Core systems

Arch Re, CNA, Main Street America, Marsh & McLennan, MetLife, Nationwide and Willis announce fourth-quarter and 2012 financials this week.

The Committee urges the Federal Insurance Office to submit its long overdue reports, including those on the insurance industry in general and recommendations to modernize and improve the U.S. regulation.

A new report contends that insurers that commit to analyzing data from social media will be able to better establish an ROI.

Trade agreements could enhance regulatory cooperation and efficiency, promote competition, and prevent regulatory gaps and overlaps.

Calls for improved information sharing and a set of standards should alleviate insurers' concerns with cybersecurity—but it also puts some pressure on insurers to update themselves along with the standards.

NILS INsource and NILS INcompass products designed to help monitor, implement regulatory changes.

The record-high interest in hiring from the middle of last year is continuing to grow, as 56.2 percent of insurers are planning to increase staff over the next 12 months, according to the latest “Insurance Labor Market Study” conducted by Jacobson Group, an insurance staffing company, and Ward Group, and insurance consultancy.

Market positioning cited as primary reason for IT budget growth; 10 percent of insurers will reduce IT budgets by 10 percent this year, SMA finds.

Legal Solutions Suite purchased in an attempt to simplify billing and expense tracking, monitor outside counsel performance.

Anticipating a more customer-centric strategy, insurers will look to new data sources and analytical techniques to sharpen risk understanding and customer profiling, according to a new report.

Purchase highlights recent reports indicating life insurers are outspending P&C insurers when it comes to online/mobile quoting systems.

California leads states in QCs; suspicious loss of jewelry increased 86 percent.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, acting as regulatory overseer to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will further review the force-placed market and its costs.

Underwriting loss increased by $26 billion, net income fell $10 billion, but the commercial P&C sector can expect 2013 to be better financially.

As a combined average, 42.3 percent of Europeans switching auto or household insurers, or buying for the first time, did so online last year, according to “Aggregation Metrics: Consumer Approaches to Insurance Comparison Sites in Europe,” a research paper from Finaccord. This up from 35.4 percent in 2008, making online aggregators and online comparison sites the fastest-growing distribution channel.

The P&C sector leads insurers in mobile offerings, investments; however, life/annuity insurers are investing more in quote and buy capabilities.

Patent provides a method for managing the policies and security of portable devices that store data through a third-party cloud service.

A new report shows mid-size and large P&C and life/annuity insurers are supporting or planning to support bring-your-own-device, especially for tablets.

See which insurers Superstorm Sandy hit the hardest, as Allstate, Prudential and four others release fourth-quarter and year-end results.

Data experts challenge the basic framework for big data programs.