Twitter's a pretty lucky company. Few get two bytes at the hype apple in rapid succession, but this social media platform has found a way to make up for its disappointing announcement about its advertising model. According to VentureBeat, Twitter might unveil its long-awaited, heavily-hyped and possibly investor-satisfying corporate accounts. Next month, at its inaugural Chirp developer conference, we could finally see what might just be the foundation of Twitter's business model.

Continue reading Twitter May Chirp Its Commercial Accounts Next Month

Twitter May Chirp Its Commercial Accounts Next Month originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Catastrophe modelers, insurers and reinsurers are still sorting out the damage from Windstorm Xynthia in Europe and the earthquake in Chile. Taking only the highest of high-end estimates, the damage from these two catastrophes could exceed $12 billion, resulting in fairly steep property-catastrophe losses long before hurricane season begins. With three more major property reinsurance renewals remaining for the year -- at April 1, June 1 (Florida) and July 1 -- there is plenty of time for the impact of these events to be absorbed into reinsurance pricing.

Continue reading Assessing the Tab for Q1 Catastrophes

Assessing the Tab for Q1 Catastrophes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue and offered rosy guidance.
• American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) higher Q4 earnings matched analysts' estimates, but shares rose afterward.
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (ANN) swung to a profit in Q4 even though same-store sales dropped; shares fell.
• Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) received an analyst's upgrade following its Q4 results and guidance for the full year.
• Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (PLCE) posted strong Q4 earnings even though same-store sales were flat.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Aeropostale, H&R Block, IMAX, J. Crew, Kroger ...

Earnings Highlights: Aeropostale, H&R Block, IMAX, J. Crew, Kroger ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Munich Re Profit Surges by More Than 60%

Munich Re Profit Surges by More Than 60% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you do business with Iran, it's probably going to be harder to get insurance coverage. Regulators and lawmakers in the U.S. are looking for stiffer penalties to thrust upon companies that do business with Iran. And insurers, likely acutely aware of how risk can spread, are starting to pull back.

Munich Re (0KFE) and Allianz (AZSEY) announced that they are suspending business in Iran, according to a report by Business Insurance. Neither company, however, stands to lose much. For Allianz, the lost premium is "negligible," and for Munich Re, it's only around $13.6 million.

Continue reading Insurance Industry Faces More Pressure on Iran

Insurance Industry Faces More Pressure on Iran originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Fortune 500 Loves Twitter, Especially the Insurance Business

Fortune 500 Loves Twitter, Especially the Insurance Business originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Insurance

Continue reading Insurance Company Upgrades Beat Downgrades by 50% in 2009

Insurance Company Upgrades Beat Downgrades by 50% in 2009 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nine catastrophe bonds have matured so far in the first quarter of 2010, removing $1.8 billion in risk-transfer capacity, according to data from Reuters. The insurance industry has compensated with $508 million in new cat bond risk capital, with the busy fourth quarter helping to absorb what is maturing now. Only one cat bond has closed so far this year, The Hartford's (HIG) $180 million Foundation Re III. But, the first quarter is usually a quiet one for the cat bond market.

It partly replaces the $105 million in protection that Foundation Re D afforded. Swiss Re (SWCEY) and SCOR (SCRYY) are also among the insurance companies with bonds maturing that have at least partial coverage from new cat bond issuances. Another four bonds have matured, however, with no new related issuance, affecting Munich Re (MURGY), AXA (AXA) and others.

Continue reading Cat Bond Market Shift Favors Goldman Sachs

Cat Bond Market Shift Favors Goldman Sachs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Natural Catastrophe Losses Down, Sparing Insurers

Natural Catastrophe Losses Down, Sparing Insurers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Long a topic of discussion, insurers and reinsurers are beginning to enter the microinsurance space. Scor (SCOR) firm invested in LeapFrog Investments, the first microinsurance fund, last month, and last week, the Microinsurance Network was launched in an effort to raise awareness of the sector.

In a mature industry, microinsurance is seen as having considerable growth potential, especially given the large numbers of people around the world who live without any form of coverage. Microinsurance protection ranges from property catastrophe to life and health. A recent study by Lloyd's of London found that 135 million people, 5% of the world's low-income people, are using microinsurance products, but that the total market size could range from 1.5 billion to 3 billion.

Continue reading Small is beautiful: Insurance companies turn to micro for growth

Small is beautiful: Insurance companies turn to micro for growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Losses from natural disasters double in 2007

Losses from natural disasters double in 2007 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Aon (NYSE: AOC) thinks that risk brokerage and consulting has the best future, in terms of margins and growth.

To that end, the company announced Monday that it is selling off its underwriting businesses. Combined Insurance Company was sold for $2.4 billion to ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), while Munich Re bought Aon's Sterling Life segment for $352 million.

Yes, even in the massive insurance business, this is a good chunk of change for Aon.

Continue reading Aon unloads underwriting units for $2.75 billion

Aon unloads underwriting units for $2.75 billion originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.