover for weather-related losses has begun and will accelerate, while the Association of British Insurers says the industry is investing heavily in understanding risk.

The German Insurance Association says the low first-half bill reflects the absence of big winter storms, while flood-type losses doubled and the long-term average keeps rising.

The Reserve Bank's October Financial Stability Review finds strong bank capital and a well-capitalised insurance sector under weather pressure, while APRA's stress test shows the home insurance protection gap widening.

The first industry estimate for the September 2-3 hail, wind and flood outbreak is well below some early guesses, but it follows a Canadian catastrophe season that pushed Intact and Definity to roughly C$850 million in third-quarter losses.

The reinsurer says nearly 200 US verdicts of at least $10 million were recorded in 2025, up more than 40% from 2024, and that firms without a US headquarters can still be caught.

Isaias, the first US hurricane landfall since Milton in 2024, hit near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm after peaking at Category 3; modelers say exposure is large but early loss talk points to mid-single-digit billions.

The July 7 to August 7 consultation would let one legal entity hold segregated cells for captive insurance, cat bonds and sovereign risk pools, but it needs new primary legislation and has no effective date yet.

AXA reported on July 31 that underlying earnings per share rose 8% to 2.19 euros, then used its September 15 investor day to set a new three-year plan with a 75% payout ratio.

AXA reported first-half 2026 underlying earnings per share of €2.19, up 8%, a Solvency II ratio of 218% and gross written premiums of €66.3 billion, then presented its 'Growing Forward' plan on September 15, 2026 targeting operating EPS growth of 7% to 9% a year and operating earnings after tax above €10 billion by 2029.

OSFI's regulatory notice, dated July 20, 2026 and effective immediately, treats natural catastrophe bonds as unregistered reinsurance with no margin requirement for federally regulated property and casualty insurers, provided the bond has an indemnity trigger, Canadian-held high-quality collateral and OSFI's prior approval.

The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority published CP11/26 on July 14, 2026 proposing a tailored regime for single-parent captive insurers, with lower capital and reporting requirements, a joint authorisation process targeting four to six weeks, exclusion from Solvency UK and the Consumer Duty, consultation closing October 14 and launch planned for summer 2027.

In December 2025 Al Wathba Insurance invested in Cell 27 of Lloyd's London Bridge 2 protected cell company, becoming the first UAE-based insurer to access the Lloyd's market this way, with returns expected from an underlying portfolio of more than $100 million of global property and casualty premium from financial year 2026.

Banque de France data show French insurers and pension funds held €2,854.5 billion of financial investments at end-Q1 2026; net inflows of €34.9 billion were offset by €33.7 billion of valuation losses from rising long-term rates, and a look-through view shows 26% of holdings are equities.

MAS issued a consultation paper on July 7, 2026 proposing a Protected Cell Company structure in which assets and liabilities of each cell are legally segregated, initially for captive insurance, insurance-linked securities and sovereign risk pools; the first-phase consultation closed on August 7, 2026.

IRDAI's circular of May 25, 2026, amending the 2024 Master Circular on Corporate Governance for Insurers, makes six performance parameters, covering financial soundness, product performance, claims responsiveness, grievance redressal, Indian Accounting Standards and removal of dark patterns, account for 50% of key managerial personnel variable pay from FY 2026-27 and requires public disclosure of the underlying data.

UAE insurers wrote Dh74.8 billion of gross premiums in 2025, up 14.9%, with health up 16.3% to Dh30 billion and profit rising to Dh4 billion from Dh2.6 billion, and the central bank's June 2026 review reported premiums growing about 15.1% in the first quarter of 2026 to roughly Dh27.5 billion.

In a market segment report published around May 18, 2026, AM Best said continued rate increases are offsetting claims inflation and that the profitability of French non-life insurers has been restored, though it expects rate rises to continue at a reduced pace in 2026.

Allianz Asia Holdings agreed on July 24, 2026 to buy HSBC Life (Singapore) outright for S$2.7 billion (about US$2.1 billion), paired with a 15-year exclusive bancassurance agreement and a S$200 million upfront payment, with completion expected in the first half of 2027 subject to MAS approval.

