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FEATURE: London market comes out fighting

12 July 2010

The London market likes a scrap – which is just as well. It has plenty to fight over, such as Solvency II, the new UK coalition government and tax concerns.

Read more: london market solvency ii iua david matcham

The London market remains the most eclectic and cosmopolitan insurance market in the world. But recently it has been challenged on all fronts, from competing foreign domiciles to its own government. Fortunately, it is well placed to tackle these challenges and there is considerable confidence in the market going forward.The London market is not alone in facing challenges – the financial crisis has meant the global financial service industry as a whole faces difficult times. But the UK’s insurance industry and the London market were not as badly affected by the crisis as the banks and other industries. As Alistair Darling, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, pointed out in the foreword to last year’s report from the Insurance Industry Working Group entitled Vision for the insurance industry in 2020: “I am glad that, while this report has been prepared against a background of financial instability, the Group have been able...


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For more catastrophe reports, data and news, click through to the RMS/Reactions Catastrophe Centre.

Poll

Catastrophe bond issuance was $4.3bn in 2011. How much new issuance will there be in 2012?

Less than $3bn
0%
$3bn-$4bn
43%
$4bn-$5bn
29%
$5bn-$6bn
14%
$6bn-$7bn
14%
More than $7bn
0%

Quote

If last year was the year of the cat, then this year could be the year of the debt crisis.

Mike Van Slooten, head of international market analysis at Aon Benfield