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Cats worsen gloomy results for US insurers

27 July 2010

Although it is early in the reporting season for US insurance firms second-quarter results, already it can be seen that catastrophe losses are hurting results. Both Chubb and Travelers have reported second-quarter catastrophe losses.

Read more: chubb travelers allstate wr berkley

Although it is early in the reporting season for US insurance firms second-quarter results, already it can be seen that catastrophe losses are hurting results. Both Chubb and Travelers have reported second quarter catastrophe losses as a result of wind, hail and flooding throughout the US, causing analysts to revise their estimations of US property-catastrophe exposure in the second quarter.

Both firms experienced about a 14% combined ratio impact on their personal lines units. This was three times the normal second-quarter levels.

In response, analysts at Morgan Stanley changed their estimated results for US insurer Allstate – the firm that has the leading market share in the Midwest and tornado-exposed states.

“Using various methods to gauge Allstate’s exposure and impact on results, we estimate catastrophe losses of $922m in 2Q or 1.1x year ago levels and 2.3x historical 2Q average,” said Morgan Stanley.

Gregory Locraft, an analyst for...


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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
44%
$4bn-$5bn
22%
$5bn-$6bn
11%
$6bn-$7bn
22%
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