Announced on June 18, 2026, the add-on pays $100 per covered rainy day by Interac e-Transfer within two business days when rainfall at the destination passes the contract's threshold, with no claim to file; it must be bought at least 14 days before departure.

PwC counts $29.6 billion of announced US insurance deal value across 191 transactions from December 2025 to May 2026, down from $31.8 billion across 207 deals in the prior half; megadeals made up 97% of value, and PwC expects more P&C activity and selective broker deals in the second half.

Allianz Commercial's Safety and Shipping Review 2026 says vessels and cargo worth about $125 billion were stuck in the Persian Gulf as of June 15, 2026, that it has received significant claims from the Iran war including potential total losses, and that marine insurers kept cover in place while the risk to crews and vessels was the binding constraint.

Allianz Research says global insurance premiums rose 7.1% to €6.9 trillion in 2025, adding €456 billion; health premiums jumped 12.3%, life rose 6.9% and P&C 3.8%, and it forecasts 5.3% annual growth over ten years with wider Asia adding more than North America and Western Europe combined.

Lloyd's announced on June 18, 2026 that ICICI Lombard General Insurance will issue local policies in India on behalf of Lloyd's managing agents for selected lines, adding to Lloyd's existing routes into the market through cross-border reinsurance, Lloyd's India and its GIFT City platform.

Zurich Insurance Group's £8.1 billion acquisition of Lloyd's specialist Beazley became effective on October 1, 2026 after shareholder approval on April 22, regulatory clearances confirmed by September 14 and High Court sanction on September 22; shareholders receive 1,310 pence per share.

Verisk and APCIA report a Q1 2026 underwriting gain of about $15.8 billion and a 92.4% combined ratio, while AM Best reports $16.3 billion and 92%; net written premium growth slowed to 2.9%.

Moody's Ratings analysis using its RMS inland flood model finds that a 1-in-100-year flood could leave more than $375 billion of US residential losses uninsured, a protection gap of about 65%, rising to more than $1 trillion in a 1-in-500-year event and to about $472 billion by 2050 under an intermediate-emissions pathway.

Zurich's £8.1 billion cash takeover of Lloyd's specialist Beazley (1,310p plus a 25p dividend per share) cleared Australian review in June, then received High Court sanction on September 22, with completion expected October 1.

A Moody's whitepaper estimates a 1-in-100-year US flood could cause over $375 billion in uninsured losses, with a 65% protection gap, rising about 25% to roughly $472 billion by 2050; a 1-in-500-year event could exceed $1 trillion.

The Fidelis Partnership launched the TFP PVT Consortium in early June 2026, bringing together Lloyd's syndicates including Argenta and TFP's own, backed by Pelagos and placed by Guy Carpenter, with up to $47.5 million per risk in the Middle East and $345 million elsewhere.

On June 18, 2026 the National Insurance Crime Bureau warned Illinois homeowners and businesses about fraudulent contractors after a derecho, a tornado outbreak and flooding; the state had recorded 140 tornadoes against an annual average of 54.

Reported on May 2, 2026, the government allowed up to 100% foreign investment in insurance companies through the automatic route, requiring at least one resident Indian citizen as chair, managing director or CEO, while foreign investment in LIC stays at 20%.

PwC counted 191 disclosed insurance transactions worth almost $30 billion from December 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, slightly below the prior six months, and says uncertainty over AI is lowering broker valuations and raising deal scrutiny.

Cowbell's 2026 claims report, covered on May 7-8, 2026, says ransomware attacks rose 45% last year while average ransom payments fell roughly 44% between 2022 and 2025; data breaches, cybercrime and extortion drove most claims.

BaFin's Circular 01/2026 (VA) on ransom insurance, reported on April 2, 2026, replaces a 1998 circular and confirms such cover is permissible if it respects public order and does not hinder law enforcement, with cyber-extortion cover now explicitly covered.

S&P Global Market Intelligence says the industry earned about $22.1 billion from underwriting in the first quarter of 2026, helped by a quiet catastrophe period, while competition in auto, falling commercial property rates and casualty claims inflation loom as headwinds.

