Standard & Poors Ratings Services warns that signs are pointing to more unprofitable years for the U.S. workers compensation insurance market and downgrades could be in the future if there is no improvement.

Securities class-action lawsuits edged up slightly in 2011, primarily driven by mergers and acquisition filers, however the total number of actions remained below average for the third year in a row, according to a Stanford Law School report.

Rate increases for 2012 could head as high as 10 percent if a handful of negative pressures continue to affect insurers' earnings, a financial analyst suggests.

Rate increases for 2012 could head as high as 10 percent if a handful of negative pressures continue to affect insurers' earnings, a financial analyst suggests.

To gain some producer-level perspective on the outlook this year for the P&C business, NU spoke with some major players across the agent & broker spectrum to discover where the greatest opportunitiesas well as the most daunting challengeslie in the year to come.

Brown & Brown has acquired Independent Pharmaceutical Consultants, strengthening its benefits division, while Arthur J. Gallagher says it acquired a South Carolina agency with roots dating back more than 70 years.

Aon says it plans to move its corporate headquarters to London to be closer to the Lloyds market, but the move will not result in the loss of any jobs in the Chicago area.

Economic risk is the top concern on business professionals minds going into 2012, according to two new, separate surveys conducted by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the World Economic Forum.