Higginbotham Adds Alabama ‘Powerhouse’ Harmon Dennis Bradshaw Agency
Higginbotham, the Texas-based insurance brokerage ranked as the 12th-largest broker in the country last year, has added Harmon Dennis Bradshaw Inc., an independent agency in Alabama and Georgia, to its growing list of partner agencies. Harmon Dennis, known as HDB, …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 2:02 PM |
Travelers Profit Rises on Stronger Underwriting, Lower Catastrophe Losses
Property and casualty insurance giant Travelers reported a jump in first-quarter profit, buoyed by robust underwriting gains and lower catastrophe losses than a year earlier when results were severely hit by the Los Angeles wildfires. Shares of the company, whose …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 1:53 PM |
Companies Scramble for Tariff Refunds as US Prepares to Launch Claim Process
Jay Foreman said he’s “locked and loaded” for the U.S. government’s launch on Monday of a new system to refund up to $166 billion in illegally collected tariffs, but he and many other importers are realistic that much could still …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 1:33 PM |
Beazley Plans $1B Marine War Consortium for Transiting Strait of Hormuz
Beazley, the specialty Lloyd’s insurer, has announced its intention to launch a marine war consortium, offering up to $1 billion of Lloyd’s capacity, which comprises $500 million for hull war and $500 million for cargo war. The consortium, which will …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 11:07 AM |
US-Iran Deal Will Take Months, Gulf and Europe Officials Say
Some Gulf Arab and European leaders believe that a US-Iran peace deal will take about six months to be agreed and that the warring sides should extend their ceasefire to cover that timeframe, according to officials from the regions familiar …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 8:46 AM |
Europe Looks to Contain Trump’s Fury as It Hosts Hormuz Summit
The UK and France will host a summit to discuss setting up a naval force that would ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as Europe seeks to rebut US claims that it’s not doing enough to secure …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 8:44 AM |
Spain’s Blackout Probe Blames Grid Operator, Government, Watchdog
An inquiry by the Spanish Senate blames the government, as well the country’s grid operator and energy watchdog, for last year’s unprecedented blackout, according to preliminary conclusions made public on Wednesday. The probe by the upper house – which is …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 6:05 AM |
Reinsurers Least Successful Acquirers in Industry M&A: Analysis
A recently released analysis of insurance carrier and reinsurer mergers and acquisitions finds that 75% of recent deals featuring reinsurers and multiline insurers as buyers destroyed value for shareholders. The report, “Carrier Mergers & Acquisitions: Drivers, Implications & Outcomes,” published …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:26 AM |
Nationwide: Consumers Say Insurance Should Evolve for Micromobility Vehicles
Almost all consumers agree that insurance policies should evolve to provide clearer coverage for micromobility vehicles on public roads, Nationwide shared in a new report. Nine in 10 respondents to a recent survey commissioned by the insurer held that view. …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:11 AM |
Mythos Poses Risk to SEC Market-Tracking Database, Group Says
Anthropic PBC’s new artificial intelligence model Mythos could put traders and the broader financial system at risk through a Securities and Exchange Commission database, the American Securities Association said Thursday. The financial-industry trade group warned of the potential for bad …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:06 AM |
UK Prepares for Food Shortages Caused by Iran War CO2 Crunch
The UK has drawn up plans to prepare for potential food disruption as the Iran conflict causes a drop-off in supplies of carbon dioxide used widely in the industry. In a “reasonable worst-case scenario,” officials don’t foresee aisles of empty …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:05 AM |
Bank of England Says it Is Testing AI Risks to Financial System
The Bank of England is testing the risks to the financial system caused by AI by conducting scenario analysis and simulations, the central bank said in a letter published by lawmakers on Thursday. The BoE said it disagreed with an …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:03 AM |
Viewpoint: Japan’s $550B Bet on America—What it Means for the US Insurance Market
