Personal Lines

Tropical Storm Chris strengthened in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland on Thursday, becoming the season's first Atlantic hurricane, forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Two major wildfires continue to burn in Colorado and New Mexico weeks after lightening ignited the infernos, and the active blazes have prevented insurers from assessing the extent of homeowner losses.

Victoria, Australia was struck by the largest earthquake to hit the region in more than a century on Tuesday morning, but AIR Worldwide says there should be no significant insured losses.

Insured losses from last week's violent hailstorm in Dallas should be just under $1 billion, a trade group for Texas insurers said on Tuesday, sharply less than what another industry group estimated last week.

The Senate appears set for action this week on its long-term National Flood Insurance Program extension bill after two compromises were reached on key issues.

Insurer Travelers Companies will pay $10.5 million in refunds and penalties for violations of California insurance law in 2006, the state's insurance department said on Monday.