Deloitte expects 2026 insurance M&A to be disciplined and selective rather than a broad rebound, with eight themes including private capital in specialty lines, broker tuck-ins, AI-focused tech deals and cross-border inflows.

Allianz announced on March 12, 2026 that Tomas Kunzmann joins its Board of Management from January 1, 2027, Klaus-Peter Röhler retires at the end of 2026, and CFO Claire-Marie Coste-Lepoutre's mandate is extended to 2031.

Insurance Business (June 15, 2026) reports that war-risk premiums rose from about 0.1% to around 1% per S&P Global, that hundreds of ships remain stranded, and that insurers want evidence a US-Iran deal is holding before pricing normalises.

PayPay agreed on June 4, 2026 to buy 70.2% of T&D Financial Life Insurance from T&D Holdings for about ¥134.3 billion ($840 million), with the share transfer planned for October 1, 2027 and subject to conditions.

APRA data to March 2026 show householders insurance earning about $4.25 billion of quarterly premium yet slipping into underwriting losses in four of ten quarters, while average premiums rose 51% between 2020 and late 2025.

Brand Finance's Insurance 100 2026, published June 9, ranks Great Eastern 33rd by brand value (US$4.9 billion, up 2%) and 11th for brand strength (81.4/100, AAA); the top 100 insurance brands grew 14% to US$606.7 billion.

Moody's report of June 8, 2026 says private and illiquid bonds at US life insurers reached $807 billion at end-2025, up from $685 billion, with the ten largest holding 44% and four areas flagged for monitoring.

A CBC report of June 8, 2026 says insurers increasingly assess wildfire risk property by property with satellite imagery and laser scanning, rewarding FireSmart measures; one Nova Scotia owner who rebuilt saw her premium fall about 12%.

WTW's Specialty Insurance Marketplace Survey, reported on May 6, 2026, says its rate index fell 10 points to 2020 levels, with 75% of 42 classes showing decreases at January 1 renewals, while general liability and medical malpractice moved counter-cyclically.

During National Roofing Week (June 7-13, 2026, run by the NRCA), Triple-I, IBHS and the US SBA highlighted roof upgrades, IBHS's FORTIFIED standard and SBA disaster-loan increases of up to 20% for mitigation.

Kemper reported a first-quarter 2026 net loss of $1.7 million as its Specialty P&C combined ratio rose to 106.7% from 92.7%, driven by California personal auto claims; Stephen McAnena became CEO on June 1.

Alpen Capital's GCC Insurance Industry report, covered by Khaleej Times on May 21, 2026, forecasts premiums of $61.8 billion by 2030 at a 4.9% CAGR, with Saudi Arabia growing at 5.9% and the UAE at 4.1%.

Lockton, the world's largest privately held independent insurance broker, reported fiscal 2026 revenue of about $4.5 billion, up 12% with 11% organic growth, its sixth straight year of double-digit organic growth.

Bloomberg reported on April 14, 2026 that Canadian insurers are pressing homeowners to fireproof and floodproof their homes and urging Ottawa to update building codes, as premiums rose about 6% last year and 2024 claims hit a record C$9.4 billion.

Lloyd's reported 2025 pre-tax profit of £10.6 billion and an 87.6% combined ratio, while warning that capital inflows could pressure reinsurance pricing; Fitch says the market is well placed for a softer cycle.

A Fitch Ratings viewpoint of April 29, 2026 says Japanese insurers' major deals total about ¥4.5 trillion (US$35 billion), 86% in the US, and that Korean cross-border M&A reached about $2.6 billion in 2025, with concentration and capital risks to watch.

Artex's Alternative View Spring 2026 says US commercial property buyers are eagerly using the most favourable market in several years to renegotiate terms and lower deductibles, while casualty remains pressured by social inflation.

Allianz Research says global premiums grew 7.1% in 2025, with health insurance expanding fastest since 2014 and property and casualty growth cooling, and projects about 5.3% a year growth to 2036, led by Asia.