Five hundred and fifty billion dollars. That is the figure at the center of the landmark strategic investment agreement the United States and Japan concluded on July 22, 2025. A commitment by Japan to direct capital into American industries on …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:03 AM |
Nord Stream Blasts Due to War, Say Insurers Seeking to Avoid Pay Out
The Nord Stream gas pipelines were attacked in 2022 as a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, insurers told a London court on Thursday as they seek to avoid paying out nearly 580 million euros ($684 million) over blasts …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:01 AM |
Three Sentenced in Bear-Suit Attacks Insurance Fraud Case
An insurance fraud scheme involving a bear costume, luxury vehicles and falsified damage claims has ended in convictions for three Los Angeles area residents. A California Department of Insurance investigation began after an insurance company suspected fraud after insureds claimed …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
70 Vehicle Pileup on Colorado Interstate Sends 8 to Hospital
Crashes involving about 70 vehicles snarled a section of a snowy Colorado highway and sent eight people to the hospital. The pileup Tuesday prompted officials to close the eastbound side of Interstate 70 in Clear Creek County, about 50 miles …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
Trump EPA Eyes Gutting Rules on Coal Plant Ash That Threatens Groundwater
The Trump administration on Thursday proposed weakening rules for the disposal of ash produced by burning coal that can contain hazardous heavy metals and contaminate groundwater. Those regulations were strengthened under the Biden administration as part of a wider crackdown …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
Workers’ Comp Bureau of California Committee OKs 10.4% Hike in Pure Premium Filing
The Governing Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California voted to authorize the WCIRB to submit a September 1, 2026, pure premium rate filing to the California Insurance Commissioner proposing advisory pure premium rates that will be …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
Florida Home Insurer Olympus Enters Catastrophe Bond Market
Florida home insurer Olympus Insurance Co. announced it has expanded its risk transfer capabilities with a successful debut in the catastrophe bond market, completing its first-ever issuance through the newly established Abacab Re Ltd. The $120 million catastrophe bond provides …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
NYC SantaCon Charity Fundraiser Was More Con Than Claus, Authorities Say
The annual SantaCon bar crawl that floods New York City with inebriated young people in Santa suits every holiday season was run by a real-life Grinch, according to federal prosecutors. Event organizer Stefan Pildes was arrested Wednesday on charges that …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
House Advances Safety Bill Addressing Deadly Copter-Plane Collision Near Washington
An aviation safety bill seeking to address lessons learned from last year’s midair collision of a jet with an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital was approvedby the House Tuesday, but key senators and the families of the 67 victims …
POSTED APRIL 17, 2026 5:00 AM |
Texas Summer Camp Faces Scrutiny Over Failure to Report Deaths
The medical officer for the Texas summer camp where 27 girls were killed in a flood last year testified Tuesday she still has not officially reported the deaths to the state health agency that regulates camps and is reviewing its …
POSTED APRIL 16, 2026 3:52 PM |
Inszone Acquires Kansas’ Insurance Resources Group
Inszone Insurance Services announced the acquisition of Insurance Resources Group, Inc. Located in Olathe, Kansas, this acquisition adds an experienced and versatile team to the expanding Inszone organization. Insurance Resources Group was founded in 1996 by Kenton Grigg and Lora …
POSTED APRIL 16, 2026 3:35 PM |
Severe Storms Damage Communities From the Plains to the Midwest
A day after severe storms damaged communities in the Plains and the Midwest, forecasters warned that storms could bring giant hail, tornadoes and severe wind gusts to the regions again in the coming days. Authorities in Kansas reported several people …
POSTED APRIL 16, 2026 3:28 PM |
NYC Heat Builds as Midwest Faces Bigger Storm Threat
While New York and the East Coast bake under an early-season heat spell, the Great Plains, Midwest and parts of the Northeast were pounded by wind and hail Wednesday and face a larger threat Friday. Sporadic power outages, along with …
POSTED APRIL 16, 2026 3:04 PM |