Markets

The recent problems surrounding Chinese drywall have been compared to everything from a silent hurricane to the next asbestos. But how do the costs really compare to a hurricane?

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its ratings on six natural peril catastrophe bonds, issued in 2007 and 2008, to reflect the adjusted probability of attachment after the rating agency updated its criteria for rating these bonds.

The board of IPC Holdings Ltd. has finally agreed to a merger proposal from Validus Holdings Ltd. after spurning an initial offer and multiple court battles with its corporate suitor.

The Hartford Financial Services Group is suing Arch Insurance Group for allegedly poaching its financial products division of scores of executives, as well as trying to steal trade secrets.

As peak hurricane season approaches, both insurers and government officials are outlining their strategies and plans to protect against what is expected to be an increasing number of catastrophic storms.

While the struggling economy has left its mark on virtually every line of property and casualty insurance, the collector car niche remains stable and is even growing.

To say American International Group is having a tough month would be an understatement.

In addition to the near-bankruptcy of American International Group, 2008 will stand out as a year when turmoil in global financial markets cut the property and casualty insurance industry's investment gains in half.