A report on Floridas workers' compensation program says costs rose over a five year period after reforms in 2003 drove those costs down by 20 percent.

A report on Floridas workers' compensation program says costs rose over a five year period after reforms in 2003 drove those costs down by 20 percent.

A.M. Best has downgraded specialty insurer BancInsure Inc.s B-plus-plus financial strength rating to B with a negative outlook due to marked deterioration in BancInsures operating performance after the initial impact of the recession and financial market downturn in 2008.

Moodys Investors Service says insurance broker Aons decision to move its headquarters from Chicago to London will have no effect on the companys ratings.

The drop in unemployment numbers for December could translate into improved earnings for insurance brokers as increased employment means growth in employee-related premiums, one financial analyst notes.

The start of 2011 found aviation insurance brokers expecting a hard market for the year, instead, the year witnessed decreases and that track is expected to continue into the 2012, baring an unforeseen development.

Brokers say that pricing conditions in the General Aviation market, which covers everything from propeller-driven planes to corporate fleets, range from flat to some buyers seeing some rate reductions.

While three separate analyses of the insurance and reinsurance markets in 2012 were unable to determine whether the industry will be able to sustain recent rate increases, all agree that the industry will face challenges this year ranging from the economy to the implementation of new regulations.