Citing the Allianz Global Insurance Report 2026, Business Today reports India's insurance premiums grew 9.4% in 2025 to ₹13.96 lakh crore ($145.9 billion) and are projected to grow 10.7% a year to 2036, with health the fastest segment at 12.5%.

Fitch's June 9 report holds a neutral 2026 outlook for Asia-Pacific insurance, with only China life and Taiwan life rated deteriorating, as new solvency regimes in Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia and rising claims costs offset strong capital buffers.

Berkshire's National Indemnity will buy a 2.49% stake in Tokio Marine Holdings for ¥287.4 billion (about $1.8 billion), alongside a 10-year partnership covering reinsurance and joint investments, with a cap of 9.9% without board approval.

Aviva's May 14 trading update shows general insurance premiums up 19%, a group combined operating ratio of 94.1%, wealth net flows up 49% to £3.3 billion and a Solvency II cover ratio of 171% after dividends, buybacks and the end of grandfathering.

AXA's Q1 2026 revenues rose 6% to about €38 billion, with property and casualty up 4% to €21.5 billion and life and health up 8% to €16.5 billion, while AXA XL Reinsurance shrank 7% and the Solvency II ratio stood at 211%.

Swiss Re Institute's sigma report says insured natural catastrophe losses were $107 billion in 2025, with wildfires, storms and floods driving a record 92%, and that a return to trend would put 2026 losses near $148 billion.

At Berkshire Hathaway's May 2026 annual meeting, Ajit Jain said the company has taken a small participation in a Hormuz shipping insurance program but has written no deals, pending underwriting terms including US Navy escort assurances.

Fitch says early indications put Florida reinsurance pricing down roughly 15% to 20% risk-adjusted, with insurers seeking an extra $5 billion to $7 billion of cover, Citizens down to about 295,000 policies and discipline expected to hold.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association says only 10% of UK businesses and 5% of charities hold a specific cyber policy, according to the government's latest survey; its directory lists brokers who meet cyber-security, insurance and training criteria developed with input from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

W.R. Berkley Corp. said its founder and executive chairman William R. Berkley died on June 9, 2026 at age 80, and that his son W. Robert Berkley Jr. was named chairman effective immediately, after a year of record earnings.

AM Best says the US directors and officers liability line posted a fourth year of premium decline in 2025 while its direct loss ratio rose five points to 54.5 and reserves for accident years 2023 and 2024 proved inadequate.

Howard Hughes Holdings closed its roughly $2.1 billion all-cash acquisition of Bermuda-based specialty insurer Vantage on June 4, 2026, funded by cash and $1 billion of preferred stock issued to Pershing Square Holdings, with Pershing Square managing the investments fee-free.

Acrisure CEO Greg Williams told staff on May 20 that about 2,250 jobs, around 11% of the company's roughly 19,000 employees, would go by the end of 2027, citing AI and digital platforms, following 400 accounting job cuts announced in October 2025.

Guy Carpenter says June 2026 Florida property-catastrophe reinsurance prices fell by roughly 15% to 20% risk-adjusted as demand rose 12%, helped by a 76.8% combined ratio in 2025, 45% higher policyholder surplus and tort reform.

A Triple-I and Milliman briefing projects US property and casualty underlying growth of -3.7% in the first half of 2026, down from 1.6% in 2025, with recovery expected in 2027 and 2028 even as 2025 combined ratios were the lowest in over a decade.

Swiss Re puts the global natural catastrophe protection gap at $424 billion for 2025, while a survey of more than 1,700 people by Triple-I and Munich Re US finds insurers and customers see cyber, economic, weather and AI risks as connected.

South Korea's DB Insurance closed its $1.65 billion acquisition of Jacksonville-based specialty insurer Fortegra on May 29, 2026, with Fortegra staying independent under its current management and Tiptree turning to new acquisitions.

India's amended insurance law, passed in December 2025 and in force from February 5, 2026, lets foreign investors hold up to 100% of an insurer, lowers reinsurance capital requirements and gives the regulator new powers.

Munich Re puts the global cyber insurance market at nearly $15 billion in 2025 and about $28 billion by 2030, while October reports show rates falling for a fourth year and SME take-up stuck near 10 to 20% outside the United States.