Italy turns to the insurance industry to help with crippling debt crisis

Italy is on the verge of a financial meltdown, which may have dire ramifications for the global economy. Investors and financial institutions have begun casting doubt on Italy’s ability to survive a financial disaster, and now the government is turning to the insurance industry for help. Italian officials are looking to adopt disaster insurance to help mitigate the impact of a potential economic catastrophe. The country’s debt – more than $2 trillion – could mean that it is beyond rescue, even for the insurance industry. The insurance industry in Europe…

Read More

Euro crisis may be worse than the economic recession of 2008, say insurers

The European financial crisis is showing no sign of slowing down as the European Union continues to look for ways to stop what may soon become the world’s most catastrophic financial calamity. EU regulators have turned to the insurance industry to help find a solution to the crisis, but insurers have been leery of lending any aid, as the countries involved in the crisis are exposed to massive risk. The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority has released a statement regarding the crisis, calling it worse than the economic disaster…

Read More

U.S. insurers may be at risk of costly payouts spawned from the European financial crisis

Many U.S. banks have upped their insurance sales in Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy during the first half of 2011. The growth in sales is the result of the European financial crisis that threatens to plummet several nations into economic catastrophe. Banks have been selling insurance against credit losses in the nations more affected by the financial crisis, but the practice may be putting insurers at higher risk of costly payouts. As the crisis worsens, insurers are now looking for ways to mitigate the impact of defaults. According to…

Read More

Institute of International Finance warns European Union regarding upcoming changes to insurance and banking regulations

As the European Union seeks to draft new plans governing the investments made by insurance companies, the world’s largest financial institution has voice concern over the initiative. The Institute of International Finance claims that the new rules being weighed by the EU will encourage insurers to seek out riskier investments. Such practice would put the world’s financial infrastructure in a dangerous position, as the assets most often pursued by insurance companies looking to generate major profit are the ones whose failure is disastrous. The EU is looking to change regulations…

Read More

United Kingdom to comply with insurance gender rating ruling from the European Union

The United Kingdom has announced that it will be complying with an insurance ruling coming from the European Court of Justice, the judicial arm of the European Union. The rule bans European insurance companies from imposing gender-sensitive premiums and benefits. This has drawn the opposition of insurers, who argue that premiums are determined by a multitude of complex factors and that limiting their ability to calculate premiums accurately would result in pricing that is either too high or too low for risk. Despite the opposition, the rule will be enforced…

Read More