The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said freezing weather in the United Kingdom could cost insurers $1 billion this winter.

Rates for U.S. property and casualty commercial insurance policies were down an average of 5 percent during November, a slight decrease from the last several months, which saw declines of 4 percent.

In an effort to streamline the filing process for insurers and do a better job of distributing its resources, the New York State Insurance Department has started to implement a "modernization initiative."

A number of Bermuda insurers reported significant drops in net income in the third quarter of 2010--many within the 20-50 percent range, with declines primarily related to the New Zealand earthquake and other smaller catastrophes.

Zurich Financial Services Group said it is looking to reduce expenses by $500 million in an effort to improve profitability.

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, a Chartis company, was not successful in getting a federal judge in Florida to say the insurer has no duty to defend or indemnify a drywall contractor.

Natural and man-made catastrophes have caused an estimated $36 billion in losses for insurers in 2010, a 34 percent increase over last year, said Swiss Re.

After nine months, U.S. property and casualty reinsurers saw net income rise to $6.27 billion, nearly five times what the same group of reinsurers recorded during the same time in 2009.